METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING AN IMPROVED ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE IN A CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM

摘要

An Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) is implemented as an Interactive Entertainment Guide (IEG) that enables a subscriber to interact with a database containing programming schedule and other information over a bidirectional communication link provided between the subscriber's set top box (STB) and the IEG source or server at the cable system head-end, or at some other location. This invention provides an advanced cable television system having an IEG presentation subsystem that comprises a head-end database for storing programming information for a plurality of cable channels, and an internet protocol (IP) - based Web browser function in each television STB for receiving and displaying the programming information in a list format, and for providing interactivity with the head-end via a bidirectional data link.