Abstract: A method of alerting a user of a scheduled event on a network includes transmitting a promotion to a first consumer premises equipment (“CPE”), the promotion being associated with event scheduling metadata, and causing the event scheduling metadata to be transmitted from the first CPE to a second CPE based on a selection of the promotion at the first CPE. The method further includes causing a reminder message to be transmitted from the second CPE to the first CPE based on the event scheduling metadata.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for embedding and associating triggers within a promotion or other similar content element with the event being promoted are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, consumer premises equipment (CPE) such as a digital set-top box is used to interface between the user and an external network (such as an HFC cable network) and facilitate the user selecting and scheduling viewing or recording of a subsequent event (e.g., broadcast movie) via the promotion itself. The trigger(s) within the promotion allow the user to contemporaneously select the promoted event for viewing, recording, etc. without any further action. The trigger(s) then initiates tuning of the user's receiver to the scheduled event at the appropriate date and time. This approach obviates additional actions by the user (such as programming their DVR), and also permits the user to commit to viewing the event when their interest level is highest; i.e., contemporaneous with the promotion.