Interactive program guide with continuous data stream and client-server data supplementation

摘要

An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment obtains program guide data from two data delivery mechanisms. Current program guide data is obtained from a continuous data stream. Other program guide data (which may include the current program guide data) is obtained by the program guide from a program guide server. The continuous data stream may also include program and program grouping identifiers. The program guide may perform real-time actions associated with programs identified in the continuous data stream.

主权项

1. A system for receiving program guide data that includes unique identifiers associated with programs, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:
receive a continuous data stream from a continuous data stream processor, wherein the continuous data stream processor is configured to select a particular unique identifier associated with a particular program for inclusion in a continuous data stream; monitor the continuous data stream for the presence of the particular unique identifier, wherein the presence of the particular unique identifier indicates when the particular program is being currently broadcasted; perform a real-time action associated with the particular program when the particular unique identifier is detected in the continuous data stream; and prefetch current program guide data from the continuous data stream when the real-time action is performed.