TECHNIQUE FOR EFFECTIVELY ACCESSING PROGRAMMING LISTING INFORMATION IN AN ENTERTAINMENT DELIVERY SYSTEM

摘要

In a broadband communications system, e.g., a cable system, programming content can be readily reserved and accessed for viewing using an interactive program guide, a network home graphic user interface (GUI), Quick View Guide, etc., in accordance with the invention. Such programming content may include in-progress programs, future programs and previously broadcast programs which are recorded at a headend in the cable system, and which may or may not have overlapping broadcast times. In addition, the user may reserve programs at a set-top terminal, and may also do so remotely from the terminal through a communications network such as, the Internet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless telephone network, etc.

主权项

1. A method for facilitating user access to programming content, comprising:
displaying on a display device, as part of a home network graphical user interface corresponding to a single programming network, a plurality of user selectable network related options relating to content available from said single programming network, a user selectable programming network guide option corresponding to the single programming network to which said channel corresponds being one of said user selectable network options; responding to user input indicating selection of the programming network guide option by:
displaying a network guide channel listing providing channel information on a network basis, said network guide channel listing including a group of program channels which correspond to said single programming network, channels corresponding to other networks having channel numbers falling between at least some of the numbers of program channels in said group of program channels, said network guide channel listing including multiple channels corresponding to said single programming network while excluding said channels corresponding to other networks which have channel numbers falling between the numbers of program channels in said group of program channels.