Abstract: A method for assisting a user in selecting a program for viewing or listening comprising periodically receiving and storing electronic program guide information comprising records for forthcoming programs, the records having a plurality of fields; receiving a user selected text string and one more user selected fields; searching the program guide information for records having the user selected text string in one or more of the user selected fields; and displaying a list of the forth-coming programs corresponding to the matching records. This invention allows for more efficient and reliable searches of an electronic program guide for user desired programming.

Abstract: A system and a method for processing program guide information are presented. Electronic program guide information is received and stored. A first search criterion from a user for a first type of search is received. The program guide information is searched to find one or more records matching the first type of search. A user instruction is received to convert the first search criterion to a second search criterion for use with a second type of search. The first search criterion is converted for use with the second type of search.

Abstract: A method for controlling viewing of television programs comprising storing user profile records comprising fields having values in a memory; providing a user interface having a list of the stored user profile records; and upon user command, displaying a stored user profile record in summary form in the user interface. Preferably, the user command comprises highlighting a stored user profile record in the list, resulting in the values of the highlighted stored user profile record being displayed in summary form in the user interface.

Abstract: A method and a system for accessing recorded video programming, which can be displayed while the programming is being recorded to a storage medium (148). Program information can be automatically stored in a memory location. The program information can be determined by accessing an on-line program guide and monitoring a user video channel selection. The program information can include a program identifier (315) and a recording time (310). At least a portion of the program information can be displayed in a time-line (300) and sub-divided into a plurality of time increments (320, 325, 330). Responsive to a user input, playback of a portion of the programming corresponding to a user selection can begin. The user selection can be a selected portion of the program information that has been marked by the user. The user selection also can be identified by a recording time, which can include a start time and a stop time.

Abstract: There is provided a password manager for a hand-held device. The hand-held device is included in a system managed by an administrator and having a server and a network. The network is for synchronizing the hand-held device and the server. An input device receives a user input that indicates that a user of the hand-held device has forgotten an established password for the hand-held device. A notification module automatically transmits a notification of forgotten password to the administrator in response to the user input.

Abstract: A method and a system for maintaining user privacy in a device (100) that continuously buffers video programming responsive to changes in a user selected video channel. Video programming can be continuously recorded on a storage medium (148) and presented on a display device. Recording can continue uninterrupted during and subsequent to a user change of the selected video channel. Responsive to a user input, at least a portion of the video programming that has been stored on the storage medium (148) can be deleted. The user input can be a single command input such as an actuation of a control key. The selected portion of the video programming that is deleted can be controlled by a pre-determined number of actuations of the control key. All of the video programming also can be deleted from the data storage medium. An interactive erase menu can provide menu selections for various erasing options.

Abstract: An Ebook includes a memory device, a reading timer, and a display. The memory device stores files. The files include text. The reading timer performs timer functions. The display displays the text. The display further displays a visual alarm when either of a current time is equal to a pre-specified time or a pre-specified amount of time has expired.

Abstract: There is provided a method for suspending an automatic shutdown of a hand-held device. The automatic shutdown results after a pre-specified time period of inactivity of the hand-held device. The method includes the step of receiving a user input to suspend the automatic shutdown. The automatic shutdown is disabled in response to the user input, such that the hand-held device is shutdown only if a user of the hand-held device manually shuts down the handheld device. The automatic shutdown is automatically re-enabled to occur after the pre-specified time period of inactivity, upon a subsequent power-up of the hand-held device.

Abstract: A rating limit is set corresponding to first user input and an exception to the rating limit is set corresponding to a second user input. Information for specifying the rating of a program and for identifying the program is received. The rating is compared with the stored rating limit and it is determined using the information for identifying the program whether an exception from the rating limit for the program has been set. Access to the program is controlled in response to the results of the comparing and checking of the received information.

Abstract: A system and method for partitioning storage space in a video recording system or multi-media system into a plurality of discrete partitions. Each of the discrete partitions can be allocated to a different user of the video recording system or application of the multi-media system. Furthermore, the systems are designed to allocate an amount of the storage space to each partition to eliminate hoarding of the storage space by only one user or application.

Abstract: Rating limits, which define whether programs are to be blocked or are deemed to be acceptable, are selected in a program content filtering system. For that purpose information about a rating example is reproduced and at least one recommended rating assigned to the rating example is supplied. An user indication about the acceptability of said rating example is detected and assigned to the recommended rating. A rating limit is derived in response to the user indication. The above steps can be repeated if needed to provide sufficient data to enable deriving one or more rating limits from the user indications assigned to the ratings.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for generating a customized video recording compilation. The invention comprises the steps of: presenting (212) a menu which lists at least a portion of video segments recorded on a first storage medium; prompting (214) a user to select at least one video segment from the menu; compiling (218) each video segment selected by the user to create at least one compilation; and inserting (220) the compilation as a new item in the menu. The invention can also include the step of transferring (228) a video segment in the compilation from the first storage medium to a second storage medium. The invention can also include the step of automatically transferring (230) a plurality of video segments in the compilation from the first storage medium to a second storage medium without any user interaction following the initiation of the transferring step.

Abstract: A television program selection system and method for selecting television programs for viewing or recording utilizing a guide schedule list which is received from a cable or satellite broadcaster for example, and comprises characteristics such as topic-theme, relevancy, and broadcast time data. The user can select a time period and optionally in addition a selection mode, which corresponds to one of the alternative algorithms used to sort the programs in the schedule and generate a list of suggested television programs to be displayed for the user to select a program. The default selection mode can use a conventional selection algorithm, and the optional selection mode can eliminate all programs which have any characteristics having a zero weighting.

Abstract: A system and method for processing user programming request are described. A request entered by a user is detected. An entry for a time period based user spending limit is provided, in respond to the entered user request. The time period based user spending limit entry is received by the system and system tracks the user spending during the time period. In another embodiment, more than one spending limits, corresponding to different time periods may be entered.

Abstract: A system and method for processing program guide information are described. A user processing request information is selected or entered by the user. This allows the user, for example, to request the system to suggest a program, or to perform a search of the program guide information based on user-entered information. The program guide information is then processed based on the entered user processing request information. The processed result is then displayed in a dedicated channel.