Abstract: A set top box includes a designation function that provides a user with the ability to designate and store music video clips that the user is currently viewing while watching a video music channel. The user can instantly select a viewed video for storage in its entirety even after it has begun. The videos may be stored on a hard disk drive of the set top box, and may be indexed or organized by titles, artists, genre, or the like. Additionally, a user may be listening to an audio program on an audio cable channel, a radio channel, a digital or analog stereo (e.g., playback from a CD), and upon selection of a particular song, a corresponding video is downloaded to the user's designated set top box.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing indications of items such as a television program or programs watched by user, television program or programs to be watched by the user, an activity or activities in which the user has participated, and an activity or activities the user is scheduled to participated.

Abstract: An electronic program guide including virtual channels for interactive television includes multiple television listings and multiple Web site listings, along with broadcast or availability times. Each television listing is linked to a respective television channel indicator, while each Web listing is linked to a respective virtual channel indicator. The user can record Web content onto the television or peripheral device by appropriately manipulating an electronic program guide displayed by the television.

Abstract: A method for pushing Internet content onto interactive television includes prompting a consumer for input regarding topics of interest. The input is received by an interactive television and then transmitted to an interactive television system server. Accordingly, when data and/or content of interest becomes available it can be downloaded to the interactive television before a consumer request for the data and/or content is received.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling a user to purchase an item displayed on a display screen of a television receiver which may be located in the user's home or office. The system may include a set-top box having a processor and a back-channel and adapted to receive television signals representative of a number of items offered for sale and provide the received television signals to the television receiver so as to enable the item or items offered for sale to be displayed on the display screen, and a credit card reader adapted to read information from a credit card when the credit card is provided thereto by the user and forward the read information to the set-top box. The set-top box may process the information received from the credit card reader and supply the same to an external destination such as a store, a credit card company, a manufacturer or the like so as to enable payment for a desired item without necessarily storing such information in the STB.

Abstract: A technique for displaying a television commercial on end user equipment includes providing a plurality of commercials available to be played on the end user equipment while tuned to a television channel, e.g., by pre-storing the audio/video of those commercials on a storage medium of the user equipment. The onset of a commercial time slot on the television channel is detected; and a selection is made, at the end user equipment, of one of the plurality of commercials. The selected commercial is played during the detected commercial slot as a substitute for the commercial broadcast on the television channel.