Abstract: An inter pap active television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.

Abstract: A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote superimposes portions of a scroll program guide over a basic programming signal for display on the viewer's display screen. A tuner has an input for receiving TV signals in a plurality of cable channels and an output for passing a signal of any selected one of said channels. A computer has an input for receiving any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote and an output for controlling the tuner to pass the signal of the selected one of the channels in response to one of the plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote. The computer receives and stores a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide data and generates a scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of the scroll input picture image signal. A combiner superimposes output picture image signal over the passed signal to provide a display signal for input to the viewer's display screen.

Abstract: Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

Abstract: An inter pap active television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide is provided in which advertisements may be displayed on program guide screens. Banner advertisements may be displayed above and below program listings. Panel advertisements may be provided adjacent to program listings. The advertisements may contain video. The advertisements may be used to promote television programs and conventional goods and services. When a user selects an advertisement, the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to order products or services, request information, set reminders for upcoming programs, view program descriptions, record programs, or take other such actions. Embedded advertisements may be provided within the program listings region and may be automatically displayed immediately adjacent to related program listings.

Abstract: A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment. Potentially objectionable material such as the titles and descriptions of adult programs may be blocked. When adult program listing blocking is invoked, the program guide replaces adult program listings with unobjectionable material such as a blank region, a generic unobjectionable program listing, or an unobjectionable title based on the channel being blocked. The user may invoke blocking of titles, descriptions, or both titles or descriptions. Blocking may be based on the rating of the program listings. Access may be provided to blocked program listings by entering a parental control code. The user may temporarily disable adult program listing blocking. The user may also set parental control locks for any type of potentially objectionable programming and may temporarily disable such locks.

Abstract: The present invention is systems and methods for interactive wagering. Preferred embodiments of these systems and methods incorporate a wagering data hub which controls the flow of data relating to wagers, wagering events, and wagering account and facilitates the use of a variety of user interfaces such as graphical user interfaces and interactive voice response interfaces. For example, a user of the present invention may use a television set-top box, a computer, a telephone, and/or any other suitable device. To communicate with the wagering data hub, television set-top boxes preferably use a two-way cable system, computers preferably use a computer network, and telephones preferably use a telephone network, although each may use any suitable mechanism or combination of mechanisms to communicate with wagering data hub.

Abstract: An interactive wagering application is provided that allows users to establish wagering criteria. When the wagering application detects that a wagering opportunity is available that satisfies the user's selected criteria, the wagering application may take an appropriate action. The wagering application may, for example, automatically place a wager or may notify a user that the criteria have been satisfied. Wagering criteria may be based on a particular track, horse, jockey, trainer, racetrack surface, race distance, statistics, jockey silks, odds or changes in odds, etc.

Abstract: A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote superimposes portions of a scroll program guide over a basic programming signal for display on the viewer's display screen. A tuner has an input for receiving TV signals in a plurality of cable channels and an output for passing a signal of any selected one of said channels. A computer has an input for receiving any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote and an output for controlling the tuner to pass the signal of the selected one of the channels in response to one of the plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote. The computer receives and stores a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide data and generates a scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of the scroll input picture image signal. A combiner superimposes output picture image signal over the passed signal to provide a display signal for input to the viewer's display screen.

Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which interactive television program guide advertisement usage is monitored. Advertisement usage may be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are transmitted from a television distribution facility to user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are received by the user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored at the time at which advertisements are displayed by a program guide. Less important data may be filtered from the collected advertisement usage data. Other activities that may be monitored include the viewing activities of the user, which program guide screens are displayed, and which non-program-guide applications are used. Real-time ratings information (e.g., real-time ratings of the popularity of certain television programs, video games, or other applications) may be provided to users in real time.

Abstract: A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays current or future programming information superimposed over the normal programming displayed on any channel accessible to the viewer's display screen. Identification signal data are accessed and generated by the computer for durations defined in the identification signal data either automatically or in response to the TV viewer remote. Information signal data are accessed and generated by the computer in response to the TV viewer remote. A signal combiner superimposes the identification signal or the information signal over the viewer usable signal of any selected channel from the tuner. The identification signal may include data defining an icon or textual matter alerting a viewer to the availability of information data.

Abstract: An inter pap active television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.

Abstract: An inter pap active television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.

Abstract: An interactive wagering application is provided that allows users to place parimutuel wagers on future events. An interactive wagering system may enable the user to place a wager on the future event by providing multiple wagering pools. When a future event wagering pool is closed, final odds and payouts may be determined for that wagering pool and a new wagering pool, for the same future event, may be made available. The interactive wagering application may also monitor the user's activities to create a user profile. The interactive wagering application may use the user profile to find future race events that may be of interest to the user. The interactive wagering application may also provide the user with the ability to search for future races according to the future race date, race name, or any other suitable criteria.

Abstract: A interactive wagering system is provided in which a user at user equipment may place electronic wagers with an interactive wagering application. The wagers may be horse race wagers. The interactive wagering application may handle wagers placed at multiple totalisators. The user may be provided with an opportunity to select a desired totalisator at which to place wagers or the interactive wagering application may automatically apply tote selection criteria to determine which of the multiple totalisators wagers are to be placed with. The user may review information on available odds and other information for each of the different totalisators. Automatic totalisator selection may be based on odds, tax consequences, licensing status, pool values, bulk benefits, user preference, available wager types, or other suitable criteria.

Abstract: A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays portions of a scroll program guide on the viewer's display screen. A tuner receives TV radio frequency or optical transmission signals in a plurality of cable channels and passes a viewer usable signal to a signal combiner. A computer receives control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It controls the tuner to pass the viewer usable signal in response to one of the control signals. Program information, such as TV program schedule information, may be displayed, and a user may select at least some of the displayed program information to be presented with additional program information related to the selected program information.

Abstract: The present invention is systems and methods for interactive wagering using multiple types of user interfaces. Preferred embodiments of these systems and methods incorporate a wagering data hub which controls the flow of data relating to wagers, wagering events, and wagering account and facilitates the use of a variety of user interfaces such as graphical user interfaces and interactive voice response interfaces. For example, a user of the present invention may use a television set-top box, a computer, a telephone, and/or any other suitable device. To communicate with the wagering data hub, television set-top boxes preferably use a two-way cable system, computers preferably use a computer network, and telephones preferably use a telephone network, although each may use any suitable mechanism or combination of mechanisms to communicate with wagering data hub.

Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which interactive television program guide advertisement usage is monitored. Advertisement usage may be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are transmitted from a television distribution facility to user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are received by the user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored at the time at which advertisements are displayed by a program guide. Less important data may be filtered from the collected advertisement usage data. Other activities that may be monitored include the viewing activities of the user, which program guide screens are displayed, and which non-program-guide applications are used. Real-time ratings information (e.g., real-time ratings of the popularity of certain television programs, video games, or other applications) may be provided to users in real time.

Abstract: Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may use the program guide to watch one program while simultaneously recording another program without interrupting the recording or viewing process. This interactive television program guide system also allows a user the to utilize all or some of the program guide features while in the watch and record mode depending on the embodiment that is being implemented. Further, this watch and record system may be implemented using a multiple tuner set-top box or a single tuner set-top box with a RF bypass or digital switch. In addition to a set-top box, the system may be implemented using a satellite receiver, an advanced television with a processor and memory, or a computer. The various implementations provide a very versatile watch and record environment for the user.