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United States Patent Application20040117831
Kind CodeA1
Ellis, Michael D. ; et al.June 17, 2004
Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs
Abstract
A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility. User television equipment may be connected via two-way communications paths to transmit messages to each other.
Inventors:Ellis; Michael D. (Boulder, CO), Knudson; Edward B.  (Littleton, CO)
Correspondence Name and Address:1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 50TH FLOOR
FISH & NEAVE
NEW YORK
NY
10020-1105
US
Series Code:457102
Filed:June 6, 2003
U.S. Current Class:725/053; 725/052; 725/060; 725/047; 725/045
U.S. Class at Publication:725/053; 725/052; 725/060; 725/047; 725/045
Intern'l Class:H04N 005/445; G06F 003/00; G06F 013/00
Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing access to a fantasy sports contest application, the method comprising: providing an interactive television program guide to a user; and providing the user with the ability to access a fantasy sports contest application using the interactive television program guide.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with the ability to access a sports wagering application using the interactive television program guide.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sports wagering application allows the user to wager a real bet.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the sports wagering application allows the user to wager a pretend bet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with point spreads.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the fantasy sports contest application via an interactive television program menu screen.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a user to participate in a fantasy sports league using the interactive television program guide.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising using the interactive television program guide to provide a participant of the fantasy sports league the ability to select a fantasy squad.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the participant's fantasy squad is evaluated based on real-life performances of the squad.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing scores of real-life sporting events to a fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing fantasy sports contest rules to a fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the fantasy sports contest application and a television program substantially simultaneously to a fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a score for a fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying the score of fantasy sports contest participant using the interactive television program guide.

15. A system for providing access to a fantasy sports contest comprising: a transceiver that transmits and receives data relating to a fantasy sports contest application; an interactive television program guide that provides a user with the ability to access the fantasy sports contest application; and a display device that displays a fantasy sports contest.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the transceiver further transmits and recveives data relating to a sports wagering application.

17. the system of claim 16, wherein the interactive television program guide provides the user with the ability to access the sports wagering application.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the display device displays a user selected video channel and a fantasy sports contest substantially simultaneously.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the interactive television program guide displays data comprising available fantasy sports contests, real-life sports scores, and fantasy sports contest information.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a local processor that calculates a score for a fantasy sports contest participant, wherein the calculated score is based at least in part on the performance of real-life sports teams.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a local storage device that stores the participant's score.

22. The system of claim 15, further comprising a remote processor processor that calculates a score for a fantasy sports contest participant, wherein the calculated score is based at least in part on the performance of real-life sports teams.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a remote storage device that stores the participant's score.

24. The system of claim 15, further comprising a local database that stores league information for a fantasy sports contest.

25. The system of claim 15, further comprising a remote database that stores league information for a fantasy sports contest.

26. A system for providing access to a fantasy sports contest comprising: a means for transmitting and receiving data relating to a fantasy sports contest application; a means for providing a user with the ability to access the fantasy sports contest; and a means for displaying a fantasy sports contest.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a means for providing the user with the ability to access a sports wagering application.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the sports wagering application allows the user to wager a real bet.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the sports wagering application allows the user to wager a pretend bet.

30. The system of claim 26, further comprising a means for providing the user with point spreads.

31. The system of claim 26, further comprising a means for providing the fantasy sports contest application on an interactive television program.

32. The system of claim 26, further comprising a means for allowing a user to participate in a fantasy sports league.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a means for providing a participant of the fantasy sports league the ability to select a fantasy squad.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the participant's fantasy squad is evaluated based on real-life performances of the squad.

35. The system of claim 26, further comprising a menas for providing scores of real-life sporting events to a fantasy sports contest participant.

36. The system of claim 26, further comprising a means for providing fantasy sports contest rules to a fantasy sports contest participant.

37. The system of claim 26, further comprising a means for providing the fantasy sports contest application and a television program substantially simultaneously to a fantasy sports contest participant.

38. The system of claim 26, further comprising a means for calculating a score for a fantasy sports contest participant.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising a means for displaying the score of fantasy sports contest participant.

40. A machine-readable medium for use in allowing users to access a fantasy sports contest comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: providing a user an interactive television program guide; providing a user a sports wagering application; providing the user with the a fantasy sports contest application; and providing the user with the ability to access the interactive television program guidfe, the sports wagering application, and the fantansy sports contest application from an integrated user interface.

41. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with the ability to access a fantasy sports contest application from an integrated interactive television program guide menu.

42. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with the ability to participate in a fantasy sports contest using the interactive television program guide.

43. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with the opportunity to select a fantasy squad using the interactive television program guide, wherein the fantasy squad includes real-life sports teams.

44. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with squad information.

45. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with scores of real-life sporting events.

46. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with scores of the fantasy sports contest.
Description


[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/604,470, filed Jun. 26, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Serial No. 60/141,501, filed Jun. 28, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to interactive television program guides, and more particularly, to interactive television program guide features organized into niche hubs.

[0003] Interactive television program guides allow users to view television program listings on their televisions. Such program guides allow users to view television program listings in different display formats and to perform various other functions. For example, a user may instruct the program guide to display a channel-ordered grid of current program listings.

[0004] Many program guides allow a user to view television programs in a specified category. The program guide may display programs in a desired programming category such as sports or movies. If desired, the program guide may be used to order pay-per-view programming.

[0005] Some program guides allow users to define profiles of likes and dislikes, and to view program listings screens that meet the desired category combinations. However, there has not previously been provided an interactive electronic television program guide that collects together all program guide features related to specific categories.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to collect together features related to specific programming categories into niche hubs.

[0007] It is also an object of the present invention to provide user customizable niche hubs that collect togther program guide features of interest to particular users.

[0008] It is also an object of the present invention to provide interactive hyperlinks to related items or features of a program guide within a given area of interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an interactive television program guide system that has niche hubs. Each of the niche hubs is an area of the program guide in which features, programming, and information related to a particular programming category or user interest may be found. Personalized niche hubs contain programming-related features and information that are selected by the user. User television equipment, such as a set-top box, may obtain data for the niche hub features from a television distribution facility, a program guide database, a web server, a real-time data source, a message processing facility, etc.

[0010] The niche hubs may include, for example, listings of programs related to a specific category. The hubs may provide users with the ability to sort data. Detailed information on programs may be provided. Hubs may provide users with advance notification of unscheduled programs and information on packages of programs and channels. The hubs may provide users with the ability to search for programs and other information, the ability to set reminders, targeted advertising, television messaging features, television chat features, news groups, web site listings, schedules of local events, the ability to record programs and access recorded programs, user help features, the ability to enter favorites, suggested programming, live data, news, magazine type features, links to applications other than program guide applications, links to setup features, parental control features, and the ability to display in-band data. Each niche hub may include its own unique graphic style, icons, backgrounds, etc. Broadcast or on-demand video or audio may be incorporated into hubs, if desired. The program guide may provide a main menu screen for each hub that provides interactive hyperlinks to related items or features of the program guide within the given category of interest of the hub.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1A is a system diagram of an interactive television program guide system with niche hubs in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 1B is a system diagram showing how multiple television distribution facilities may be connected via a communications network in accordance with the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 1C is a system diagram showing how multiple user television equipment devices may be connected to a television distribution facility and a separate server via neighborhood networks in accordance with the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 1D is a diagram of a system configuration in which user television equipment devices of multiple television distribution facilities are connected via a message processing facility in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is an illustrative interactive main menu television display screen in accordance with the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is an illustrative interactive themes television display screen for entering niche hubs in accordance with the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for reordering themes in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a movies niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 6 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movies on now in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 7 is an illustrative Program Information display screen in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 8 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for hot movies in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 9 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movies on demand in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 10 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for providing a listing of programs that are new releases in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 11 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movies that are coming soon in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 12 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for searching for movies in accordance with the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 13 is an illustrative interactive television display screen providing a listing of video clips in accordance with the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 14 is an illustrative interactive television display screen providing special ordering information in accordance with the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 15 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for program features in accordance with the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 16 is an illustrative interactive feature information display screen in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 17 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for shopping in accordance with the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 18 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for providing feedback in accordance with the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 19 is an illustrative interactive television display screen listing recorded programs in accordance with the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 20 is an illustrative interactive television display screen listing scheduled programs in accordance with the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 21 is an illustrative interactive television display screen listing movie web sites in accordance with the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 22 is an illustrative interactive television display screen listing movie news groups in accordance with the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 23 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a discussion group in accordance with the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 24 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movie favorites in accordance with the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 25 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movies genres in accordance with the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 26 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movie comedies in accordance with the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 27 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a sports fan niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 28 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting an individual area of the sports fan hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 29 is an illustrative process for using the program guide niche hubs in accordance with the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 30 is an illustrative process for using an individual area of a niches hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 31 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for highlighted sports television program listings in accordance with the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 32 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting sports scores and news in accordance with the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 33 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing sports scores in accordance with the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 34 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing sports news in accordance with the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 35 is an illustrative sports ticker in accordance with the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 36 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting sports wagering and voting in accordance with the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 37 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for sports voting in accordance with the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 38 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for sports wagering in accordance with the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 39 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting a fantasy sport in accordance with the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 40 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for fantasy sport features in accordance with the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 41 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a family niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 42 is an illustrative interactive television display screen providing parental control of programming in accordance with the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 43 is an illustrative interactive television display screen with personal profiles in accordance with the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 44 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a editing a personal profile in accordance with the present invention.

[0058] FIG. 45 is an illustrative interactive television display screen providing pen pal e-mail clubs in accordance with the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 46A is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting a pen pal in accordance with the present invention.

[0060] FIG. 46B is an illustrative interactive television display screen for sending a message in accordance with the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 47 is an illustrative arrangement of multiple user television equipment within a house in accordance with the present invention.

[0062] FIG. 48 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for locking channels and programming in accordance with the present invention.

[0063] FIG. 49 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for monitoring viewing on other user television equipment within the house in accordance with the present invention.

[0064] FIG. 50 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting a chat group in accordance with the present invention.

[0065] FIG. 51 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for displaying a chat group in accordance with the present invention.

[0066] FIG. 52 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a music niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0067] FIG. 53A is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing music channels in accordance with the present invention.

[0068] FIG. 53B is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing video music channels in accordance with the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 53C is an illustrative music flip interactive television display screen in accordance with the present invention.

[0070] FIG. 53D is an illustrative interactive television display screen with a music channel browse region in accordance with the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 53E is an illustrative interactive Song Information display screen in accordance with the present invention.

[0072] FIGS. 54A-54E are illustrative interactive television display screens with music on-demand options in accordance with the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 55 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting background music in accordance with the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 56 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing music favorites accordance with the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 57 is an illustrative interactive television setup display screen for selecting music audio settings in accordance with the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 58 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a news and information niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0077] FIG. 59 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying a stock report in accordance with the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 60 is an illustrative sports ticker in accordance with the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 61 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying local information in accordance with the present invention.

[0080] FIG. 62 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying live news updates in accordance with the present invention.

[0081] FIG. 63 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying weather reports in accordance with the present invention.

[0082] FIG. 64 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying help options in accordance with the present invention.

[0083] FIG. 65 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a custom niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0084] FIG. 66 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for adding features to or deleting features from a custom niche-hub in accordance with the present invention.

[0085] FIG. 67 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for adding features to a custom niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0086] An illustrative interactive television program guide system with niche hubs 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1A. Main facility 12 may contain a program guide database 14 for storing program guide information such as television program guide listings data, pay-per-view ordering information, etc. Database 14 allows system 10 to support an interactive television program guide.

[0087] Information from database 14 may be transmitted to television distribution facility 16 or to some other distribution facility that does not broadcast the television programming signals (e.g., over paging frequencies) via communications link 18. Link 18 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a fiber-optic link, a cable link, a microwave link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications path.

[0088] Television distribution facility 16 is a facility for distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system headend. Some aspects of the invention may be implemented using a television distribution facility such as a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facility. Only one television distribution facility 16 is shown in FIG. 1A to avoid over-complicating the drawings. In general, however, main facility 12 distributes information to multiple television distribution facilities.

[0089] The program guide information transmitted by main facility 12 to television distribution facility 16 includes television program listings data such as program times, channels, titles, descriptions, etc. The information transmitted from main facility 12 may also include information related to features provided by niche hubs (e.g., television program contests, surveys, trivia, targeted advertising, messaging features, chat features, new groups, video-on-demand programs, etc.). Some of the information from main facility 12 may be tagged with appropriate niche hub(s) so that the information may be grouped into niche hub(s). Certain programs and other information may have tags for more than one hub.

[0090] If desired, some of the program guide data and other information stored in database 14 may be provided using data sources at facilities other than main facility 12. For example, data relating to niche hub features may be provided by a remote server, or other equipment that is separate from main facility 12 and television distribution facility 16.

[0091] Real-time data sources 11 such as real-time sports data source 15, real-time stock market data source 17, real-time news data source 19, and real-time music source 27 are used to gather information such as sports scores, stock quotes, news, music and the like from, e.g., various sporting and news sources or radio stations. Real-time information from real-time data sources 30 may be provided to each of the television distribution facilities 16 by providing this information to main facility 12 via communications path 23 and redistributing the information to television distribution facilities 16 via paths 18. If desired, real-time information from real-time data sources 11 may be provided to one or more real-time data collection facilities 13 via communications path 21A, where the data may be processed for retransmission to television distribution facilities 16 via communications path 21C. If desired, data from real-time data collection facility 13 may be provided to television distribution facility 16 via communications path 21B, main facility 12, and communications path 18. Communications paths 21A, 21B, 21C, and 23
may be any suitable communications paths such as satellite links, coaxial cable, fiber optics, free-space transmissions, telephone links, or a combination of such links or other suitable links. Television distribution facility 16 may also provide data to user television equipment 20 from communications network 31 (e.g., the Internet) as shown in FIG. 1A.

[0092] Television distribution facility 16 distributes program guide data and other information to the user television equipment 20 of multiple users via communications paths 24. Communication paths 24 are preferably bidirectional to support two-way communications (e.g., e-mail messages, chat messages, etc.) and preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow television distribution facility 16 to distribute scheduled television programming, pay programming, video-on-demand, messages, and other video and audio information to user television equipment 20 in addition to non-video program guide information and messages. The messages (e.g., real-time, delayed, etc.) supported by communication paths 24 may be text-based or, if more bandwidth is available, may be audio or video messages. If television distribution facility 16 is a cable system headend, communications paths 24 may be based on coaxial cable or fiber optics or the like. If television distribution facility 16 is a satellite system or broadcast system, unidirectional paths may involve transmitting information in free space. Bidirectional paths may have a free-space downlink to the home and a telephone line or cable or fiber optic return path from the home to the television distribution facility 16.

[0093] User television equipment may be based, for example, on a set-top box or other such device. For clarity, many aspects of the invention are described in connection with this illustrative arrangement, although any other suitable hardware arrangement for the user television equipment 20
may be used if desired.

[0094] Multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or both analog and digital) may be provided to user television equipment devices 20 (including, e.g., set-top boxes 26) via communications paths 24. If each path 24 includes a number of traditional analog television channels, one or more of these channels may be used to support a number of digital channels. The bandwidth of each analog channel that is used to support digital channels may support ten or more of such digital channels. Two-way digital channels may support two-way communications in the form of real-time (e.g., chat) and delayed (e.g., e-mail) messages between set-top boxes 26 and a server (e.g., server 22 at television distribution facility 16). The return path for messages usually requires additional bandwidth. If two-way communications between set-top boxes 26 and television distribution facility 16 involve only text or audio signals, the bandwidth required to support such two-way communications may be substantially less than the bandwidth required to support two-way communications involving video.

[0095] Video, audio, graphical, and textual data to be used with the niche hubs (e.g., two-way messages, news stories, web sites, contest information, etc.) may be distributed along communications path 24 using any number of suitable techniques. For example, textual data may be distributed using out-of-band channels on paths 24 using out-of-band modulators. Video or audio data may be more efficiently transmitted using one or more digital channels on path 24. Such digital channels may also be used for distributing text and graphics. Any suitable communications protocols may be used for sending data to be used with the niche hubs. For example, communications may be analog or digital, synchronous or asynchronous, packet-based, Internet protocol transmissions, etc.

[0096] Dedicated digital or analog channels, or at least an allocated portion of the available bandwidth in communications paths 24, may be used for the transmission of certain types of data (e.g., video-on-demand programs, chat messages, etc.). Such dedicated channels may be separate from the channels used for transmitting television program broadcast signals to the user television equipment. If desired, television programming may be transmitted to user television equipment 20 along one communications path such as a satellite link from a satellite system, while other data relating to the niche hubs (e.g., program guide data, messages, advertising, survey information, etc.) may be transmitted to and from the user over a second communications path such as a telephone, cable, or wireless link.

[0097] Television distribution facility 16 preferably has server 22 or other suitable computing equipment, audio, and/or video equipment for supporting the recording of programs, the transmission of chat and e-mail messages between users, the transmission of video-on-demand programs, the transmission of news information, the storage and transmission of program guide information, the storage of information from users, and the storage and transmission of data related to other niche hub features. The server 22 may be capable of handling text, graphics, video, or audio data. Server 22 in television distribution facility 16 may be configured in a client-server arrangement in which each user television equipment device 20 acts as a client processor.

[0098] Each user has a receiver, which is typically a set-top box such as set-top box 26, but which may also be other suitable television equipment into which circuitry similar to set-top box circuitry has been integrated. For example, user television equipment 20 may be based on an advanced television receiver such as a high-definition television (HDTV) receiver or other such television-based platform. A set-top box may include a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) modem for use in two-way communication to and from a server or television distribution facility. Set-top box 26 may also comprise a WebTV Internet Receiver. For clarity, the present invention will be described primarily in the context of user television equipment 20 that is based on set-top boxes 26. As shown in FIG. 1A, each set-top box 26 may have memory 25. Memory 25 may be used, for example, for maintaining a database of program listings data.

[0099] Program guide information may be distributed to set-top boxes 26
continuously (in real-time), periodically, on request (using a client-server arrangement), or using a combination of these techniques. Other data relating to the niche hubs may be distributed to set-top boxes 26 in real-time, periodically, or on-demand (e.g., when a user checks to see whether he has received a message and requests the message for viewing). Server 22 may receive niche hub data from set-top boxes 26 in real-time, on-demand, or periodically.

[0100] Main facility 12 preferably contains a processor to handle information distribution tasks. Each set-top box 26 preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated with implementing an interactive television program guide application containing niche hub features. Television distribution facility 16 preferably contains one or more processors (e.g., part of server 22) for tasks associated with providing program guide data and other niche hub data to the program guide on the set-top boxes.

[0101] It should be understood that some or all of the functions of the program guide application hereinafter described may be integrated into an operating system on the set-top box, implemented as a stand-alone application on the set-top box, or performed by a server in television distribution facility 16 (sever 22) or separate from the television distribution facility. In client-server architectures, the set-top box may request data from the server. The server can store and process data and send the results of a request back to the user television equipment for further processing, display, or storage. Any of the functionality of the program guide application hereinafter described may be implemented using a client-server architecture, if desired.

[0102] Each set-top box 26 is typically connected to an optional video recorder 28, which may be a videocassette recorder, a digital video recorder, a personal video recorder (PVR), or other such recording device, so that selected television programs may be recorded. Each video recorder 28 (or set-top box 26) may be connected to a television 30. The video recorder 28 may be integrated with the set-top box or the television. To record a program, set-top box 26 tunes to a particular channel and sends control signals to video recorder 28 (e.g., using an infrared transmitter) that direct video recorder 28 to start and stop recording at the appropriate times. If desired, programming may be recorded at server 22 in television distribution facility 16. User television equipment may also include speakers, audio receiver, stereo receiver, pro-logic digital AC-3 receiver, or other audio equipment.

[0103] During the use of the television program guide application with niche hub features, the television program guide application may display interactive display screens on television 30. Each set-top box 26, video recorder 28, and television 30 may be controlled by one or more user input devices 29. Features of this invention are primarily discussed in the context of a remote control, however user input device 29 may be a remote control, mouse, trackball, microphone, digital video camera, dedicated set of buttons, touch screen, etc.

[0104] Some of the niche hub features of the present invention may be handled on a server that is not located at the television distribution facility as shown in FIG. 1B. For example, data used with the niche hubs may be stored on server 36 which is connected to television distribution facilities 32 and 34 through communications network 38. Television distribution facility 32 is connected to user television equipment 42 via communications paths 40. Television distribution facility 34 is connected to user television equipment 46 via communications paths 44. Communications network 110 may be any suitable communications network such as the Internet, a public or private telephone network, a network involving satellite link or wireless links, a cable network, etc.

[0105] The television distribution facilities may also have servers that communicate with server 36. For example, television distribution facility 32 has server 33, and television distribution facility 34 has server 35. Servers 33, 35, and 36 may be message servers which handle the distribution of delayed e-mail type messages between user television equipment 42 and 46, real-time chat messages between user television equipment 42 and 46, news groups, web pages, and the transmission of program guide data, programming, and other niche hub data to user television equipment 42 and 46. The configuration of servers 33 and 35
and user television equipment 42 and 46 may be based on a client-server arrangement.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 1B, delayed and real-time messages can be distributed along communication paths 40 from one user television equipment device 42 associated with television distribution facility 32
to another user television equipment device 42 associated with that facility using a server 33 located at the facility. The messages sent between two or more user television equipment devices 42 associated with television distribution facility 32 may be stored on server 33 in television distribution facility 32. An advantage to limiting operation of a message system to individual television distribution facilities is that it allows individual cable system operators (for example) to control their systems, and it does not involve coordinating the transmission of messages related to an on-going television program between different geographical areas or different time zones. If desired, messages exchanged by user television equipment 42 can be stored by server 36 that is connected to television distribution facility 32 via communications network 38.

[0107] Users at one or more of user television equipment devices 46 may exchange messages or other data with one or more of user television equipment devices 42. Television distribution facilities 32 and 34 may be connected to each other via communications network 38. Messages that are sent between user television equipment 42 and user television equipment 46 may be stored on servers 33, 35, or 36. If desired, any number of television distribution facilities may be connected togther via communications network 38 or other such communications networks to allow user television equipment from these television distribution facilities to exchange messages or other data with each other.

[0108] In addition, messages and other data may be transmitted between user television equipment 42 or 46 and user communications equipment 48. User communications equipment 48 are connected via communications network 38 to television distribution facilities 32 and 34. User communications equipment devices 48 can be any number of, e.g., personal computers that can send and receive messages.

[0109] The niche hub features of the present invention may be also handled on a server that is connected to the user television equipment through a neighborhood node as shown in FIG. 1C. For example, niche hub data may be stored on server 50 and transmitted between user television equipment devices 58 and 60 via neighborhood nodes 54 and 56. User television equipment 58 are connected to neighborhood node 54 via communications path 66, and user television equipment devices 60 are connected to neighborhood node 56 via communications path 68. Neighborhood nodes 54
and 56 decrease the bandwidth requirements on communications paths 66 and 68. Neighborhood nodes 54 and 56 may route television programming from television distribution facility 52 to user television equipment 58 and 60. Neighborhood nodes 54 and 56 may also route niche hub data between server 50 and user television equipment 58 and 60. Neighborhood nodes 54
and 56 may also route requests to perform many of the niche hub functions described herein from user television equipment 58 and 60 to server 50. Responses from server 50 are routed back to the appropriate user television equipment device via a neighborhood node. Server 50 may route delayed and real-time messages between user television equipment 58 and 60.

[0110] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide users with the opportunity to compose a message and send the message to the television distribution facility or a message processing facility. For example, referring to FIG. 1D, interactive program guides operating on user television equipment 76 may provide users with the opportunity to compose a message and send the message to television distribution facility 72 through two-way communications paths 75. The message may be a message to purchase merchandise, a pay-per-view program, a premium channel, etc. The message may also be a message to another user at another user television equipment 76. Television distribution facility 72 may forward such a message to another user to that user's user television equipment 76 through one of two-way communications paths 75.

[0111] Interactive program guides operating on user television equipment 76 may also provide users with the opportunity to compose a message and send it to message processing facility 71. For example, program guides may provide users with the opportunity to compose a message to a television channel or a television personality and send the message to a television program entity that processes messages for that television channel or television personality. Program guides may also provide users with an opportunity to vote for athletes who are candidates for an all-star team, enter a television program contest, answer trivia questions, participate in sports or horse wagering or other interactive wagering, etc. The program guide may send the user's input (e.g., the user's vote, the user's response to a contest question or trivia question, the user's bet, etc.) to message processing facility 71 which processes user responses (e.g., counts users' votes, evaluates user's answers to contest and trivia questions, places the user's bet, etc.) User television equipment 78 may also send messages to television distribution facility 74 and other user television equipment 78 via two-way communications paths 77. Messages from user television equipment 76 and 78 may be forwarded by television distribution facilities 72 and 74 to message processing facility 71 via communications paths 73 which may be satellite links, cable links, telephone network links, microwave links, etc. Communications paths 73 may be two-way communications paths.

[0112] The interactive television program guide of the present invention provides niche hubs, which are areas of the interactive program guide in which features, applications, programming, information, etc. related to a particular user interest or interests may be found. The niche hubs of the present invention provide the user with the opportunity to access a variety of electronic television program guide features using their user television equipment. The niche hubs may link together program guide features such as applications, TV listings, messages, news, web site links, chat groups, merchandise, etc., that are related to specific user interests such as movies. The niche hubs may also be customized by the user to link together program guide applications of interest to that particular user.

[0113] Another attribute of this invention is the interlinking of features. The top level of each hub gives access to the most commonly used requests within any specific feature. These are "hyperlinks" to other related features. These features may be common features throughout the guide, but specific to the content of how the user got there. For example, a niche hub may contain listings of programs that exclusively relate to the category or genre of the hub (e.g., movies).

[0114] FIG. 2 is an example of main menu screen 100 for a niche hub program guide. The television listings option 106A provides access to listings of all programs on all channels. Recorded option 106B provides a listing of programs that have been previously recorded by the guide on behalf of the user. This feature is discussed further with respect to FIG. 19. Movies option 106C, Sports 106D, Suzy option 106E, and Tom option 106F are examples of on-screen options that provide direct access to some of the program guide hubs. For example, selecting Movies option 106C may cause the program guide to display the television screen shown in FIG. 5, and selecting Suzy option 106E may cause the guide to display the screen in FIG. 27.

[0115] Themes option 106G provides access to the complete list of available niche hubs, as well as the ability to create and customize new hubs, as discussed and shown with respect to FIG. 3. VOD option 106H provides access to video on demand programs, as discussed and shown with respect to FIG. 9. Events option 106I provides a listing of special events on television. Specials option 106J provides access to special events, packages, and other offers from the service provider, as discussed and shown with respect to FIG. 14. Shop option 106K provides access to shopping features, such as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 17. Features option 106L provides access to interviews, reviews, articles, and other magazine "features", such as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 15. Web option 106M provides access to television-related web sites, such as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 21.

[0116] My Schedule option 106N provides access to a schedule of upcoming programs previously selected to be watched, purchased, and/or recorded, as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 20. Mail option 106O provides access to a messaging or e-mail function. Feedback option 106P provides access to contests, trivia, messaging to television networks, and other similar features, as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 18. Parents option 106Q provides access to a parental control feature. Favorites option 106S provides access to a feature to set user preferences, as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 24. Support option 106T provides access to support features, such as user help, answers to common questions, communication with technical support, etc. Setup option 106U provides access to guide setup features. Exit option 106V provides an exit from the program guide.

[0117] The program guide application on set-top box 26 may obtain a list of features available for the niche hub (such as shown in main menu screen 100) from program guide database 14, a television distribution facility, or one of the servers shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. The niche hub information may be digitally encoded on a digital channel that is separate from the channel used for the television program signals. If desired, the list of features available for each of the niche hubs may be stored in memory 25.

[0118] Other items shown on main menu screen 100 and other screens in the niche hub program guide include: brand identifier of the guide provider in window 102 (such as the TV Guide logo shown); current time; title of the current screen; Video window 105, typically showing the currently tuned channel, but which may show other videos, such as video clips on demand; and three advertisements 104A-C, which may include text, graphics, video, or any other media. Advertisements may be distributed generally, or may be targeted based on information about the user, the screen displayed, or other criteria. Further features of an illustrative program guide system with targeted advertising are described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,939, filed Mar. 4, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Advertisements may be interactive; selecting an advertisement may cause the guide to display information about the advertised item, program, channel, or service, such as shown, for example, in FIG. 7.

[0119] Upon selecting Themes option 106G in screen 100, the user may, for example, be presented with Themes screen 110, such as shown in FIG. 3. This screen shows a list of themes, any of which may be selected by the user. Each theme is related to a niche hub of the program guide that provides program guide features to the users based upon the theme. When the user selects a theme in screen 110, the program guide enters a niche hub related to that theme. If there are more themes than fit on a single screen, the user may scroll to additional pages. The theme list may include standard (predefined) themes, such as Movies (option 112A), Sports (option 112B), Family (option 112C), Music (option 112D), News (option 112E), Cultural (option 112F), Soaps (option 112G), Science Fiction (option 112H), TV Lovers (option 112I), Adult (option 112J), and Local (option 112K) themes. It may also include themes defined and customized by the user, such as Suzy (option 112L) and Tom (option 112M). Screen 110 may include option 112N to add a new theme guide, as well as option 112O to reorder the themes on the list.

[0120] The themes for movies, sports, Tom, and Suzy from the list shown on Themes screen 110 of FIG. 3 are also included as options on Main Menu scree 100 of FIG. 2. This provides the user with quick access to the most popular themes for niche hubs from the Main Menu screen 100. The program guide may also allow the user to select one or more hubs for 1-key access (i.e., accessing the hub by pressing a single button on the remote control). Pressing this key may bring up a miche hub screen such as shown in FIG. 5. In addition, the user may flip through just the channels that are currently broadcasting programs that match the theme of a selected theme (e.g., movies or sporting events) by pressing UP and DOWN arrow keys on the remote control. If desired, the program guide may also restrict the channels that the user can flip through to channels that are currently broadcasting programs that match the user's personal preferences.

[0121] Each household may reorder the themes on the list by selecting Reorder option 112O from Themes screen 110. Doing so may display a screen such as Reorder Themes screen 120 shown in FIG. 4. When Reorder Themes screen 120 is displayed, the user may highlight any of the themes displayed in list 122 of screen 120 and press the OK key on the remote control. This will cause that theme to be moved to the top of the list in Themes screen 110 of FIG. 3, as well as placing it on the Main Menu screen 100 of FIG. 2. All other themes will move down in the list correspondingly.

[0122] FIG. 5 is an example of a program guide niche hub screen that may be displayed when the user selects one of the themes from the Themes screen or Main Menu screen, in this case the Movies theme. In this case, a movies menu is displayed, with options relating to the selected theme. Some options may be specific to a single theme. Other options may be presented on multiple theme menus, as well as the Main Menu, with the action taken on selection of the option depending on the context in which it was displayed.

[0123] FIG. 5 shows how the advertisements may be targeted based on the screen, theme, and hub. For example, since this is the Movies screen, the advertisement 134A is for a PPV movie. Selecting ad 134A causes the guide to display the Program Information screen for that PPV movie, such as shown in FIG. 7. The advertisement 134B is for a Television movie, with selection of that ad causing the display of a program information screen for that movie. Region 134C shows a trivia question related to movies. Selecting region 134C may display a screen similar to the Program Information screen, with the answer to the question, and other related information and options. Further features of an illustrative program guide with interactive information display screen are described in Rudnick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,268, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0124] Selecting On Now option 132A from Movies screen 130 brings up a listing screen, such as shown in FIG. 6. Listing screens accessed from various options on various screen look and function similarly. However, they may differ in the content shown in the listing, in the way the listing is sorted, and in other details. In this case, the Movies On Now listing screen 140 shows a list of movies that are available to be viewed now or in the near future.

[0125] Any of the options 132A-O as well as the advertisements in movies screen 130 may contain data related to movies, or data relating exclusively to movies. The data displayed on screen when the user selects an option in movies screen 130 (or any other niche hub menu of the present invention relating to a specific theme) may be filtered to match the current selected theme (e.g., movies) by a processor at the television distribution facility, the user television equipment, or a remote server from where the data relating to the selected program guide option was accessed so that only features related to that theme are provided.

[0126] For example, the top of screen 140 in FIG. 6 may list one or more movies in list 142 that are available at any time from the Video On Demand (VOD) server. List 142 may also contain movies that the user has asked to be recorded and which may be viewed at any time. The program guide may pick one or two movies from both of those categories (based, for example, on availability/recording date, sponsorships, etc.). Additional on-demand movies and previously recorded movies may be shown when the user presses the UP Arrow key on the remote control.

[0127] The program guide may also show movies that are starting in the current time period in list 144 in screen 140. If the user presses the DOWN Arrow key on the remote control, the guide may display additional current movies, as well as movies that are scheduled to start in the near future. If the user presses the UP Arrow key on the remote control, the guide may display movies that started earlier and are currently in progress. Movies may be sorted by start time, and for a particular start time may be sorted by title, by channel, or by other criteria.

[0128] If a program is selected, for example from listing screen 140 of FIG. 6 or from an interactive advertisement (e.g., 104A-C), the program guide may display, for example, Program Information screen 150, such as shown in FIG. 7. This screen may include the name of the program (possibly editorially shorted to fit into the screen space available), the rating of the program, the start time and run time of the program, the channel on which the program is being shown, and other details about the program, such as the price and package information. Screen 150 may also display the full title of the program (in the case that the title was editorially shortened), the year the movie was released, and a description of the movie in region 155. The user can use the UP and DOWN Arrow keys on the remote control to scroll through multiple pages of information. Other information related to the program (not shown) may be included on this screen such as language(s), country of origin, color/black and white/colorized, closed captioning availability, audio format, video format, etc. The data displayed in screen 150 relating to the selected program may be obtained from a video-on-demand server, from program guide database 14, or from the television distribution facility.

[0129] Program Information screen 150 also includes a set of options (such as options 151, 152, and 153) related to the program. The set of options available will depend on the program itself and how it was selected. The user can scroll through the options using the LEFT and RIGHT Arrow keys on the remote control. If a large number of options are available, the guide may present them in a nested menu. Options that may be available include:

1
Option Displayed When Action Back Always Return to the previous screen. Remind The program has not Allows setting or cancelling a yet started. reminder for the program. Watch The program has Tunes to the program started or is immediately. available on demand. Order The program is Allows the user to purchase the purchasable, either program or package, or presents individually or as the information for the user to part of a package. do so. Package The program is Presents information about the purchasable as part package(s) containing this of one or more program. package. Air Times The program is Presents a list of scheduled on times/channels at which the multiple program airs, and allows the times/channels. user to select any of them. Lock Always Allows the user to parentally control this program or any attribute of this program. Favorite Always Allows the user to add this program or any attribute of this program to a custom user profile. Shop Products are Allows the user to see available for information on related products purchase relating and to interactively order any to this product. of these products. Gift Order The program is Allows the user to purchase a purchasable. program and send the authorization to view the program to a user at another location. Mail Always Allows the user to send mail relating to this program to another user. Send The program has not Allows the user to send an Reminder yet started. automatic program reminder for this program to a user at another location. Notify The program is not Provides user notification when yet available on this program becomes available television. on television. Review A critical review Provides a review of the is available. program, or a list of reviews that the user may choose from. Preview A video preview of Displays a video preview of the the program is preview in the video window. available. Record Only display if Allows the user to record the program is not copy selected program. protected. Delete This program has The guide deletes the program been previously from storage. recorded for the user. Save This program has The guide marks the program in been previously storage to not be automatically recorded for the deleted. user. Find Always The guide displays programs Similar that are similar to the selected program, or displays a list of attributes of the selected program and allows the user to choose from among them to find matching programs. Further features of an electronic program guide with related- program search features are described in Herrington et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/451,612, filed Nov. 30, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein its entirety. Chat Always Allows the user to initiate or join a chat session related to the program. Discussion There are one or Displays a list of discussion more discussion groups and allows the user to go groups (newsgroups) to one of them. relating to the program. Gossip Gossip column is Displays the gossip column, available relating possible including text, to this program. graphics, video, etc. Fast The guide is Moves quickly through the video Forward currently playing a clip. video clip in the video window. Rewind The guide is Moves quickly backwards currently playing a through the video clip. video clip in the video window. Stop The guide is Stops playback of the video currently playing a clip. video clip in the video window. Pause The guide is Temporarily pauses playback of currently playing a the video clip. video clip in the video window. Web There are one or Displays a list of web sites and more web sites allows the user to go to one of relating to the them. program. Local This is information Displays information about the Showings about a movie in available local showings, and theatrical release, allows the user to purchase or an event that tickets. can be viewed live locally. More More details about Displays more details about the Description the program are program. available. Video Clips One or more video Displays a list of available clips relating to video clips and allows the user the program are to view one of them. available. Article Magazine-type Displays the article, possible article is including text, graphics, video, available relating etc. to this program. Contest A contest relating Presents information about the to this program is contest and allows the user to available. enter it. Trivia One or more trivia Presents the questions, and questions are allows the user to view the available relating answers. to the program. Respond User response has Allows the user to send a been defined for response to an entity relating this program. to the program, such as producers or cast members. Rate Ratings are being Allows the user to rate this collected for this program, and to send that rating program. to the ratings collector. Ratings Ratings information Displays the ratings is available. information, possibly collected from other guide users. Actor, Information is Presents an Information screen Producer, available for for that person. That Director, anyone associated Information screen may have an etc. with the program option to present a list of (may be individual programs with which that person buttons for each, was associated, and to select or one button that any program for more provides a list). information. Wager Displayed when Presents information about the selected program wagering options and allows the supports wagering, user to place a wager. and if user is in a jurisdiction where the particular type of wagering is legal. Live Update Displayed when live Presents live information to the program supports user for viewing (e.g., sports transfer of live scores, live news updates, information. etc.). News Brief Displayed when Presents news for viewing (e.g., program supports news may be video, audio, or news updates textual). related to the program.

[0130] If the user selects Hot option 132B from Movies screen 130, the guide may present a screen such as Hot Movies screen 160 of FIG. 8. Listing screen 160 may include movies available on demand, movies the user has previously recorded, as well as scheduled movies as shown in list 162. Movies may be included on screen 160 based on critic's recommendations, as well as on promotional agreements as shown in list 163. Movies may also be included based on matching user profile preferences as shown in list 164. In addition, movies for which the user requested notification may be included on this listing. Programs may be sorted based on start time, with on-demand and recorded movies listed first. The programs displayed in screen 160 may be sorted and selected by a processor at the television distribution facility, in a server at another location, or in set-top box 26.

[0131] The hot movies shown in FIG. 8 may also be selected by the program guide based upon the user's viewing habits. The user's viewing habits may be monitored, for example, by a processor in set-top box 26, a processor at a television distribution facility, or one of the servers shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. The processor or server may then search program guide database 14 for programs that match search criteria based upon the user's viewing habits. Further features of an illustrative television system with aided user program searching are described in Boyer et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,793, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0132] If the user selects On Demand option 132C from Movies screen 130, the guide may present the Movies On Demand screen 170 shown in FIG. 9. Screen 170 may provide the user with various methods of accessing a list of movies available on demand. This may include options to view new releases, to view "hot" releases, and to view movies of a specific genre, such as comedy, drama, family, and adult by selecting from list 172. It may also include (not shown) options to find movies alphabetically, to see movies with special offers, to see movies that will be available soon on-demand, to view the staff picks of the service provider, etc. Picking one of the options, such as the New Releases option in list 172, may present a listing screen, such listing screen 180 shown in FIG. 10, that provides movies on demand related to the selected option. Choosing any of the programs from listing screen 180 causes the guide to display a Program Information screen for the selected program (such as screen 150), allowing the user to find out about the movie, to view a preview video clip, and to order it.

[0133] FIG. 11 shows an example of the Movies Coming Soon screen that may be displayed if the user selects Coming Soon option 132D from Movies screen 130. This screen shows list 192 of movies that are not currently scheduled in the time frame supported by the guide, but which will be available on Television in the future. List 192 may include options such as a movie that is currently in theatrical release, and which will be available on-demand or on pay-per-view in the next few weeks, a movie that may be available on cable channel, and a movie that will be available on broadcast networks. List 192 may also include a made-for-cable movie and a made-for-Television movie. The listings of movies or categories of movies coming soon may be maintained on a server at the television distribution facility or at database 14 and available on request by the program guide at set-top box 26.

[0134] The user may select a movie in listing 192 to view a Program Information screen for that movie which allows the user to view information related to the movie or find local theatrical showings. The Program Information screen may show the projected availability date and/or channel of the movie. The Program Information screen also allows the user to request a notification when the selected movie becomes available within the guide. Further features of an illustrative electronic program guide with advance notification is described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/378,533, filed Aug. 20, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0135] FIG. 12 shows screen 200 that may be displayed if the user selects Search option 132E of Movies niche hub screen 130. This feature allows the user to search the complete database of movies based on selected criteria, such as the movie title, the movie genre, the parental (e.g., MPAA) rating, actors/actresses/producers/directors and other movie credits, the language of the movie, critic's star ratings, or any word or phrase that may be found in the movie information by selecting a search criteria category from list 201 in screen 200. Other criteria may include availability of high quality audio or video formats, year of release, or any other information in the movie database.

[0136] Once the user has selected a search criteria category from list 201, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select or enter one or more search criteria (e.g., such as a specific title, genre, parental rating, actor, language, star rating, word, etc.). Once the user has entered one or more search criteria, the guide will display a list of matching movies. This may include movies on television, movies in theatrical release, and movies not currently available. The user may be given the opportunity to select a sorting criteria, such as by year of release, by title, or by time of airing on television. The user may select any individual movie to find out when it is available, select a reminder or advance notification, or any other action appropriate to the selected movie.

[0137] The searchable program database may be part of database 14, or it may be located at a television distribution facility or other location that is connected to the user television equipment through a communications network. The search criteria may be transmitted to the television distribution facility from the set-top box along an out of band data channel or separate communications link (e.g. a direct Internet connection to the set-top box), and then transmitted to the searchable database from the television distribution facility. The search results may be transmitted from the searchable database back to the user along the same channel or link, or a separate channel or link. The program guide may also search multiple databases and combine the results to present to the user.

[0138] If the viewer selects Video Clips option 132F from Movies screen 130, the program guide may display a screen such as screen 210 shown in FIG. 13. Screen 210 allows the user to find specific video clips and to display them. The screen may allow the user to see a list of new video clips, to see a list of clips related to video on demand movies, to see a list of clips related to shopping, to see other predefined lists of video clips, or to search for a clip or clips by selecting an option from list 211. The program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to search for a video clip or clips, for example, by providing a television screen similar to screen 200 shown in FIG. 12. When the user selects a specific clip from list 211, it may be shown in the video window of a Program Information screen, or it may be shown as a full-screen video. The video clips may be maintained on a database 14 or on a server at the television distribution facility or elsewhere and transmitted to the user television equipment along communications paths shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1C.

[0139] While viewing the Program Information screen for any program with related video clips, the guide may also present the option to view any of those clips.

[0140] Selecting Specials option 132G from Movies screen 130 (FIG. 5) may display a screen such as screen 220 shown in FIG. 14. This screen presents list 221 of special offers related to movies that may be available from the system provider. These offers may include a special deal on a VOD movie, buy one get one free offers, movie clubs allowing the user to get discounts on purchases of multiple movies, upgrades of single or multiple movie channels, etc. Selecting a specific offer may display a screen similar to the Program Information screen with details on the offer, such as price and description, and the option to purchase the offer. When the user purchases one of the special offers, this information along with the user's account information may be transmitted to the television distribution for processing so that the user can access the purchased channels, programs, etc., and the user's account may be debited. Further features of an illustrative interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion are described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/944,153, filed Oct. 6, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. While viewing the Program Information screen for any program that is part of a special offer, the guide may present the option to view and/or purchase any of those offers.

[0141] If the user selects Features option 132H from Movies screen 130, the guide may display a list of magazine-type feature articles. These articles may be taken directly from a magazine such as TV Guide Magazine, edited for the interactive program guide, or created for the interactive program guide. FIG. 15 shows such a list 231 in screen 230, as might be displayed if Features option 106L were selected from the Main Menu 100 of FIG. 2. If Features option 132H selected from Movies screen 130, this screen would include only features related to movies. The Features in list 231 may be filtered based on the current selected theme (e.g., movies) by a processor at the television distribution facility, the user television equipment, or a remote server from where the Features data was accessed so that only movie related features are provided in list 231.

[0142] Selecting any individual item from Features screen 230 may display a screen such as screen 240 shown in FIG. 16. Screen 240 may include a still image or video clip 245 related to the article, as well as the text of the article displayed in region 244. Screen 240 includes Back option 241 to return to the previous display screen. Screen 240 may include an option to start playing of the video clip in region 245 (e.g., such as option 242), or an option to stop playing the video clip (not shown). If the article is about a specific program, there may also be options related to that program. In the example of FIG. 16, the article is about a program that is not currently in the time frame covered by the guide, so the guide presents Notify option 243. Selecting option 243 would cause the guide to provide a user notification when the series season premiere for the program is to be shown. While viewing the Program Information screen for any program that has one or more related feature articles, the guide may also provide the option to access those articles directly. Data displayed in features screens 230 and 240 may be obtained from a server or database and transmitted to the user television equipment as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1C.

[0143] FIG. 17 shows a screen that might be displayed if the user selects Shopping option 132I from the Movies screen 130 or Shop option 106K from the Main Menu screen 100. If selected from the Movies screen, this screen may be limited to only shopping related to Movies. Screen 250 in FIG. 17
shows list 251 of merchandise catalogs, sorted in various ways. The user may select one of the options in list 251 to see a list of available merchandise, or may be given the option to search one or more of the catalogs for specific items, types of items, items related to a specific movie, etc. On selecting a specific item, a screen similar to the Program Information screen may be presented to allow the user to order the item. While viewing the Program Information screen for any program that has related merchandise, the guide may also provide the option to order any of those items. If desired, the user may purchase the program merchandise as a gift for another person. Further features of an illustrative system for purchasing gifts for others through user television equipment are described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,245, filed Jul., 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The program guide at the user television equipment may obtain data relating to purchasing available merchandise such as lists of products, product descriptions, and prices, from one or more servers or databases located at the main facility 12, the television distribution facility, or elsewhere along communications paths shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1C.

[0144] The interactive program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may act as a portal for other applications that are part of the niche hub. The interactive program guide may provide the other applications with access to various guide features (e.g., access to memory, access to remote control keys, tuning, parental control, user favorites, database access, etc.), and may share data and code with the other applications. The advantages of using the program guide application as a portal may include sharing a common user input device between the interactive program guide and the other applications to increase user friendliness, eliminating resource contention, and reducing the amount of code and data required by each application.

[0145] The interactive program guide of the present invention may act as portal to other applications that are features of the niche hubs using hot-linking. Hot linking involves invoking an application that has been preselected based on the current content of the program guide or status of set-top box 26. For example, if the user is watching a program, viewing a program listing, viewing the description of a program, or taking other action within the program guide related to a given program, channel, type of channel, or the like and the user directs the program guide to launch an application, the program guide may launch that application and direct that application to take an action related to the given program, channel, type of channel, or the like.

[0146] Hot links may be activated by dedicated buttons, a launch button, menu options, or any other suitable technique. The niche hubs of the present invention may use hot linking to launch applications accessible within the hub. For example, if the user selects an option to purchase merchandise in the movies niche hub screen 130, the guide may launch a shopping application (e.g., for purchasing program-related merchandise) and direct the shopping application to display catalogs and merchandise related to movies (e.g., HBO Movie Catalog by Film as shown in list 251
in screen 250). Further features of an illustrative electronic program guide as a portal for other applications are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/346,164, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0147] FIG. 18 shows screen 260 that might be displayed if the user selects Feedback option 106P from the Main Menu screen 100 or Feedback option 132K from Movies screen 130. If selected from the Movies screen 130, this screen may be limited to only feedback related to Movies. This filtering function may be performed by a processor in the user television equipment, at the television distribution facility, or elsewhere. Screen 260 provides list 261 of feedback options that user may select (e.g., using UP or DOWN keys on the remote control). The Feedback in list 261
may include opportunities for the user to provide several types of feedback. For example, it might include trivia questions, or the opportunity to enter a contest. It may support opinion polling, such as the option to answer personal opinion questions related to movie or television personalities. It may allow the user to send a message to studio executives regarding the cancellation of a television series. It may also allow the user to send an electronic mail message to the guide provider, to the television service provider, or to any specific programmer. If any specific program has related feedback opportunities, these options may be made available from that program's Program Information screen. When the user selects an option in list 261, the program guide may, for example, provide the user with a blank screen or region on the screen where the user may compose a message by using an alphabetic keypad on the remote control, a wireless keyboard, an on-screen keyboard, etc. The program guide may provide the user with a Send option to transmit the message to the recipient when he is finished composing the message. The message may then be transmitted to message processing facility 71 along paths shown, for example, in FIG. 1D. Message processing facility 71 may be a television network or a facility that conducts contests or processes messages from television customers. Further features of an illustrative television message system is described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,245, filed Jul., 16, 1999.

[0148] FIG. 19 shows screen 270 of that provides listing 271 of programs that have been previously recorded for the user. These programs may have been recorded because of a specific user request, or based on user preferences. They may have been recorded locally, for example on a hard drive or recordable DVD or videocassette recorder in the home (video recorder 28), or they may have been recorded at a centralized server that provides program-recording capacity for multiple homes (e.g., at a television distribution facility or elsewhere as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C). Selecting one of the titles from screen 270 may display the Program Information screen for that program, allowing the user to watch the program at any time. If the screen of FIG. 19 was displayed from Main Menu 100, it may include all programs recorded for the user household. If accessed from one of the niche hubs, it may only list those recorded programs matching the criteria of the hub--for example, listing only recorded movies if accessed from the Movies hub screen 130 of FIG. 5.

[0149] If desired, television programs may be recorded at one of the servers shown in FIGS. 1A-1C or at another memory storage device at a television distribution facility or connected to the user television equipment through the television distribution facility or a separate communications path (e.g., a phone line, cable line, satellite link, etc.). The program guide application or server may require that the user enter an debit account number before the transaction is complete so that the user's account may be charged. If desired, the user account information may be stored in set-top box 26 and sent to the television distribution facility so that the user's account may be charged for the recording. When the recording is complete, the program guide may notify the user that the program has been recorded and is available for viewing. Further features of an illustrative client-server based interactive television program guide system with remote server recording are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,244, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The program guide application may also provide the user with an opportunity to record a program series (e.g., all the weekly episodes of a television sitcom in a programming season). Further features of an illustrative system for series recording from an interactive television program guide are described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,792, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0150] If the user selects My Schedule option 106N from the Main Menu screen 100 or the My Schedule option 132O from Movies screen 130, the guide may display a screen such as screen 280 that is shown in FIG. 20. Screen 280 displays a list 281 of all programs (or all programs matching the niche hub theme such as movies) that are scheduled for future viewing and recording. These programs may be scheduled for reminders, such as "Practical Magic" in the example. The check symbol in region 282
indicates that a reminder has been set for the program "Practical Magic." The programs in list 281 may be pay-per-view programs that have been purchased in advance, such as "Eyes Wide Shut" in the example. The dollar symbol in region 283 indicates that the movie "Eyes Wide Shut" is a pay per video program. The programs in list 281 may be programs that are scheduled to be recorded, such as "Bone Collector," which is also shown as a pay-per-view movie by the dollar symbol. The "R" symbol in region 284 indicates that the program "Bone Collector" has been scheduled to be recorded. Reminders and recordings may have been set for individual programs or as part of a series or package or programs. Further features of an illustrative system for series reminders from an interactive television program guide are described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,792, filed Jun. 11, 1999. Reminders and recordings may have been set explicitly by the user. They may also have been set automatically by the guide based on user preferences and history. Selecting a program from list 281 may display the Program Information screen for that program, allowing the user to cancel or modify the scheduled reminder, purchase or recording.

[0151] The program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to set a reminder remotely, such as via the Internet, via e-mail, or via a pager that will be displayed on the television electronic program guide. The program guide may also allow the user to set up a reminder at the user television equipment and send it to a remote location, such as to a personal computer, palmtop computer, pager, etc. The reminder may be displayed on the remote computing device at a appropriate time before the program begins. Reminder messages may be sent between user television equipment and user communications equipment (e.g., a personal computer, pager, palmtop, etc.) via two-way communications paths shown, for example, in FIG. 1B. Further features of an electronic television program guide with remote access are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/354,344, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0152] The program guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to set a reminder for another person (e.g., a user of another user television equipment or user communications equipment). The reminder for the other person may sent to the recipient's user television equipment via the communications paths shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. The reminder may also be sent to the recipient's personal computer over the Internet or over communication paths shown in FIG. 1B. Further features of an illustrative system for sending reminders to others through user television equipment is described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,245, filed Jul. 16, 1999.

[0153] FIG. 21 is an example of screen 290 that may be displayed if the user selects the Web option 106M from the Main Menu 100 or Web option 132L from the Movies screen 130. Screen 290 provides list 291 of web sites related to the selected niche hub (e.g., movie web sites if option 132L is selected by the user to display screen 290), or general program-related web sites (if screen 290 is accessed from screen 100), and allows the user to choose one and view it. A web feature may also allow the user to search for related web sites, to mark them as favorites, to parentally control them, etc. If any specific program has related web sites, those sites may be made available from the Program Information screen for that program. The program guide may obtain URLs for and data from the web pages from a web server connected to the television distribution facility as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1B.

[0154] FIG. 22 shows screen 300 that may be displayed when the user selects a Discussions option from the Main Menu 100 or Discussions option 132M from a niche hub such as the Movies hub screen 130. Screen 300
provides list 301 of news groups or discussion groups related to the topic of the niche hub (if screen 300 is entered from a niche hub such as screen 130). If the user selects a discussion group from list 301 (such as the Gwyneth Paltrow discussion group), the program guide may display messages from the discussion group in a list such as list 311 on screen 310 of FIG. 23. The user may select a message from list 311 to display the message in overlay 312 for viewing by the user.

[0155] A discussion feature may also allow the user to group the discussion groups, to view conversation threads, to save or delete messages, to subscribe or unsubscribe to specific discussion groups, etc. If any specific program has related discussion groups, those discussion groups may be made available from the Program Information screen for that program. The program guide may obtain data containing lists of discussion and news groups and messages within the discussion and news groups from a server or database located at the television distribution facility, main facility 12, or elsewhere along paths shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1C. Further features of an illustrative interactive television system with news groups are described in Ellis, U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith (Attorney Docket No. UV-154), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0156] Screen 320 in FIG. 24 is an example of a screen that may be displayed if the user selects Favorite option 132N from the Movies screen 130 (FIG. 5). Screen 320 provides list 321 of a number of categories in which the user can choose favorites, and a number of items within each category that the user can rate individually. For example, for the category "Actors/Actresses", the user has picked the individual items "Gwyneth Paltrow", "Matt Damon", and "Jim Carrey". The user has rated them with two happy faces, one unhappy face, and one happy face, respectively, to indicate whether the user likes movies starring these actors or not. This rating system is illustrative; any other rating system may be used. In the category "Genres", the user has selected the items "Comedy" and "Children's", and rated them two happy faces and one happy face, respectively, to indicate that the user likes children's movies and likes comedy movies even more.

[0157] Other categories that may be shown for movies include Directors, Producers, Channels, Parental (e.g. MPAA) ratings, Movie Titles, Language, Video Format (e.g., High Definition, Wide Screen, etc.), Audio Format (e.g., Digital Dolby, etc.). The program guide uses the user ratings (e.g., happy faces and unhappy faces in FIG. 24) to determine which programs the viewer is most likely to like or dislike. Programs with attributes the user has rated highly may be featured in various parts of the guide, and the guide may provide quick access to them, for example in listing screens. Programs with attributes that are rated low may be hidden from the user. The user may also rate individual movie critics. If the user rates a movie critic highly, the guide may give more weight to the critic's rating in determining what movies the viewer may like or dislike. These program guide functions with respect to changing program information displayed to the user based upon his or her preferences may be performed by a processor in the user television equipment or by a server at the television distribution facility or elsewhere in a client-server arrangement.

[0158] Attribute ratings may be set by the user on a screen such as 320. They may be set by the user after selecting a Favorite option from a Program Information screen for a certain program, at which point the guide may display the attributes of the selected program and allow the user to rate any of them, such as rating actors starring in a movie. Further features of an illustrative program guide system with preference profiles is described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,934, filed Mar. 4, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The attribute ratings may also be set automatically by the guide based on program selections made by the user household.

[0159] If desired, the guide may support multiple sets of favorites based on household users, or for each niche hub. Upon selecting the Favorites option from any niche hub, the user is presented with the categories and items most appropriate for that hub. For example, the Movies Favorites screen may allow the user to rate Movie Critics, MPAA Ratings, and Movie Producers. The Sports Favorites screen may allow the user to rate individual sports and teams.

[0160] The user may add items to the Favorites list by selecting the Add Another option under any category in list 321. The program guide may then display a screen allowing the user to choose from items within the category, such as screen 330 shown in FIG. 25. Screen 330 displays list 331 of movie genres. The happy faces next to some movie genres indicate that the user has indicated these genres as his favorites (e.g., from a genre Information screen such as screen 340). The user may press UP or DOWN arrows on the remote control to select a genre in list 331.

[0161] When the user has selected a specific item from list 331 in FIG. 25, the guide may display an Information screen related to the item. For example, if the user selects comedy from list 331, the program guide may display genre Information screen 340 as shown in FIG. 26, or the guide may simply return to the screen of FIG. 24 with the selected item added to the list. In FIG. 26, the guide presents additional information about the selected item in region 344. Screen 340 also presents the option to change the user rating by selecting option 342. Screen 340 also presents the user with an option to list a group of programs matching the selected item by selecting option 343. The user may return to screen 330 by selecting Back option 341.

[0162] From screen 320 of FIG. 24, the user may select any specific item in list 321 and press a key on the remote control or select an on screen option (not shown) to change its rating. Selecting an item may alternatively display a screen such as FIG. 26, allowing the user to change the rating on that screen by selecting option 342. Removing the user rating from any item (i.e., setting the rating to "no (un)happy face") may cause that item to be removed from the screen the next time it is displayed, as the user has indicated no preference with respect to that item. The guide may support automatic reminders and/or automatic recordings of programs based on user preferences. Information relating to the user's favorites and programming preferences may be stored in memory 25 or at a server at a television distribution facility or elsewhere.

[0163] The Movies screen 130 may also have a Watch Movies button (not shown). Upon selecting this option, the guide may allow the user to watch television, but with quick access to movies. A Menu or Guide key on the remote control, which normally displays the Main Menu screen 100, may instead display the Movies screen 130 or the Movies On Now screen 140
(FIG. 6). While changing channels, the guide may limit the user to only channels currently airing movies, possibly limited to movies matching the criteria selected under Movies Favorites screen 320 in FIG. 24 with happy faces. Other guide functions, such as for example Browse, may also be similarly limited. While in this mode, the Movies screen 130 may change the Watch Movies option to a Watch Normal Television option; selecting this option would return the user to regular television watching and guide features.

[0164] The guide may support many other niche hubs. Each hub includes options that are appropriate for a user interested in that particular theme. Some options may be similar to those shown for the movies hub. Other options may be specific to another theme, such as a sports fan hub (option 112B), a music hub (option 112D), a soap opera hub (option 112G), a kids/family hub (option 112C), science fiction hub (option 112H), a news and information hub (option 112E), a local information hub (option 112K), a cultural hub (option 112F), a television lover's hub (option 112I), and an adult hub (option 112J). A user may enter these hubs by selecting, for example, the corresponding option in Themes screen 110
(FIG. 3).

[0165] Another illustrative television program guide main menu screen of a niche hub in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 27. Screen 350 is the main menu screen of a sports fan hub. Screen 350
provides the user with the option of using a variety of program guide features related to sports programming by selecting one of options 351-359. A user may view sports television program listings, as shown and discussed, for example, with respect to FIG. 31, by selecting option 352. The user may view sports scores and news, as shown for example in FIGS. 32-34, by selecting option 353.

[0166] The user may view a controllable sports ticker, as shown for example in FIG. 35, by selecting option 354. The user may participate in sports wagering and voting as well, as shown for example in FIGS. 36-38, by selecting option 355. The user may participate in fantasy sports leagues, as shown for example in FIGS. 39-40, by selecting option 356. The user may also view a listing of pay-per-view sports by selecting option 357, or a listings of sports programs on now by selection option 358. The user may purchase sports-related merchandise through an interactive shopping application by selecting option 359. Sports hub screen 350 may also display options for accessing sports web sites, sports discussion groups, sports chat groups, and other program guide features (e.g., any features shown and used with other hubs) with sports-related content.

[0167] The program guide may also allow the user to enter favorites within the sports niche hub such as favorite sports, teams, leagues, etc. as part of a user profile. The profiles may indicate, for example, that the user likes certain sports and teams but not others. The program guide may customize the features within the niche hub based upon the user's favorites.

[0168] The niche hubs of the present invention may contain individual areas within the hub for sub-categories within the niche hub category. For example, a sports fan hub may have individual areas within the hub for specific sports. Screen 350 provides option 351 for selecting an individual area within the sports hub that relate to a specific sport (e.g., football). If the user selects option 351, the program guide may display screen 360 as shown in FIG. 28. Screen 360 provides list 361 of individual sports that relate to an individual area of the sports niche hub. The user may select a sport from list 361 to enter the individual area of the hub corresponding to that sport. If desired, the program guide may provide the user with the option of selecting a specific team, league, etc. within that sport when the user selects a sport in list 361.

[0169] Each individual area within the hub that is tailored to a sub-category such as a specific sport, team, league, etc. contains niche hub features that relate to that sub-category. For example, if the user enters the football area of the niche hub, the program guide displays options such as television program listings, news groups, news stories, sports scores, fantasy sports leagues, etc. that relate (or only relate) to football in screen 350 and in other display screens of the sports fan hub. These options can be the same as screen 350 with filtered content related to the selected sub-category, a subset of the options displayed on screen 350, or options that are specific to the selected sub-category.

[0170] The program guide can customize the program guide features to match the user's selected sub-category so that options relating to that sub-category are displayed in the sports hub. This functionality may be performed by a processor in the user television equipment, at the television distribution facility, or elsewhere. If desired, the hub may be customized by a server (e.g., connected to user television equipment as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C) in a client-server arrangement.

[0171] An illustrative process for using niche hubs of the present invention is shown in FIG. 29. At step 370, the interactive program guide provides the user with an opportunity to enter a niche hub, for example, by displaying Themes screen 110 in FIG. 3. The user may then select a niche hub based on the options provided by the interactive program guide or based upon the current selection in the program guide. In another example of step 370, the user may highlight a movie in a general-purpose program guide television listing and then select a "niche hub" button on a remote control to enter the movie niche hub. If the user indicates a desire to enter a niche hub, the program guide may then display features of the niche hub at step 371, for example, by displaying niche hub movie display screen 130 or other niche hub menu screens discussed further below. The niche hub features are related to specific types of television programming, or user interests. The niche hub features may also be selected by the user as discussed below with respect to FIGS. 65-67.

[0172] At step 372, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select a niche hub feature, for example, by providing interactive options 132A-132O in screen 130. The user may select a niche hub feature by selecting the region on the niche hub menu display screen and press an "ENTER" key on the remote control. If the user selects a niche hub feature, the program guide may display options and information relating to the selected feature in step 373, as shown for example, by FIG. 9. The options and information displayed may be related to the selected feature. For example, screen 170 when selected from the movie niche hub displays video on demand movies.

[0173] Another illustrative process for using niche hubs of the present invention is shown in FIG. 30. At step 375, the interactive program guide provides the user with an opportunity to enter a niche hub, for example, by displaying Themes screen 110 in FIG. 3. The user may then select a niche hub based on the options provided by the interactive program guide or based upon the current selection in the program guide. If the user indicates a desire to enter a niche hub, the program guide may then display features of the selected niche hub at step 376, for example, by displaying niche hub menu display screen 130 for sports or other niche hub menu screens discussed in this application.

[0174] At step 377 the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to enter an individual area of the niche hub that relates to a sub-category of the hub. For example, screen 360 of the sports hub provides list 361 of individual areas within the sports hub that relate sub-categories such as specific sports. If the user then selects an individual area of the hub, the program guide then displays options and information relating to the selected individual area of the hub (e.g., as discussed with respect to FIG. 28) at step 378. The program guide application may obtain information regarding available individual areas of each niche hub and features available within each individual area from database 14, a server, or a television distribution facility. A processor in the user television equipment, the television distribution facility, or elsewhere may provide program guide features and information to the user at the user television equipment based upon the individual area of the niche hub that the user selected. For example, if the user selects football in list 361, the processor may provide football scores, news, and wagering options to the user in the sports niche hub.

[0175] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to view highlighted television program listings within the hub. Only programs relating to the user interest category of the niche hub are highlighted in the program listings. For example, the program guide may display listings screen 380
as shown in FIG. 31 when the user selects option 352 in menu screen 350
of the sports fan niche hub. Screen 380 displays listings grid 386 which is organized by time and television channel. Grid 386 displays all programs on the channels in the grid, but highlights sports programs since the user entered screen 380 from the sports hub. If a channel has no programs related to the category of the hub (e.g., sports), the program guide may omit that channel from the television programs listings entirely. Alternatively, the program guide may display a screen similar to Movies On Now shown in FIG. 6 (but directed toward sports programming on now) when the user selects option 352.

[0176] If the user has selected a sport from list 361 in screen 360 (such as football), only programs relating to that sport are highlighted in grid 386. The program guide listings may be obtained from database 14. The program guide application on the set-top box or computing equipment at the television distribution facility or other location may highlight the sports programs as shown in FIG. 31.

[0177] The interactive program guide application may also display context sensitive pop-up hints. These hints appear either when the user explicitly asks for help or when the system detects that the user needs assistance through the user's inaction or when the user presses an improper key on the remote control (i.e., a key that does not correspond to a valid command at the current program guide operating point). The pop-up hints may be text messages, instructional video images, and/or audio programs or messages. The pop-up hints may be context sensitive, displaying information based on the user's current location within the program guide and, possibly, taking into account the prior user control commands by which the user reached the current location.

[0178] For example, if the user selects a program such as program 388 and either remains inactive for a period of time, requests help (e.g., presses a "HELP" key on the remote control), or presses an improper key, the program guide automatically displays a pop-up hint such as pop-up hint 390. Pop-up hint 390 provides a suggestion to the user on how to select another program by pressing the UP or DOWN arrow keys on the remote control. If the user continues to remain inactive, request help, or press improper keys, the program guide may cycle through other pop-up hints (e.g., "to watch this program press OK"). Further features of an illustrative electronic television program guide schedule system and method with pop-up hints is described in Davis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,123, issued Oct. 13, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0179] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to view sports scores and news within a niche hub. The news stories displayed within the niche hub relate to the user interest category of the hub. For example, the program guide may display screen 400 as shown in FIG. 32 when the user selects option 353 in screen 350. Screen 400 may display list 401 of sports leagues for which the user may view scores in the program guide. If the user has entered an individual area of the sports hub relating to a specific sport, then screen 400 can display only sports scores and news relating to that specific sport.

[0180] The user may select a sport from list 401 to view scores from that sport. For example, if the user selects "NBA scores" the program guide may display screen 405 as shown in FIG. 33. Screen 405 displays listing 406 of recent NBA scores. The user may select an option in listing 406 to view an information screen that provides for information about the game. The information screen may be a Program Information screen for a program that is currently on television. The scores in listing 406 may be