Patent ID: 7493646
Filing Date: 2009-02-17
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for using an interactive television application in an interactive television system in which television programs from network-based equipment are delivered to users at user equipment over communications paths, wherein the network-based equipment, the user equipment and the interactive television application are used to implement a video recorder that records television programming, the method comprising: displaying an on-screen option on the user equipment of a given user that allows the user to set a reminder for a television program of interest, wherein the television program of interest has a scheduled broadcast time, wherein the user is allowed to set a reminder for a time selected from a plurality of times, wherein the plurality of times includes the scheduled broadcast time and at least one later time, and wherein the at least one later time is a time after the scheduled broadcast time and at which the television program of interest is not scheduled to be broadcast; upon selection by the user of a time from the at least one later time, recording the television program of interest using the video recorder; displaying the reminder for the television program of interest on the user equipment at a time selected by the user, wherein the time selected by the user is one of the at least one later time; and allowing the user to use the video recorder to play back the recorded television program of interest from the video recorder on the display at the time selected by the user in response to the user selecting the displayed reminder.