Method and system for providing dynamically changing programming categories

摘要

A method and system for providing dynamically changing sets of categories of television programming. The method involves a person or intelligent agent generating at a head end a first data set identifying programming categories based at least in part on programming choices available for viewing at a first time. This data set is transmitted from the head end to remote receivers, which display the set of programming categories to the viewer who can select a category and view the various programming choices within the category. The method further involves generating a second data set identifying different programming categories based at least in part on programming choices available for viewing at a second time later than the first time. This second set is also transmitted to remote receivers so that viewers see an updated set of programming categories. Thus, viewers are always presented with categories for which programming is currently available.