Patent ID: 6802077
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
In a subscriber television system that provides pay-per-view services, a method for causing to be displayed to any system subscriber trying to purchase a pay-per-view event a referral for a next showing of the pay-per-view event when a purchase window for a current showing of the pay-per-view event is closed, the method comprising the steps of:identifying when the purchase window for the current showing of the pay-per-view event closes; and responsive to the purchase window for the current pay-per-view event being closed further including the steps of: displaying in a first window that the current pay-per-view event cannot be purchased; providing in the first window a user prompt for a referral window; and responsive to the user responding to the user prompt, further including the steps of: scanning a pay-per-view database for information associated with the next showing of the pay-per-view event; and displaying in the referral window the information associated with the next showing of the pay-per-view event to any system subscriber trying to purchase the current pay-per-view event.