Patent Publication Number: US-2005138656-A1

Title: Interactive television program guide with enhanced user interface

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Vogh et al. U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/156,111, filed Sep. 24, 1999, Vogh et al. U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/161,896, filed Oct. 27, 1999, Moore et al. U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/170,386, filed Dec. 13, 1999, and Moore et al. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/202,302, filed May 5, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to interactive television program guides, and more particularly, to interactive television program guides with enhanced user interfaces.  
      Interactive television program guides are well known. It is desirable to provide user interfaces for interactive television program guides that enhance the user&#39;s guidance experience. It is also desirable to include advertisements and e-commerce opportunities within program guides.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an interactive television program guide system having an enhanced user interface. The interface of the present invention may use colorings or other highlighting techniques to better indicate to the user where the user is located within the program guide, and the features that the user has selected. The interface may include, for example, a “sticky” highlight feature. The sticky highlight feature helps reassure the user, in response to the user performing an action within the guide, that the user&#39;s action was properly made, before the selected function is performed. The system may highlight features using, for example, colors that are different from the original colors of the features. If desired, a third color may be used to indicate that a feature has been selected.  
      The system may provide enhanced navigational tools for aiding the user in navigating within the guide. The system may, for example, provide a navigational scheme wherein program guide display screens are slid back and forth. The screens may include cutoffs that indicate additional information is available off of the current view space. The system may provide an anchor bar having dynamic location indicators. The system may provide a navigational display region that is simultaneously displayed with information such as, for example, program listings. Users may position indicators within the display region to access types of pieces of information such as, for example, program listings for a particular time slot or channel.  
      Actions that are associated with a program may be provided within, for example, an information display. The system may dynamically associate actions with a program using, for example, metadata, by putting additional fields in the program guide data, or using any other suitable approach. The actions may be provided in an action display for a selected program. The actions may be linked, via executable type commands or scripts, to other applications to provide the user with enhanced features that are related to the selected program.  
      The system may dynamically determine categories for listings by category displays. For example, the system may determine if there are listings available for given categories. Users may select only those categories for which listings are available. The system may provide dynamic softkeys for selecting guide functions. The softkeys may be color coded to keys on a user interface device.  
      The system may provide navigable displays of user-identified listings having video displays that are synchronized to the user&#39;s position within the listings. The navigable displays may be for, for example, favorite listings, listings for which reminders are scheduled, or for history listings.  
      The system may include advertisements that are tied to the subject matter of program guide features, options or functions. Tying advertisements to the subjects matter of guide features, options or functions may provide users with an increased awareness of guide content, as opposed to simply subjecting users to advertisements for products or services without providing them with additional information related to the guide.  
      Display elements may be componentized. Componentization of display elements may allow many components to be used in more than one screen. Components may also act as containers for other components. Libraries of components may be constructed to provide for the more efficient storage and retrieval of component if desired.  
      Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative system in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIGS. 2   a - 2   e  show illustrative arrangements for the interactive program guide equipment of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an illustrative schematic block diagram of a user television equipment of  FIGS. 2   a - 2   e  in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions of the illustrative user television equipment of  FIG. 3  in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 5-32  are illustrative display screens for a first illustrative program guide interface in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 33  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in the sticky highlight feature of the present invention.  
       FIG. 34  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in highlighting display elements using different display characteristics, in accordance with the present invention.  FIGS. 35A, 35B ,  36 ,  37 A,  37 B,  38 ,  39 ,  40 A,  40 B,  41 - 52 ,  53 A,  53 B, and  54 - 107  are illustrative display screens for a second illustrative program guide interface in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIGS. 108-135 ,  136 A,  136 B,  137 A, and  137 B are illustrative display screens for a third illustrative program guide interface in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 138  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 139  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing a sliding navigational paradigm in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIGS. 140-149 ,  150 A,  150 B, and  151  are illustrative display screens for a fourth illustrative program guide interface in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 152  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing a dynamic anchor bar in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 153  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing navigational display regions in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 154  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing dynamic actions associated with programs, in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 155  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing dynamic category displays in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 156  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing dynamic soft keys in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 157  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing navigational displays having synchronized video windows, in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The interactive television program guide of the present invention may be based on a number of different hardware platforms. Suitable hardware that may be used in implementing the program guide includes hardware such as satellite receivers, personal computer televisions (PC/TVS), personal computers (e.g., with television tuner cards), cable set-top boxes, or any other suitable hardware. Illustrative interactive television program guide systems are described, for example, in Knee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,892 and Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. Client-server program guide systems are described, for example, in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/374,043, filed Aug. 13, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. On-line program guide systems are described, for example, in Boyer et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/938,028, filed Sep. 18, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
      The interactive program guide may allow users to record programs on digital or analog storage devices (e.g., videocassettes, hard disks, floppy discs, flash memory, recordable compact discs (CDS), recordable digital versatile discs (DVDs), or any other type of storage). Interactive program guides having digital storage are described, for example, in Hassell et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/157,256, filed Sep. 17, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Recording of media can also be performed by a program guide or other server. Client-server based program guides with remote server recording are described, for example, in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,244, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. On-line program guide may also record programs or direct a user&#39;s equipment to record programs.  
      An illustrative system  1000  in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Main facility  1200  provides program guide data from program guide data source  1400  to interactive television program guide equipment  1700  via communications link  1800 . There may be multiple program guide data sources but only one has been shown to avoid over-complicating the drawing. If desired, program guide data sources may be located at facilities separate from main facility  1200 , such as at local information services  1500 , and have their data provided to main facility  1200  for localization and distribution. Data sources  1400  may be any suitable computer or computer based system for obtaining data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically via a computer network or other connection, or via storage media) and putting the data into electronic form for distribution by main facility  1200 . Link  1800  may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link. Video signals may also be transmitted over link  1800  if desired.  
      Local information service  1500  may be any suitable facility for obtaining data particular to a localized region and providing the data to main facility  1200  over communications link  4100 . Local information service  1500  may be, for example, a local weather station that measures weather data, a local newspaper that obtains local high school and college sporting information, or any other suitable provider of information. Local information service  1500  may be a local business with a computer for providing main facility  1200  with, for example, local ski reports, fishing conditions, menus, etc., or any other suitable provider of information. Link  4100  may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link.  
      The program guide data transmitted by main facility  1200  to interactive television program guide equipment  1700  may include television programming data (e.g., program identifiers, times, channels, titles, and descriptions) and other data for services other than television program listings (e.g., help text, pay-per-view information, weather information, sports information, music channel information, associated Internet web links, associated software, etc.). There are preferably numerous pieces or installations of interactive television program guide equipment  1700 , although only one is shown in  FIG. 1  to avoid over-complicating the drawing.  
      Program guide data may be transmitted by main facility  1200  to interactive television program guide equipment  17  using any suitable approach. Data files may, for example, be encapsulated as objects and transmitted using a suitable Internet based addressing scheme and protocol stack (e.g., a stack which uses the user datagram protocol (UDP) and Internet protocol (IP)). Systems in which program guide data is transmitted from a main facility to television distribution facilities are described, for example, in Gollahon et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,624, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
      An interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive program guide television equipment  1700 . Five illustrative arrangements for interactive program guide television equipment  1700  are shown in  FIGS. 2   a - 2   e . As shown, interactive program guide television equipment  1700  may include program guide distribution equipment  21  located at program guide distribution facility  1600 , and user television equipment  22 .  
      The interactive television program guide may run totally on user television equipment  2200  using the arrangements of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   c , or may run partially on user television equipment  2200  and partially on interactive program guide television equipment  1700  using a suitable client-server or distributed processing arrangement such as those shown in  FIGS. 2   b  and  2   d . Program guide distribution facility  1600  may be any suitable distribution facility (e.g., a cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, or any other suitable type of distribution facility, and may have distribution equipment  2100 .  
      Distribution equipment  21  of  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , and  2   d  is equipment suitable for providing program guide data to user television equipment  22  over communications path  20 . In  FIG. 2   e , distribution equipment  21  may provide program guide data to Internet service system  235  via, for example, a suitable computer network or Internet link. Distribution equipment  21  may include, for example, suitable transmission hardware for distributing program guide data on a television channel sideband, in the vertical blanking interval of a television channel, using an in-band digital signal, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data transmission technique. Analog or digital video signals (e.g., television programs) may also be distributed by distribution equipment  2100  to user television equipment  2200  over communications paths  20  on multiple television channels. Alternatively, videos may be distributed to user television equipment  2200  from some other suitable distribution facility, such as a cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, or any other suitable type of television distribution facility.  
      Communications paths  20  may be any communications paths suitable for distributing program guide data. Communications paths  20  may include, for example, a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a data-over-cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link. Communications paths  20  preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow program guide distribution facility  1600  or another distribution facility to distribute television programming to user television equipment  2200 . There are typically multiple pieces of user television equipment  2200  and multiple associated communications paths  2000 , although only one piece of user television equipment  2200  and communications path  2000  are shown in  FIGS. 2   a  - 2   d  to avoid over-complicating the drawings. If desired, television programming and program guide data may be provided over separate communications paths.  
       FIG. 2   b  shows an illustrative arrangement for interactive program guide television equipment  1700  in a client-server based or distributed interactive program guide system. As shown in  FIG. 2   b , distribution equipment  2100  may include program guide server  2500 . Program guide server  2500  may use any suitable combination of hardware and software to provide a client-server based program guide. Program guide server  25  may, for example, run a suitable database engine (e.g., SQL Server by Microsoft) and provide program guide data in response to queries generated by a program guide client implemented on user television equipment  2200 . If desired, program guide server  2500  may be located at main facility  1200 , or other location, such as a cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, or any other suitable type of television distribution facility.  
      The program guide may retrieve program guide data from program guide server  2500  using any suitable client-server based approach. The program guide may, for example, pass SQL requests as messages to program guide server  2500 . In another suitable approach, the program guide may invoke remote procedures that reside on program guide server  2500  using one or more remote procedure calls. Program guide server  2500  may execute SQL statements for such invoked remote procedures. In still another suitable approach, client objects executed by the program guide may communicate with server objects executed by program guide server  2500  using, for example, an object request broker (ORB). This may involve using, for example, Microsoft&#39;s Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) approach.  
      The program guide implemented on interactive program guide television equipment  1700  may communicate with program guide server  2500  over communications path  2000  using any suitable network and transport layer protocols, if desired. They may communicate, for example, using a protocol stack which includes Sequenced Packet Exchange/Internetwork Packet Exchange (SPX/IPX) layers, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) layers, Appletalk Transaction Protocol/Datagram Delivery Protocol (ATP/DDP) layers, DOCSIS or any other suitable network and transport layer protocols.  
       FIGS. 2   c  and  2   d  show illustrative Internet based interactive television program guide systems. Distribution facility  1600  may, for example, include Internet service system  6100 . Internet service system  6100  may use any suitable combination of hardware and software capable of providing program guide data to the guide using an Internet based approach (e.g., the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)). If desired, Internet service system  6100  may be located at a facility that is separate from program guide distribution facility  1600 .  
      If the program guide is implemented on user television equipment  2200  of interactive program guide television equipment  1700  as shown in  FIG. 2   c , Internet service system  6100  (or other suitable equipment at program guide distribution facility  1600  that is connected to Internet service system  6100 ) may provide program guide data to user television equipment  2200  via the Internet, or via program guide distribution equipment  21  using any suitable Internet-based approach (e.g., using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) type link). If the program guide implemented on interactive program guide television equipment  1700  is a client-server guide as shown in  FIG. 2   d , program guide server  2500  may obtain program guide data from Internet service system  6100 . The program guide may also, however, obtain program guide data from Internet service system  61  via an Internet connection.  
      In another suitable arrangement, distribution equipment  2100  may include computer equipment or other suitable hardware on which a first portion or version of the interactive television program guide is implemented. A second portion or version of the program guide may be implemented on user television equipment  2200 . The two versions or portions of the interactive program guide may communicate using any suitable peer-to-peer communications scheme (e.g., messaging, remote procedure calls, etc.) and perform interactive program guide functions distributively between television distribution facility  16  and user television equipment  2200 .  
      Another suitable arrangement in which an on-line program guide is implemented on interactive program guide television equipment  1700  is shown in  FIG. 2   e . On-line program guide systems are described, for example, in Boyer et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/938,028, filed Sep. 18, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The user may have personal computer (PC)  231  on which a program guide client or web browser is implemented. Personal computer  231  may be connected to Internet service system  235  via Internet link  233 . Internet service system  233  may use any suitable combination of computer hardware and software capable of providing an on-line program guide server application or web site. Internet service system  235  is shown as obtaining program guide data from program guide distribution facility  1600 . In other suitable approaches, Internet service system  235  may obtain information from other systems such as, for example, main facility  1200 , local information service  1500 , or any other suitable source of program guide data.  
      An illustrative arrangement for user television equipment  2200  is shown in  FIG. 3 . User television equipment  2200  of  FIG. 3  receives video or a digital video stream and data from program guide distribution facility  1600  ( FIG. 1 ), or some other suitable distribution facility, at input  2600 . During normal television viewing, a user tunes set-top box  2800  to a desired television channel. The signal for that television channel is then provided at video output  3000 . The signal supplied at output  3000  is typically either a radio-frequency (RF) signal on a predefined channel (e.g., channel 3 or 4), or a analog demodulated video signal, but may also be a digital signal provided to television  3600  on an appropriate digital bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard, (not shown)). The video signal at output  3000  is received by optional secondary storage device  3200 .  
      The interactive television program guide may run on set-top box  2800 , on television  3600  (if television  3600  has suitable processing circuitry and memory), on a suitable analog or digital receiver connected to television  3600 , or on digital storage device  3100  if digital storage device  3100  has suitable processing circuitry and memory. The interactive television program guide may also run cooperatively on a suitable combination of these devices. Interactive television application systems in which a cooperative interactive television program guide application runs on multiple devices are described, for example, in Ellis U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/186,598, filed Nov. 5, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
      Secondary storage device  3200  can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device or player (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled by set-top box  2800  using control path  3400 . If secondary storage device  3200  is a videocassette recorder, for example, a typical control path  3400  involves the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to the infrared receiver in the videocassette recorder that normally accepts commands from a remote control such as remote control  4000 . Remote control  4000  may be used to control set-top box  2800 , secondary storage device  3200 , and television  3600 .  
      If desired, a user may record programs, program guide data, or a combination thereof in digital form on optional digital storage device  3100 . Digital storage device  3100  may be a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. Interactive television program guide systems that have digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/157,256, filed Sep. 17, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
      Digital storage device  3100  can be contained in set-top box  2800  or it can be an external device connected to set-top box  2800  via an output port and appropriate interface. If necessary, processing circuitry in set-top box  2800  formats the received video, audio and data signals into a digital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard or the Moving Joint Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG) standard. The resulting data is streamed to digital storage device  3100  via an appropriate bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard), and is stored on digital storage device  3100 . In another suitable approach, an MPEG-2 data stream or series of files may be received from. distribution equipment  2100  and stored.  
      Television  3600  receives video signals from secondary storage device  3200  via communications path  3800 . The video signals on communications path  3800  may either be generated by secondary storage device  3200  when playing back a prerecorded storage medium (e.g., a videocassette or a recordable digital video disc), by digital storage device  3100  when playing back a pre-recorded digital medium, may be passed through from set-top box  2800 , may be provided directly to television  3600  from set-top box  2800  if secondary storage device  3200  is not included in user television equipment  2200 , or may be received directly by television  3600 . During normal television viewing, the video signals provided to television  3600  correspond to the desired channel to which a user has tuned with set-top box  2800 . Video signals may also be provided to television  3600  by set-top box  2800  when set-top box  2800  is used to play back information stored on digital storage device  3100 .  
      Set-top box  2800  may have memory  4400 . Memory  4400  may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing program guide application instructions and program guide data for use by the program guide.  
      Set-top box  2800  may have communications device  3700  for communicating directly with distribution equipment  2100 , program guide server  2500  or Internet service system  6100  over communications path  2000 . Communications device  3700  may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable communications device. Communications device  3700  may also be a personal computer with an Internet connection in, for example, the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 2   c  and  2   d . Television  3600  may also have such a suitable communications device if desired. In an alternative approach, user television equipment  2200  may communicate with Internet service system  6100  via distribution equipment  2100  using a suitable return path.  
      A more generalized embodiment of user television equipment  2200  of  FIG. 3  is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , program guide data from distribution facility  1600  ( FIG. 1 ) is received by control circuitry  4200  of user television equipment  2200 . The functions of control circuitry  4200  may be provided using the set-top box arrangement of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b . Alternatively, these functions may be integrated into an advanced television receiver, personal computer television (PC/TV), or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such arrangements may be used.  
      User television equipment  2200  may also have secondary storage device  4700  and digital storage device  4900  for recording programming. Secondary storage device  4700  can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled by control circuitry  4200 . Digital storage device  4900  may be, for example, a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device.  
      User television equipment  2200  may also have memory  6300 . Memory  6300  may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing program guide application instructions and program guide data for use by control circuitry  4200 .  
      User television equipment  2200  of  FIG. 4  may also have communications device  5100  for supporting communications between the program guide and distribution equipment  2100 , program guide server  25 , or Internet service system  6100  via communications path  2000 . Communications device  5100  may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable communications device.  
      A user may control the operation of user television equipment  2200  with user input device  4600 . User input device  4600  may be a pointing device, wireless remote control, keyboard, touch-pad, voice recognition system, or any other suitable user input device. To watch television, a user instructs control circuitry  4200  to display a desired television channel on display device  4500 . Display device  4500  may be any suitable television, monitor, or other suitable display device. To access the functions of the program guide, a user instructs the program guide implemented on interactive television program guide equipment  1700  to generate a main menu or other desired program guide display screen for display on display device  4500 .  
      Four illustrative user interface approaches are described below. While the four approaches are described separately, their features may be combined in any suitable way, modified in accordance with the other approaches, or performed instead of or in addition to the features of the approaches. For example, and not by way of limitation, the ad panels of some of the approaches may be combined with the navigational wheels or display regions of other approaches. The anchor bars may be interchanged where suitable. Any other suitable combination, substitution or exchange of features between the interface approaches described herein, or with any other suitable interface approach, may be used.  
      A first user interface approach in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5-32 . This approach is described, for example, in Vogh et al. U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/156,111, filed Sep. 24, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. An illustrative screen  10  that may be displayed by the program guide of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . Screen  10  may be displayed when a user first invokes the program guide. Screen  10  may contain various options  12 . Screen  10  may also contain a picture-in-guide window  14  that contains video for the television program on the channel to which the set-top box is currently tuned. Interactive advertisements  16  may also be displayed as part of screen  10 . If desired, advertisements  16  may be passive.  
      Screen  10  may contain options  18  for various program guide functions. The user may select a desired one of options  18  by pressing a color-coded key on the remote control. The color of the key may match the color of the dot  20  that is associated with the option. For example, the watch TV option  18   a  may have an associated dot  20  that is blue. When the user presses a corresponding blue key on the remote control, the program guide may perform function  18   a . In the example of  FIG. 5 , function  18   a  directs the program guide to cease displaying screen  10 , so that the user may return to the television program on the channel to which the set-top box is currently tuned (i.e., watch television (TV)). The color-coded buttons on the remote control may be the same as those that are sometimes used in certain countries to access teletext functions. Any suitable type of coding may be used if desired. Color coding is merely an example.  
      Another feature shown in  FIG. 5  relates to anchor bar  22 . Anchor bar  22  contains a number of tabs  24  that correspond to different functions in the program guide hierarchy. As will be made clear from subsequent FIGS., the number of tabs  24  that are displayed and the content of the tabs  24  that are displayed may be context-sensitive. In the example of  FIG. 5 , the leftmost tab  24  corresponds to “home” and the tabs  24  to the right correspond to “listings” and “info.” The home tab  24  is highlighted indicating that the user is currently in the home location in the program guide. As the user navigates through the guide, different tabs may be highlighted to indicate the user&#39;s location in the guide. The highlighting of tab  24  and other display elements may include, for example, changing its letters from hollow to filled, outlining the display elements in heavier-weight outlines, changing their colors, or using any other suitable approach. The tabs may be arranged hierarchically, so that the highest level tab is displayed at the left and the lowest level (i.e., most detailed) tab is displayed on the right.  
      The user may move to by time option  26  by pressing a right arrow key on the remote control or by pressing select (or pressing enter or pressing OK, etc.), as shown in  FIG. 6 . The selected option (listings) may be displayed in a different color (e.g., orange) than the other options, or otherwise highlighted. The inactive options (e.g., the options in the left column) may be darkened relative to the active options (e.g., the options in the right column) to show that they are inactive. The user may move from by time option  26  to by channel option  28  by pressing a down arrow key on the remote control. This is shown in  FIG. 7 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the user presses the down arrow key, the program guide may dynamically change anchor bar  22  to accommodate a different number of tabs  24  (e.g., four) when appropriate. This allows the anchor bar  22  to be used to display information on a relatively greater number of tabs when it is necessary to convey more information and on relatively fewer tabs when it is not necessary to convey as much information and when it is desired to reduce visual clutter on the anchor bar  22 . The home tab  24 , listings option  30 , and by channel option  28  may be highlighted to show the user&#39;s location in the guide.  
      Pressing a right arrow key or select button when the by channel option  28  is highlighted directs the program guide to display the screen of  FIG. 8 . Note how the channel tab is highlighted.  
      The user may select the Phoenix channel by pressing a down arrow key a first time to move the highlight to ESPN, as shown in  FIG. 9 , and pressing the down arrow key a second time to move the highlight to Phoenix, as shown in  FIG. 10 . Options and other items in the program guide may be highlighted using any suitable technique. For example, items may be highlighted by displaying them in a different or more intense color, by surrounding a given item with a border, by cross-hatching or shading the highlighted item differently than other items, by placing a pointer adjacent to an item, etc. For clarity, the present discussion will focus on one illustrative example—highlighting options using color changes.  
      In  FIG. 10 , the highlighted channel listing (Phoenix) is highlighted in light blue. The light blue color stands out from the rest of the channel listings, which may be displayed in dark blue. When the user selects the Phoenix option or when the user presses a right arrow key, the program guide momentarily (e.g., for a second or so) changes the color of the Phoenix entry from light blue to orange, as shown in  FIG. 11 . After the momentary display of the orange-highlighted Phoenix listing of  FIG. 11 , the program guide proceeds to display the program listings for the Phoenix channel, as shown in  FIG. 12 . This feature, whereby a highlighted option is further highlighted or denoted with a special color after it has been selected may be referred to as a “sticky” highlight. The sticky highlight feature helps reassure that user that the user&#39;s choice was properly made, before the selected function is performed.  
       FIGS. 13, 14 , and  15  show how the user may navigate to the program listing “Chibimaruko Chan” using the down arrow key. If the user then presses the right arrow key, the program guide may momentarily change the highlight color of the program listing for Chibimaruko Chan from blue ( FIG. 15 ) to orange ( FIG. 16 ) and then may automatically display the screen of  FIG. 17 , which contains information region  30 . Information region  30  may contain detailed information on the selected program (“Chibimaruko Chan”). Arrow  32  indicates that the user may press a down arrow key to see more information, as shown in  FIG. 18 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 19 , the user can arrow right to highlight reminder option  34  to set a reminder.  
       FIG. 20  shows an example of the how the program guide may handle situations in which the highlight region remains on top of a selection after it is made. In  FIG. 19 , the remind option is blue because it is highlighted. In  FIG. 20 , after the user has pressed select on the remote control to select the remind option, the program guide displays the remind option in yellow. This indicates that the highlight region is still located on the remind option and indicates that the remind option has been selected.  
      As shown in  FIG. 21 , if the user arrows down from the remind option, the program guide may display the remind option in orange to indicate that the remind option has been selected (but is no longer highlighted and selected) and may display the lock option in light blue to indicate that the lock button is highlighted.  
      In  FIG. 22 , the user is at the home position. The user may select the by time option by arrowing right to highlight the by time option as shown in  FIG. 23 . When the user selects the by time option, the program guide displays by time screen  36  of  FIG. 24 . By time screen  36  contains a graphical display region  38  that visually represents the time period in which the user is interested. In graphical display region  38 , times (14:00, 15:00, 16:00) are separated by dark segments that represent 10 minute increments. If desired, the middle segment between successive hours may be increased in size to mark the half-way point between the hours. Graphical display region  38  may contain a highlight region  40  (in, for example, light blue) that indicates (by its vertical midpoint) the precise time that the user is interested in. The user may position highlight  40  using up and down arrow keys. Because the segments separating the hours have  10  minute increments, the arrangement of  FIG. 24  is appropriate for selecting times of interest to an accuracy of 10 minutes. This is particularly advantageous in countries that do not schedule all of their programming to begin at the top and bottom of the hour. In such countries, programs may begin at various times around the hour (e.g., 14:10, 14:17, etc.). Using highlight  40 , the user may select a start time for the by time screen  36  of, for example, 15:20, as shown in  FIG. 24 . The corresponding listings for that time are displayed in program listings region  42 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 25 , the user may select a desired listing by arrowing to the right. This directs the program guide to display time information  43  in orange to indicate that a time of interest has been selected. The highlighted listing  44  may be displayed in light blue.  FIG. 26  illustrates how the user may scroll through listings.  
      If the user arrows to the left, the program guide may display the screen of  FIG. 27 . If the user arrows left from the screen of  FIG. 27 , the user is presented with the screen of  FIG. 28 . Pressing a left arrow key once more directs the program guide to display the screen of  FIG. 29 . From the screen of  FIG. 25 , the user may reach advertisement  46  by arrowing left again, as shown in  FIG. 30 . If the user arrows down, the program guide highlights the lower advertisement—advertisement  48 , as shown in  FIG. 31 . If the user presses select when the user has highlighted an advertisement, the program guide may display advertising information related to the advertisement such as advertising information  50  of  FIG. 32 . If desired, the space normally used by the upper advertisement may be replaced (e.g., by additional information relating to the selected advertisement, etc.). If desired, selecting the interactive advertisements may direct the program guide to provide an opportunity to purchase a pay-per-view program, purchase a premium service, purchase a product related to the advertisement, or provide any other suitable e-commerce rebate feature.  
       FIGS. 33 and 34  are flowcharts of illustrative steps involved in providing various features of the present invention. In practice, one or more of the steps shown may be combined with other steps, performed in any suitable order, or deleted.  FIG. 33  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in the “sticky” highlight feature of the present invention. At step  330 , the interactive program guide highlights a first display element, such as a program listing, option, information display, advertisement, or other display element from its original display of characteristics, using a first display characteristic, such as, for example, a first color shading scheme, outline or other suitable display characteristic. At step  332 , the program guide highlights the first display element using a second display characteristic for a predefined period of time, in response to a user indicating a desire to access a second display element. At step  334 , the program guide unhighlights the first display element after the predefined period of time, returning it to its original display characteristic. The program guide highlights the second display element using the first display characteristic at step  336 .  
       FIG. 34  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in the feature of the present invention whereby display elements are highlighted using different display characteristics depending on whether they are selected. At step  340 , the program guide highlights a first display element using a first display characteristic, such as, for example, a first color, shading scheme, outline or other display characteristic. This may be performed in response to the user indicating a desire to access the display element. At step  342 , the program guide highlights the first display element using a second display characteristic in response to the user selecting the first display element. At step  344 , the program guide highlights the first display element using a third display characteristic in response to the user indicating a desire to access a second display element.  
      A second suitable interface approach in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 35A-101 . This approach is described, for example, in Vogh et al. U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/161,896, filed Oct. 27, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The approach shown in  FIGS. 35A-101  includes some of the same elements of the other approaches described herein. Some of these display elements such as, for example, anchor bar  22  and display region  38  have different display characteristics. An illustrative screen  107  that may be displayed by the program guide of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 35A . Screen  107  may be displayed when a user first invokes the program guide. Screen  107  may contain various options  12 . Screen  107  may also contain a picture-in-guide window  14  that contains video for the television program on the channel to which the set-top box is currently tuned. Interactive advertisements  16  may also be displayed as part of screen  107 .  
      Screen  107  may contain options  18  for various program guide functions. The user may select a desired one of options  18  by pressing a color-coded key on the remote control. The color of the key may match the color of the dot  20  that is associated with the option. For example, the watch TV option  18   a  may have an associated dot  20  that is blue. When the user presses a corresponding blue key on the remote control, the program guide may perform function  18   a . In the example of  FIG. 35A , function  18   a  directs the program guide to cease displaying screen  107 , so that the user may return to the television program on the channel to which the set-top box is currently tuned (i.e., watch television (TV)). The color-coded buttons on the remote control may be the same as those that are sometimes used in certain countries to access teletext functions. Any suitable type of coding may be used if desired. Color coding is merely an example.  
      Another feature shown in  FIG. 35A  relates to anchor bar  22 . Anchor bar  22  contains a number of indicators  24  that correspond to different functions in the program guide hierarchy. As will be made clear from subsequent FIGS., the number of indicators  24  that are displayed and the content of the indicators  24  that are displayed may be context-sensitive. In the example of  FIG. 35A , the leftmost indicator  24  corresponds to “home” and the indicators  24  to the right correspond to “listings” and “info.” The home indicator  24  is highlighted indicating that the user is currently in the home location in the program guide. As the user navigates through the guide, different indicators may be highlighted to indicate the user&#39;s location in the guide. The indicators may be arranged hierarchically, so that the highest level indicator is displayed at the left and the lowest level (i.e., most detailed) indicator is displayed on the right.  
      Another feature in  FIG. 35A  relates to advertisement tray  99 . Advertisement tray  99  may display any suitable passive or interactive graphic, text, video, animation, or other advertisement for a program, product, or service within the scope of the subject matter of a given feature, option, or function of the guide. If desired, a third party may purchase advertising space in the guide that corresponds to a given feature, option, or function. In  FIG. 35A , for example, the movie “Breakdown” is being advertised. This may indicate, for example, that Breakdown is listed somewhere in program listings, which in this example is the feature corresponding to the currently active indicator. Tying advertisements in advertisement tray  99  may provide users with an increased awareness of guide content, as opposed to simply subjecting users to advertisements for products or services without providing them with additional information related to the guide.  
      An alternative display that may be used for providing the features of  FIG. 35A  is shown in  FIG. 35B .  FIG. 35B  shows the addition of sliver  101 . Sliver  101  may display, for example, information related to the currently active option. This may include, for example, channel names, start times, program names, or any other suitable information.  
      The user may move to by time option  26  by pressing a right arrow key on the remote control or by pressing select (or pressing enter or pressing OK, etc.), as shown in  FIG. 36 . The selected option (listings) may be displayed in a different color (e.g., orange) than the other options. When any element on the display is active so that the user may select or otherwise interact with the element, that element may be, for example, lightened. Any inactive element (e.g., the options in the left column or the unselected advertisements) may be darkened relative to the active elements (e.g., the options in the right column) to show that they are inactive. The currently highlighted active element is the current selection among the active elements (e.g., the options in the right column). The user may move from by time option  26  to by channel option  28  by pressing a down arrow key on the remote control.  
       FIGS. 37A and 37B  show display screens that the guide may display in response to the user selecting “by channel” option  12  or “by time” option  12 , respectively. As shown, anchor bar  22  may highlight the listings indicator to indicate that the user is currently viewing listings. A navigational paradigm is provided by the guide in which the user may, for example, arrow to the right in order to obtain additional information for display in options  12 . The guide indicates that additional information is available by, for example, displaying options  12  so that they appear to extend beyond the right portion of the screen. In  FIG. 37A , for example, the start times of the programs are shown as being cut-off. In  FIG. 37B , for example, options  12  are cut-off and the user may arrow right to view additional information (e.g., program start times) in the options  12 .  
      Another feature shown in  FIGS. 37A and 37B  relates to navigational wheel  303 . Navigational wheel  303  may provide users with an opportunity to view options  12  that correspond to the currently selected option in wheel  303 . In the example of  FIG. 37A , the user has positioned highlight region  151  of wheel  303  over channel STWD. Options  12  display programs for channel STWD accordingly. To view listings for additional channels, the user may position highlight region  151  (e.g., by pressing up or down keys on a remote control) to the desired channel. Highlight region  151  may, for example, maintain its central position relative to wheel  303  and the channel number may scroll up and down. Alternatively, highlight region  151  may move.  
       FIG. 37B  shows an alternative display for wheel  303  and highlight region  151 .  FIG. 37B  also shows the display of advertisement panel  99  and sliver  101 . In this example, advertisement panel  99  includes an advertisement for “Adventure Planet”, which is a program included within the listings for aired at 15:20 as shown.  
      The display of additional features (e.g., advertisement panel  99 , sliver  101 , wheel  303 , etc.) and alternate display characteristics as shown in the display screens of  FIGS. 35B and 37B  may be applied to any other suitable guide display screen and to other interface approaches. For clarity, the following discussion is limited to describing the features and displays having the display characteristics shown in  FIGS. 35A and 37A  as applied to other guide display screens.  
      Returning to  FIG. 37A , information about the channel currently highlighted by highlight region  151  is displayed at the top of the display screen as shown. The user may indicate a desire to view listings for other channels by, for example, repositioning highlight region  151 . In response to the user repositioning highlight region  151 , the guide may dynamically display listings for the currently highlighted channel. Alternatively, the guide may provide the user with an opportunity to position highlight region  151  and display listings in response to the user selecting a given channel.  FIG. 38  shows the display of program listings (i.e., options  12  containing program listings) in response to the user indicating a desire to view program listings for the Asian News channel, ASIAN.  
       FIG. 39  shows the display of program listings in response to the user indicating a desire to view program listings for channel 4, PNX. In this example, an advertisement is available for a program within the listings for channel PNX (e.g., an advertisement for Phoenix Tonight), and is displayed in advertisement tray  99 . As shown, the navigational paradigm of the present invention may include indicating to the user that additional information is available for display in option  12  by extending options  12  past or into the right side of the screen. The user may access this information by, for example, arrowing right to enter the program listings.  
       FIGS. 40A and 40B  show an illustrative change of display screens in accordance with one mode of the navigational paradigm of the present invention. In the examples of  FIGS. 40A and 40B , the display screen is slid or shifted to the left to provide for the display of the additional information and to provide the user with an opportunity to navigate the program listings. In this example, the only additional information is the parts of the start times of the programs that did not fit in options  12  initially. Wheel  303  may be slid to the left and eventually obscured as shown. In an alternative mode, the guide may change screens statically, i.e., by changing screens instantly without the sliding effect.  
      As seen when comparing  FIGS. 40A and 40B  to  FIG. 39 , the advertisement in advertisement tray  99  may change. In this example, the new advertisement indicates to the user additional information related to the PNX channel. The advertisement may, for example, relate to the program Phoenix Tonight. Alternatively, the advertisement may be related to the PNX channel, or the PNX channel and Phoenix tonight, and may be an advertisement assigned to that particular option  12 . If desired, advertisements may be designated for each option  12 . In this approach, every option of the program guide may be used to generate advertisement revenue. If desired, a combination of both approaches may be used. For example, certain graphics may make it inappropriate to provide for the sliding effect. This may be based in part on the limitations of the hardware on which the guide is implemented. Displays with the graphics may be statically replaced (i.e., replaced without sliding). The guide may, for example, provide the user with an opportunity to select which display mode the guide uses.  
       FIGS. 41, 42 , and  43  show the user navigating within the program listings. As shown in  FIGS. 41 and 42 , for example, there are no advertisements designated for the options  12  corresponding to the listings for the programs “Macat Music Video” and “Nelton”.  FIG. 43  illustrates the display an advertisement related to Chibimaruko Chan in advertisement tray  99 .  
       FIGS. 44-46  show display screens for the additional information feature of the guide. A user may indicate a desire to access additional information for a listing by, for example, selecting the listing. In response, the guide may provide a display of information as shown in the FIGS., and may highlight (e.g., change the color of) info indicator  24 . The user may page or scroll up or down to see previous or additional information, as shown when comparing FIGS.  44  and  45 . The additional information display may have replaced the listings of  FIG. 43  statically, or with a sliding effect.  
      The guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to access other guide features from within an additional information screen. The guide may, for example, provide the user with an opportunity to schedule a reminder for a program, lock a program, see additional air times for a program, or access any other suitable feature. Program guide systems in which user are provided with an opportunity to access additional features from an information screen are described, for example, in Rudnick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,268, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The user may access additional features by, for example, arrowing right and selecting the desired feature. In  FIG. 47 , for example, the user has set a reminder for the program. The guide may display a reminder indicator on advertisement tray  99  to indicate a program associated with the reminder has a reminder scheduled. The user may return to a main menu screen, such as the illustrative display screen shown in  FIG. 48  (which in this example is the display screen shown in  FIGS. 37A and 37B ) by arrowing left. The guide may highlight (e.g., change the color of) an appropriate indicator  24  in anchor bar  22  as the user arrows left.  
      The guide may provide users with an opportunity to access listings by time. Users may indicate a desire to access listings by time by, for example, selecting time option  26  as shown in  FIG. 49 .  FIG. 49  shows the display of an advertisement in advertisement tray  99 . In this example, “Breakdown” is being listed in one of the listings. In response to the user indicating a desire to view listings by time, the guide may display a listings by time screen as shown in  FIG. 50 .  
      In the example of  FIG. 50 , the user has positioned highlight region  151  of wheel  303  over time 15:20. The highlighted time is also displayed at the top of the screen as shown. Options  12  display programs airing at time 15:20, accordingly. To view listings for additional times, the user may position highlight region  151  (e.g., by pressing up or down keys on a remote control) to the desired time. Highlight region  151  may, for example, maintain its central position relative to wheel  303  and the channel number may scroll up and down. Alternatively, highlight region  151  may move, or a combination of these approaches may be used. As discussed,  FIG. 37B  shows an alternative display for wheel  303  and highlight region  151 .  FIG. 37B  also shows the display of advertisement panel  99  and sliver  101 .  
      Returning to  FIG. 50 , the user may indicate a desire to view listings for other times by, for example, repositioning highlight region  151 . In response to the user repositioning highlight region  151 , the guide may dynamically display listings for the currently highlighted time. Alternatively, the guide may provide the user with an opportunity to position highlight region  151  and display listings in response to the user selecting a given time.  
       FIG. 51  shows the display of program listings in response to the user indicating a desire to view program listings for 15:30. In this example, an advertisement is available for a program within the listings for 15:30 (e.g., an advertisement for “Adventure Planet”), and is displayed in advertisement tray  99 . As shown, the navigational paradigm of the present invention may include indicating to the user that additional information is available for display in option  12 . The user may access this information by, for example, arrowing right to enter the program listings.  FIG. 52  shows the user returning to time 15:20.  
       FIGS. 53A and 53B  show an illustrative change of display screens in accordance with one mode of the navigational paradigm of the present invention. In the examples of  FIGS. 53A and 53B , the display screen is slid or shifted to the left to provide for the display of the additional information and to provide the user with an opportunity to navigate the program listings. In this example, the only additional information is the parts of the start times of the programs that did not fit in options  12  initially. Wheel  303  may be slid to the left and eventually obscured as shown. In an alternative mode, the guide may change screens statically, i.e., by changing screens instantly without the sliding effect.  
       FIGS. 54-57  show the user navigating within program listings displayed for the time 15:20. As shown in  FIGS. 54, 55 , and  57 , for example, there are no advertisements designated for the options  12  related to the channels ASIAN, PNX, or NGC, or related to the programs aired on those channels at 15:20.  FIG. 56  illustrates the display an advertisement related to the movie “Breakdown” in advertisement tray  99 .  
       FIG. 58  shows an illustrative information screen that the guide may display in response to the user indicating a desire to view additional information for the program “Savage Skies”. In this example, the user may not set a reminder or lock the program because the program has started already.  FIG. 59  illustrates the guide displaying a listings by time display for the time 15:20 in response to the user arrowing left while in the display screen of  FIG. 58 .  
       FIGS. 60 and 61  illustrate a guide feature in which users are provided with an opportunity to tune to a program from program listings display. As seen when comparing  FIG. 60  and  61 , for example, the user has positioned the highlight region over the listing for “Breakdown”, and a suitable advertisement is displayed in advertisement panel  99 . The user may indicate a desire to watch “Breakdown” by, for example, pressing an OK key on a remote control. In response to the user indicating a desire to tune to a program, the guide may direct the user&#39;s equipment to tune to the channel on which the program is carried. In addition, the guide may display browse overlay, such as browse overlay  2701  shown in  FIG. 61 . Browse overlay  2701  may also include advertisement tray  2703  in which an advertisement related to the scope of the browse display is displayed. In this example, an advertisement for a pay-per-view is displayed because the featured movie, “Lethal Weapon”, is being provided on a channel to which the user may browse.  
      The user may return to the menu display of  FIG. 62  by, for example, by pressing a “Guide” key on their remote control. As shown in  FIG. 62 , a suitable advertisement is displayed in advertisement panel  99 .  
       FIG. 63  shows options  12  that the guide may display in response to the user selecting a showcase option. In practice, the number of options  12  available may be dynamically configurable. In this example, the showcase feature only requires four options.  FIG. 63  also illustrates the display of an advertisement in advertisement tray  99 . The advertisement shown may, for example, be for a pay-per-view program that is featured in the showcase feature. In this example, anchor bar  22  indicates that the next group of options that the user may access (e.g., by arrowing right when showcase is selected) is a group of options related to listings. As shown, the user may access pay-per-view listings by time and name, and may also access premium channels and pay-per-view events. The user may arrow right again (or press OK) to access an information display.  
       FIG. 64  shows the display of options  12  in response to the user selecting a services option. The services may include services such as games, home shopping applications, screening rooms, access to on-line guides, local information services, and non-guide applications (e.g., banking application). A services option may be used, however, to provide users with links to any other suitable services. In the example of  FIG. 64 , an advertisement for TV Guide On-Line is displayed because TV Guide On-Line is a feature provided under the services option. As indicated by anchor bar  22 , the user may arrow right (or press OK) to access a group of trailers options, and may arrow right again (or press OK again) to watch trailers.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 65 and 66 , the user has selected services option  12 , highlighted merchandise option  12 . A suitable advertisement is displayed in advertisement tray  99  (which in this example is still a TV Guide On-Line advertisement), and anchor bar  22  indicates features the user may access by arrowing right (or pressing OK).  
      In  FIG. 67 , the user has highlighted TV Games option  33 . A suitable advertisement is displayed in advertisement tray  99  (which in this example is still a TV Guide On-Line advertisement), and anchor bar  22  indicates features the user may access by arrowing right (or pressing OK). In this example, there are no additional features the user may access because by selecting TV Games the user launches (or otherwise accesses) a TV Games application. An illustrative menu for a TV Games application is shown in  FIG. 68 .  FIGS. 68-74  illustrate the user navigating within the menu. As illustrated in  FIGS. 68-74 , a third party application, in this example the TV Games application, may include a link back to the guide (e.g., link  3401 ). The user may return to a main menu as shown in  FIG. 75  by, for example, arrowing left.  
      The guide may also provide users with an opportunity to select an advertisement  16  and obtain information for the advertised program, product, or service. Users may indicate a desire to select an advertisement by, for example, pressing the button on a remote control that is color coordinated with Today&#39;s Picks option  18 . In response to the user indicating a desire to select an advertisement, the guide may highlight one of the advertisements  16 , as shown in  FIG. 76 . Anchor bar  22  may change to reflect the available option (e.g., today&#39;s pick). The user may position highlight region  151  over the other advertisement  16  and select the desired advertisement by, for example, pressing an OK key on the remote control ( FIG. 77 ). In response to the user selecting an advertisement  16 , the guide may display an information screen as shown in  FIG. 78 . The user may scroll or page up or down to read the provided information. The user may view information for additional picks (e.g., advertisements) by selecting more picks option  18  (e.g., by pressing a button on the remote control that corresponds to the color of the more picks button  18 ). The user may return home by, for example, pressing a button on the remote control that corresponds to the color of the home button  18  ( FIG. 78 ). Anchor bar  22  and advertisement tray  99  may change accordingly.  
       FIGS. 79-83  illustrate the user navigating to and selecting a weather option (e.g., by arrowing right or pressing OK). Comparing  FIGS. 79-83  shows how anchor bar  22  and advertisement panel  99  may change as the user navigates within the options.  
       FIGS. 84-89  show illustrative display screens that the guide may display when providing access to a weather information service. The weather information provided may be national or local information. The guide may provide a user with an opportunity to access, for example, local weather information such as forecasts, satellite views, radar views, maps, archives of weather information, or other suitable weather related features. The user may, for example, choose a geographic location for which these or other features provide weather information. The guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to search for cities, access weather watches and warnings, access radar information, satellite information and other information, access a television based weather product such as the Weather Channel, access an on-line Weather Channel, or access any other suitable weather related feature.  FIGS. 85, 86 , and  87  illustrate the display of screens for such features using a sliding effect.  FIGS. 88 and 89  illustrate the display of screens for such features without using cutoffs and a sliding effect. The user may return from the weather feature by, for example, arrowing left ( FIG. 90 ).  
       FIGS. 91-94  illustrate the user navigating to and selecting the showcase option (e.g., by arrowing right or pressing OK). Comparing  FIGS. 91-94  shows how anchor bar  22  and advertisement panel  99  may change as the user navigates within the options. The guide may provide the user with an opportunity to search through pay-per-view programs by name. Users may indicate a desire to search through pay-per-view programs by name by, for example, selecting “ppv by name” option  12  ( FIG. 94 ). In response to the user indicating a desire to search pay-per-view programs by name, the guide may display a search screen as shown in  FIG. 95 .  
      In the example of  FIG. 95 , highlight region  151  of wheel  303  is initially positioned over the letter “A”. Options  12  display pay-per-view program listings that begin with the letter “A” accordingly. To view pay-per-view program listings that begin with other letters, the user may position highlight region  151  (e.g., by pressing up or down keys on a remote control) to the desired letter. Highlight region  151  may, for example, maintain its central position relative to wheel  303  and the letters may scroll up and down. Alternatively, highlight region  151  may move. The user may also view pay-per-view program listings for a particular day by, for example, pressing a button on the remote control that is color coordinated to the pick day option  18 .  FIG. 95  also illustrates the display of an advertisement in advertisement panel  99  that corresponds to a particular position in wheel  303 . In this example, an advertisement for “The Prince of Egypt”, a pay-per-view program within the listings (although not currently displayed in an option  12 ), has been assigned to the current position of wheel  303 .  
       FIGS. 96-98  illustrate the user navigating within wheel  303 . As shown in  FIGS. 96-98 , advertisement panel  99  does not change because, for example, the advertisement shown has been assigned to the positions in wheel  303  for the letters “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”. Alternatively, one advertisement may be assigned to the entire wheel  303 . Options  12  extend past the right edge of the screen to indicate that the user may, for example, arrow right to view additional information.  
       FIGS. 99-101  illustrate the guide providing the user with an opportunity to navigate within listings after the user has selected a particular letter (e.g., the letter “D”). As shown in  FIGS. 99 and 100 , the listings may be displayed using a sliding effect to replace wheel  303 . Alternatively, wheel  303  may be statically replaced if desired.  
       FIG. 102  illustrates an information screen that the guide may display in response to a user selecting a listing (e.g., the listing for “Deep End of the Ocean”). The information screen may display additional air times  681  for the pay-per-view. As illustrated in  FIGS. 103-106 , the user may navigate the additional air times  681 , select an air time (e.g., 23:15), and order the pay-per-view. When the ordering process is complete, the user may return to the information screen ( FIG. 107 ). The information screens of  FIGS. 102-107  may also provide a user with an opportunity to shop a TV Guide Store.  
      A third suitable interface approach in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 108-137B  This approach is described, for example, in Moore et al. U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/170,386, filed Dec. 13, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The approach shown in  FIGS. 108-137B  includes some of the display elements of the other approaches described herein. Some of these display elements such as, for example, anchor bar  22  and display region  38  have different display characteristics.  
      An illustrative screen  109  that may be displayed by the program guide of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 108 . Screen  109  may be displayed when a user first invokes the program guide. Screen  10  may contain various options  12 . Screen  109  may also contain a picture-in-guide window  14  that contains video for the television program on the channel to which the set-top box is currently tuned. Interactive advertisements  16  may also be displayed as part of screen  109 .  
      Screen  109  may contain options  18  for various program guide functions. The user may select a desired one of options  18  by, for example, pressing a color-coded key on the remote control. The color of the key may match the color of the dot  20  that is associated with the option. For example, the exit option  18   a  may have an associated dot  20  that is blue. When the user presses a corresponding blue key on the remote control, the program guide may perform function  18   a . In the example of  FIG. 108 , function  18   a  directs the program guide to cease displaying screen  10 , so that the user may return to the television program on the channel to which the set-top box is currently tuned (i.e., watch television (TV)). The color-coded buttons on the remote control may be the same as those that are sometimes used in certain countries to access teletext functions. Any suitable type of coding may be used if desired. Color coding is merely an example.  
      Another feature in  FIG. 108  relates to advertisement tray  99 . Advertisement tray  99  may display any suitable passive or interactive graphic, text, video, or other advertisement for a program, product, or service within the scope of the subject matter of a given feature, option, or function of the guide. If desired, a third party may purchase advertising space in the guide that corresponds to a given feature, option, or function. In  FIG. 108 , for example, the title “Adventure Planet” is being advertised. This may indicate, for example, that Adventure Planet is listed somewhere in program listings. Tying advertisements in advertisement tray  99  (e.g., the advertisement for “Adventure Planet”) to the subject matter of a given feature, option, or function, may provide users with an increased awareness of guide content, as opposed to simply subjecting users to advertisements for products or services without providing them with additional information related to the guide.  
      Users may access options  12  using any suitable approach. The user may move to by time option  26 , for example, by pressing a right arrow key on the remote control or by pressing select (or pressing enter or pressing OK, etc.), as shown in  FIG. 109 . The selected option (listings) may be displayed in a different color (e.g., orange) than the other options. When any element on the display is active so that the user may select or otherwise interact with the element, that element may be, for example, lightened. Any inactive element (e.g., the options in the left column or the unselected advertisements) may be darkened relative to the active elements (e.g., the options in the right column) to show that they are inactive. The currently highlighted active element is the current selection among the active elements (e.g., the options in the right column). The user may move from by time option  26  to by channel option  28  by pressing, for example, a down arrow key on the remote control.  
      The various screen elements shown in  FIGS. 108 and 109  may be displayed throughout the program guide. Picture in guide window  14 , for example, may be displayed in substantially all of guide display screens to provide users with an opportunity to watch the current channel while using the guide. Advertisement  16 , for example, may be displayed on substantially all of the guide screens to maximize the guide provider&#39;s opportunity to promote various titles. Advertisement tray  99  may also be provided on screens when the user has selected an option or accessed a feature or function of the guide for which an advertisement is available.  FIG. 110  shows an illustrative listing by time screen that the guide may display in response to the user selecting “by time” option  26 .  
       FIG. 110  illustrates the display of navigational bar  303 . Navigational bar  303  may provide users with an opportunity to view options  12  that correspond to the currently selected position in bar  303 . Navigational bar  303  may display any suitable information that indicates available criteria for the options in the current display. Navigational bar  303  may include, for example, times, channels, features, or any other suitable criteria. In the example of  FIG. 110 , the user has positioned indicator  151  of bar  303  to time 15:20 for the current day. Options  12  display programs that air at 15:20 accordingly. To view listings for additional times, the user may position indicator  151  (e.g., by pressing left or right keys on a remote control) to the desired time. Indicator  151  may, for example, maintain its position relative to bar  303  and the times may scroll left and right. Alternatively, indicator  151  may move left and right. In addition to indicator  151  and bar  303 , sliver  101  may be displayed. Sliver  101  may display, for example, information related to the currently active option. This may include, for example, channel names, start times, program names, or any other suitable information. In this example, sliver  101  includes a label indicating the current position in bar  303 . In this example, indicator  151  indicates to the user that listings for programs airing at 15:20 on the current day are displayed. Indicator  151  may change as the user manipulates bar  303  (e.g., by arrowing right or left). If the user manipulates bar  303  so that listings for the previous or next day are displayed, sliver  101  may display the name of the day for the displayed listings.  
      Users may view additional listings for the air time currently selected in bar  303  by, for example, arrowing down or up. As illustrated when comparing  FIGS. 110 and 111 , no advertisements have appeared in advertisement tray  99  because, for example, no sponsor has purchased advertisement space in the by time screen for a given feature. In  FIG. 112 , the user has navigated to the listing for “Epicurious.” In this example, advertisement tray  99  displays an advertisement because a sponsor has purchased advertisement rights for that particular listing. As mentioned earlier, advertisement tray  99  displays advertisements only for those products or services that are somehow related to the feature, option or function. In this example, the user&#39;s guide experience is enriched because additional graphical content (i.e., an advertisement for Epicurious) is displayed that further illustrates the listing to which the user has navigated.  
      In  FIG. 113 , the user has navigated to a listing for “The Peacemaker” (e.g., by arranging or paging downward). As with other listings, the user may obtain additional information for a title by selecting the listing for the title (e.g., pressing on “info” or “enter” key on the user&#39;s remote control). In response, the guide may display an additional information screen, as shown, for example, on  FIG. 114 . The illustrative information screen of  FIG. 114  may display information about a title (e.g., title, channel, rating, air time, and description). If there is more information than can fit in a single screen, the guide may provide the user with an opportunity to scroll or page up or down to access the information.  
      The guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to access other guide features from within an additional information screen. The guide may, for example, provide the user with an opportunity to schedule a reminder for a program, lock a program, see additional air times for a program, or access any other suitable feature. Program guide systems in which user are provided with an opportunity to access additional features are described, for example, in Rudnick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,268, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The available features may be displayed, for example, in navigational bar  303 . To access additional features, the user may, for example, arrow right or left. Indicator  151  may indicate the current feature (e.g., by indicator  151  moving relative to the listed features or vice versa), and sliver  101  may display a short description of the feature (e.g., “set a reminder,” “lock programs,” etc.). In  FIG. 114 , for example, the user has scheduled a reminder for the featured program (e.g., by pressing “enter” or “ok” after navigating to the reminder feature). The guide may display reminder indicator  701  in sliver  101  to indicate a reminder has been scheduled. The user may return to a main menu screen, such as the illustrative display screen shown in  FIG. 108 , by, for example, arrowing left until home or pressing “guide” or “menu” key.  
      The guide may provide users with an opportunity to access listings by channel. Users may indicate a desire to access listings by channel by, for example, selecting channel option  28  as shown in  FIG. 115 .  FIG. 115  shows the display of an advertisement in advertisement tray  99 . In this example, “Adventure Planet” is being listed in one of the listings. In response to the user indicating a desire to view listings by channel, the guide may display a listings by time channel as shown in  FIG. 116 .  
      In the example of  FIG. 116  the user has navigated within bar  303  to channel  808  PPV. Options  12  display programs airing on channel  808  PPV accordingly. To view listings for additional channels, the user may, for example, press left or right keys on a remote control to navigate within bar  303 . Indicator  151  may, for example, maintain its central position relative to bar  303  and the channel letters  901  may scroll left and right. Sliver  101  may display the channel number and call letters for the channel indicated by indicator  151 . Alternatively, indicator  151  may move, or a combination of these approaches may be used.  
       FIG. 117  shows the display of program listings in response to the user indicating a desire to view program listings for channel KOKI (e.g., by arrowing right). As shown, no advertisement is available for the current option. In  FIG. 118 , the user has navigated to the listing for “The Nanny” (e.g., by arrowing down). In this example, an advertisement is available for the time 16:30 (e.g., an advertisement for “The Nanny”), and is displayed in advertisement tray  99 . The user may access additional information for the listing by, for example, pressing an “info key.”  FIG. 119  shows an illustrative additional information screen for the Nanny. As shown in  FIG. 119 , information screens may include. In  FIG. 119 , unlike  FIG. 114 , a sponsor has purchased advertisement space in advertisement tray  99 . In this example, an advertisement for “The Nanny” is displayed, enriching the user&#39;s experience while providing the system provider with an advertising opportunity.  
       FIG. 120  shows options  12  that the guide may display in response to the user selecting a premium option. In practice, the number of options  12  available may be dynamically configurable in this screen, or any other screen if suitable.  FIG. 120  also illustrates the display of an advertisement in advertisement tray  99 . The advertisement shown may, for example, be for a pay-per-view program that is featured in the premium feature. As shown, the user may access pay-per-view listings by time, title and channel, and may also access pay-per-view events, premium channels, adult pay-per-view, and pay-per-view packages. The user may also access a screening room in which the user may watch previews. The user may, for example, indicate a desire to view pay-per-view listings by title (e.g., by selecting “ppv by title” option  131 ). In response, the guide may display a pay-per-view by title screen, such as the illustrative screen shown in  FIG. 121 .  
      In the example of  FIG. 121 , indicator  151  of bar  303  is initially positioned over the letter “A”. Options  12  display pay-per-view program listings that begin with the letter “A” accordingly. To view pay-per-view program listings that begin with other letters, the user may position indicator  151  (e.g., by pressing left or right keys on a remote control) to the desired letter. Indicator  151  may, for example, maintain its central position relative to navigator and the letters may scroll left and right. Alternatively, indicator  151  may move.  FIG. 121  also illustrates the display of an advertisement in advertisement panel  99  that corresponds to, for example, a particular letter in bar  303  or the currently selected listing. In this example, an advertisement for “The Prince of Egypt”, a pay-per-view program within the listings (although not currently displayed in an option  12 ), has been assigned to the current position of bar  303 .  
       FIG. 122  illustrates the user navigating within bar  303  to letter “D”. As shown, advertisement panel  99  does not change because, for example, the advertisement shown has been assigned to the position in bar  303  for the letters “D”. Alternatively, one advertisement may be assigned to the entire bar  303 . In such a case, the advertisement may change as the user navigates within the listings.  
      In  FIG. 123 , the user has navigated to the listing for “Deep End of the Ocean”. In response to the user selecting the listing, the guide may display an additional information screen such as that shown, for example, in  FIG. 124 . Navigational bar  303  may provide the user with an opportunity to, for example, lock the pay-per-view program, or order a particular showing. Users may access information for other showings by, for example, navigating within bar  303 . Sliver  101  may indicate whether or not a particular showing is orderable. Users may order a particular showing using suitable pay-per-view ordering scheme.  
       FIG. 125  shows the display of options  12  in response to the user selecting a services option. The services may include services such as messaging, auto find of programs, a tv planner, parental control, or favorites (e.g., banking application).  
       FIGS. 126-131  show illustrative display screens that the guide may display when providing access to a weather information service. The weather information provided may be national or local information. The guide may provide a user with an opportunity to access, for example, local weather information such as forecasts, satellite views, radar views, maps, archives of weather information, or other suitable weather related features. The user may, for example, choose a geographic location for which these or other features provide weather information. The guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to search for cities, access weather watches and warnings, access radar information, satellite information and other information, access a television based weather product such as the Weather Channel, access an on-line Weather Channel, or access any other suitable weather related feature.  FIGS. 126-131  illustrate the display of screens for such features using another sliding effect in which, for example, displays slide with the changing of navigational bar  303 . In another suitable approach, these screens may change statically. In each screen, an advertisement is displayed in advertisement tray  99 . The advertisement may be, for example, for each feature from the navigation bar or, alternatively, a single advertisement for the entire weather feature.  
       FIG. 132  shows the display of illustrative options  12  in response to the user selecting a “my guide” option. The my guide applications may include, for example, banking applications, home shopping applications, e-mail, and games.  
       FIG. 133  shows the display of illustrative options  12  in response to the user selecting an “Internet” option. The Internet options may include, for example, accessing the user&#39;s home page, accessing a browser, accessing favorite web sites, accessing sites via the user&#39;s web history, accessing on-line news or chat services, accessing an Internet tutorial, and accessing the user&#39;s Internet setup. Any other suitable Internet services may be provided. In the example of  FIG. 133 , an advertisement for KOTV On-Line is displayed in advertisement tray  99 . In keeping with the advertisement paradigm of the present invention, the user is provided with additional information about the current guide selection (i.e., that the user may access KOTV online or information about the site from within the current options) while still providing the guide provider with an advertising opportunity.  
       FIG. 134  shows the display of illustrative options  12  in response to the user selecting a music option. Music options may include, for example, access to digital or analog music channels, access to a video music channel (e.g., MTV), access to on-line music providers, access to a list of music programs, or access to a music setup screen where the user may set audio settings for the guide. Any other suitable music option may be provided. In the example of  FIG. 134 , an advertisement for MTV Jams is displayed in advertisement tray  99 . In keeping with the advertisement paradigm of the present invention, the user is provided with additional information about the current guide selection (i.e., that the user may access MTV Jams or information about MTV Jams from within the current options) while still providing the guide provider with an advertising opportunity.  
       FIG. 135  shows illustrative options  12  that may be displayed in response to the user selecting a setup option. Setup options and guide setup are described in detail in, for example, above-mentioned Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999.  
      The guide may also provide users with an opportunity to select an advertisement  16  from any guide screen that includes selectable advertisements, and to obtain information for the advertised program, product, or service. Users may indicate a desire to select an advertisement by, for example, pressing the button on a remote control that is color coordinated with advertisements option  18  ( FIG. 108 ). In response to the user indicating a desire to select an advertisement, the guide may highlight one of the advertisements  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 136A and 136B . In  FIGS. 136A and 136B , for example, the user has selected advertisements option  18  from a main menu screen. In  FIG. 136A , the user has highlighted an advertisement for “The X-Files”. In  FIG. 136B , the user has highlighted an advertisement for “Stir of Echoes”. In response to the user selecting an advertisement  16 , the guide may display an information screen as shown in  FIGS. 137A and 137B  for each advertisement, respectively. From within the information screen, a user may perform various functions, such as set a reminder for an advertised program, lock the program, see additional air times, order a particular showing, or perform any other suitable feature.  
       FIGS. 138-139  are flowcharts of illustrative steps involved in providing various features of the present invention. In practice, one or more of the steps shown may be combined with other steps, performed in any suitable order, or deleted.  
       FIG. 138  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements in advertisement tray  99  in accordance with the present invention. At step  1380 , the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to access a first program guide element such as, for example, a guide feature, option, function. At step  1382 , the program guide provides a first advertisement in advertisement tray  99  in response to the user accessing the first guide element. The first advertisement is associated with the subject matter of the first guide element. At step  1384 , the guide provides the user with an opportunity to access a second guide element. At step  1386 , the program guide provides a second advertisement in advertisement tray  99  in response to the user accessing the first guide element. The second advertisement is associated with the subject matter of the second guide element.  
       FIG. 139  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing a sliding navigational paradigm in accordance with the present invention. At step  1390 , the program guide provides a first display of display elements. At step  1392 , the program guide indicates that there are additional display elements available, using cutoffs. At step  1394 , the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access additional display elements. At step  1396 , the program guide slides out the first display in response to the user indicating a desire to the additional display elements, and slides in a second display of the additional display elements.  
      A fourth suitable interface approach in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 140-151 . This approach is described, for example, in Moore et al. U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/202,302, filed May 5, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The approach shown in  FIGS. 140-151  includes some of the same elements of the other approaches described herein. An illustrative screen  114  that may be displayed by the program guide of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 140 . Screen  114  may be displayed when a user first invokes the program guide. Screen  114  may contain various menu options  11  and dependent options  12 . Screen  114  may also contain a picture-in-guide window  14  that contains video for the television program on the channel to which the set-top box is currently tuned. Interactive advertisements  16  may also be displayed as part of screen  114 .  
      Menu options  11  in the left-hand column of screen  114  are options for a main menu. The dependent options  12  in the right hand column are options that are dependently displayed based on the currently highlighted menu option  11 . As users arrow up and down within the menu options  11 , the dependent options  12  will change depending on the currently selection menu option  11 . Users may select menu options  11  or dependent options  12  using any suitable approach. The user may, for example press a right arrow key, a select key, or an enter key on a remote control. The selected menu option  11  (“listings”) may be displayed in a different color (e.g., orange) than the other menu options  11  and the first option  12  in the right hand column may be highlighted, as shown in  FIG. 141 . When any element on the display is active so that the user may select or otherwise interact with the element, that element may be, for example, lightened. Any inactive element (e.g., the options in the left column or the unselected advertisements) may be darkened relative to the active elements (e.g., the options in the right column) to show that they are inactive. The currently highlighted active element is the current selection among the active elements (e.g., the options in the right column). The user may move from by time option  26  to by channel option  28  by pressing, for example, a down arrow key on the remote control.  
      Screen  114  may contain soft-keys  18  for various program guide functions. The soft-keys may be dynamic; that is, the soft-keys may change depending on what the user has currently selected. The use may select, for example, a menu option  11 , a dependent option  12 , an advertisement  16 , or picture-in-guide window  14 . In this example, the user has selected “listings” dependent option  12 . In response, the system presented soft-keys that provide features or functionality related to the selected option: listings by time, listings by channel, and returning to the last screen. If the user were to, for example, next select an advertisement  16 , soft-keys  18  may change to indicate other features such as order, remind, last, or any other feature more suitable to the selection. The user may select a desired one of soft-keys  18  by, for example, pressing a color-coded key on the remote control. The color of the key may match the color of the dot  20  that is associated with the option. The color-coded buttons on the remote control may be the same as those that are sometimes used in certain countries to access teletext functions. Any suitable type of coding may be used if desired. Color coding is merely an example.  
      The various screen elements shown in  FIGS. 140 and 141  may be displayed throughout the program guide. Picture in guide window  14 , for example, may be displayed in substantially all guide display screens to provide users with an opportunity to watch the current channel while using the guide. Advertisements  16 , for example, may be displayed on substantially all of the guide screens to maximize the guide provider&#39;s opportunity to promote various titles, other content, products or services.  
       FIG. 142  shows an illustrative listing by time screen that the guide may display in response to the user selecting “by time” option  26 . Listings by time screens and other guide screens may include action wheel  303 . Action wheel  303  serves as the user&#39;s primary navigation tool. Action wheel  303  indicates the user&#39;s location within a given screen or section of the guide. The user may control action wheel  303  by, for example, pressing left and right arrow buttons on a remote control. Action wheel  303  may display any suitable information that indicates available criteria for the options in the current display. Action wheel  303  may include, for example, times, channels, features, or any other suitable criteria. Sliver  101  displays an expanded description of the active option within action wheel  303 .  
      In the example of  FIG. 142 , the user has positioned indicator  151  of bar  303  to time 15:20 for the current day. Listings  13  are for programs that air at 15:20 accordingly. To view listings for additional times, the user may position indicator  151  (e.g., by pressing left or right keys on a remote control) to the desired time. Indicator  151  may, for example, maintain its position relative to action wheel  303  and the times may scroll left and right. Alternatively, indicator  151  may move left and right. In addition to indicator  151  and action wheel  303 , sliver  101  may be displayed. Sliver  101  may display, for example, information related to the currently active option. This may include, for example, channel names, start times, program names, or any other suitable information. In this example, sliver  101  includes a label indicating the current position in action wheel  303 . In this example, indicator  151  indicates to the user that listings for programs airing at 15:20 on the current day are displayed. Indicator  151  may change as the user manipulates action wheel  303  (e.g., by arrowing right or left). If the user manipulates action wheel  303  so that listings for the previous or next day are displayed, sliver  101  may display the name of the day for the displayed listings.  
      Action wheel  303  may be configurable. In  FIG. 142 , for example, the granularity of the hash marks of action wheel  303  may be configurable to facilitate program schedule variations in the international arena. Instead of 20 minute intervals, for example, the hash marks may be configured to represent 15 minute intervals to more closely correspond to program scheduling in the U.S. Any granularity may be used (e.g., 7 minutes, 1 minute, etc.).  
      For the purposes of illustration, assume the user has navigated to a listing for “The Nanny” (e.g., by arrowing downward). As with other listings, the user may obtain additional information for a listing by selecting the listing (e.g., pressing on “info” key on the user&#39;s remote control). In response, the guide may display an additional information screen, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 143 . The illustrative information screen of  FIG. 143  may display information about a title (e.g., title, channel, rating, air time, and description). If there is more information than can fit in a single screen, the guide may provide the user with an opportunity to scroll or page up or down to access the information. The by time screen may also include program progress bar  400  to indicate how far along a program has progressed. In this example, The Nanny started at 15:00 but it is currently 15:23.  
      The guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to access other guide features from within an additional information screen. The guide may, for example, provide the user with an opportunity to schedule a reminder for a program, record a program, return to the last screen, or any other suitable feature. Program guide systems in which user are provided with an opportunity to access additional features are described, for example, in Rudnick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,268, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The available features may be displayed, for example, as soft-keys  18 .  
      The guide may also provide additional feature in action wheel  303  of the additional information screen. In this example, two additional program guide features are associated with the program: actions and times. In response to a user navigating within action wheel  303  to “actions”, the guide may provide an actions display. An illustrative actions display is shown in  FIG. 144 . The actions  12  in the action display may be any action that may be associated with the selected program. The system may dynamically associate actions with a program using, for example, metadata, by putting additional fields in the program guide data, or using any other suitable approach. The actions in the action display may be linked, via executable type commands or scripts, to other applications to provide the user with enhanced features that are related to the program. In this example, actions  12  include watching the program (which is provided if the program is currently aired), recording the program (which may also be provided using, for example, soft-key  18 ), locking the program, accessing a web link, or viewing a preview. Additional actions that may be associated might include, for example, access to an interactive game for the program, a web site related to the program or an actor within the program, access to an e-commerce site that carries products associated with the program or featured within the program, or any other suitable action. In response to a user navigating within the action display and selecting an action, the system may provide the feature (e.g., watch, record, lock) or launch the appropriate application (e.g., a web browser to provide access to a web link).  
      In response to the user selecting “times” from action wheel  303  of  FIG. 143 , the guide may provide a display of other air times as shown, for example, in  FIG. 145 . The guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select an air time  30  and set a reminder, schedule the showing for recording, or access any other suitable feature. From within the displays of  FIGS. 144 and 145 , the user may return to the information screen of  FIG. 143  by navigating within action wheel  303  to return icon  301 .  
      The guide may also provide users with an opportunity to select an advertisement  16  from any guide screen that includes selectable advertisements, and to obtain information for the advertised program, product, or service. Users may indicate a desire to select an advertisement by, for example, pressing the button on a remote control that is color coordinated with a soft-key  18  associated with the advertisements  16  ( FIG. 140 ). In response to the user indicating a desire to select an advertisement  16 , the guide may highlight one of the advertisements  16 . In response to the user selecting an advertisement  16 , the guide may display an information screen as shown in  FIGS. 146 and 147  for each advertisement, respectively. From within the information screen a user may perform various functions, such as access additional actions and view other air times, by navigating within action wheel  303 .  FIGS. 146 and 147  also illustrate the dynamic change of soft-keys  18 . In these examples, soft-keys  18  have been changed to supplement the features accessible within action wheel  303 . Users may, for example, set reminders, record programs, or return to the last screen, by pressing a single button on their remote controls.  
      The main menu of  FIG. 140  may also provide users with opportunities to search for listings by category. In response to a user selecting by category option  12 , the system may provide the user with a list of categories that may include, for example, movie/drama, detective/thriller, adventure/western/war, science fiction/fantasy/horror, comedy, soap/melodrama/folkloric, romance, adult movie/drama, news/current affairs, sports, children&#39;s/youth, music, or any other suitable category or combination of categories. Each category may include one or more subcategories. The sports category, for example, may include football, baseball, and tennis subcategories. If desired, categories and subcategories may be dynamically displayed. That is, the guide may determine if a given category or subcategory has an available listing. If not, the guide may not present that category or subcategory as an option. This may tend to lessen user confusion or frustration that may occur when users select categories or subcategories for which there is no content.  
       FIG. 148  shows options  12  that the guide may display in response to the user selecting a premium option  12  from the main menu of  FIG. 140 . In practice, the number of options  12  available may be dynamically configurable in this menu screen, or any other menu screen if suitable. As shown, the user may access pay-per-view listings by time, title and channel, and may also access pay-per-view events, premium channels, adult pay-per-view, and pay-per-view packages. The user may also access a screening room in which the user may watch previews. The user may, for example, indicate a desire to view pay-per-view listings by title (e.g., by selecting “ppv by title” option  131 ). In response, the guide may display a pay-per-view by title screen, such as the illustrative screen shown in  FIG. 149 .  
      In the example of  FIG. 149 , indicator  151  of action wheel  303  is initially positioned over the letter “A”. Listings  13  are for pay-per-view program listings that begin with the letter “A” accordingly. To view pay-per-view program listings that begin with other letters, the user may position indicator  151  (e.g., by pressing left or right keys on a remote control) to the desired letter. Indicator  151  may, for example, maintain its central position relative to action wheel  303  and the letters may scroll left and right. Alternatively, indicator  151  may move. The user may arrow up or down to see additional listings that begin with the currently selected letter. When the user arrows up or down to titles that begin with a letter other than that selected in action wheel  303 , the guide may adjust action wheel  303  so that indicator  151  indicates the letter for the titles. This two-dimensional navigational paradigm for searching may enhance the user&#39;s ability to easily find a desired program from a large list of programs.  
      A further feature of the present invention is to incorporate soft-keys  18  or action wheel  303  into additional program guide displays, such as FLIP and BROWSE displays.  FIG. 150A  shows an illustrative FLIP display incorporating soft-keys  18 .  FIG. 150B  shows an illustrative BROWSE display incorporating action wheel  303 . The FLIP and BROWSE displays include a two-line program title bar containing information about the program. The second line of the title bar includes a program progress bar  400  that indicates the time remaining for the program.  
      FLIP and other displays of the program guide may incorporate a history soft-key  18  that provides the user with an opportunity to access a display of previous channels that the user has watched. In response to the user pressing a key on a remote control that corresponds to the history soft-key  18 , the guide may present a history display. An illustrative history display is shown in  FIG. 151 . The history display may include advertisements  16 , dynamic soft-keys  18 , and a list of the most recent channels that the user accessed. The history display indicates the programs that are currently available on the previously accessed channels. The user may arrow up or down to display the currently available programs in the video window. The user may press a suitable key (e.g., “OK” or “ENTER”) to tune to a highlighted channel and view the program in full display.  
      If desired, other features of the guide may use a similar display as shown in  FIG. 151 . A favorites feature, for example, may use the display to provide the user with a navigable list of favorites listings and a video window synchronized to the user&#39;s navigation within the list. A user may access such a favorites display by, for example, pressing a suitable key on a remote control while watching television, or by selecting a feature or option from within a guide screen. If desired, the display of  FIG. 151  may be used when presenting reminders. When one or more reminders are scheduled for presentation, the guide may display a similar navigable list and synchronized video window. The user may navigate among reminders for programs to view programs in the window, and then tune to the program. If desired, the guide may provide the user with an opportunity to configure whether the user wishes a reminder to be automatically added to a history list when a reminder is displayed, whether or not the user tunes to a channel.  
      A further feature of the present invention is the componentization of screen elements. Each screen element may be componentized, and possesses specific characteristics. Componentization of screen elements may allow many components to be used in more than one screen. Components may also act as containers for other components. In screen  10  of  FIG. 140  for example, each column of options  12  may be a component that includes separate individual component options  154 . Picture in guide window  14  may also be a separate component. Advertisements  16  may be separate components, organized into a group that is a single component. Libraries of components may be constructed to provide for the more efficient storage and retrieval of component if desired.  
       FIGS. 152-157  are flowcharts of illustrative steps involved in providing various features of the present invention. In practice, one or more of the steps shown may be combined with other steps, performed in any suitable order, or deleted.  
       FIG. 152  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing the dynamic anchor bar feature of the present invention. At step  1520 , the program guide provides an anchor bar having multiple indicators such as, for example, tabs. If desired, the indicators may be provided hierarchically having, for example, the highest level indicator displayed at the left of the bar and the lowest level indicator displayed at the right (step  1521 ). At step  1522 , the program guide highlights the indicator associated with the user&#39;s current location in the guide. At step  1524 , the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to change his or her location within the guide. In response to the user changing his or her location, the program guide dynamically changes the indicators in the anchor bar to reflect the users new location.  
       FIG. 153  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing a navigational display region such as, for example, a display region  38  (e.g.,  FIG. 24 ), a navigational wheel  303  (e.g.,  FIGS. 37A and 37B ), a navigational bar (e.g.,  FIG. 109 ), an action wheel (e.g.,  FIG. 146 ), or another suitable navigation display. At step  1530 , the program guide provides the navigational display region. At step  1532 , the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to select an option (e.g., letters, times, features, etc.) in the navigational display region. If desired, a sliver may be displayed with the navigational display region (step  1533 ). At step  1534 , the program guide simultaneously displays the navigational display region and information associated with the selected option in response to the user selecting an option in the navigational display region. The system may, for example, provide program listings for a given time, channel, that start with a given letter, or any other suitable information.  
       FIG. 154  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing dynamic actions associated with programs, in accordance with the present invention. At step  1540 , the program guide provides a user with an opportunity to select a program. At step  1542 , the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access actions available for the selected program. At step  1544 , the program guide dynamically associates actions with the selected program in response to the user indication. The guide may dynamically associate actions with a program using, for example, metadata, by putting additional fields in the program guide data, or using any other suitable approach. The actions in the action display may be linked, via executable type commands or scripts, to other applications to provide the user with enhanced features that are related to the program. At step  1544 , the guide provides the user with an opportunity to select one of the dynamically associated actions. At step  1548 , the guide provides the selected action in response to the user selection.  
       FIG. 155  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing dynamic category displays in accordance with the present invention. At step  1550 , the program guide receives an indication from the user to view listings by category. At step  1552 , the guide determines whether there are listings available for each category. This may be performed, for example, periodically, or in response to the user indication. At step  1554 , the guide makes available for selection only those categories for which listings are available. The guide may, for example, provide a display of such categories, permit users to search only such categories, or may make such categories available for selection using any other suitable approach. At step  1556 , the guide provides the user with an opportunity to select one or more of the available categories. At step  1558 , the guide provides listings for the selected category or categories.  
       FIG. 156  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing dynamic softkeys in accordance with the present invention. At step  1560 , the guide presents first softkeys that are coded (e.g., color coded) to keys on the user interface, such as keys on a remote control. At step  1562 , the guide receives a selection of a program guide feature (e.g., option, advertisement, listing, etc.) made by a user without using the softkeys. At step  1564 , the guide presents second softkeys in response to the user selection. The second indicators are functionally related to the selected feature. The second indicators may be provided in, for example, browse or flip displays (step  1566 ).  
       FIG. 157  is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing navigational displays having synchronized video windows for histories, favorites and reminders, in accordance with the present invention. At step  1570 , the guide provides the user with an opportunity to navigate user-identified listings such as, for example, favorite, reminder and historical listings. Favorite and reminder listings are expressly identified by the user; that is, the user selects or otherwise identifies those programs that the user wishes marked as favorites or for which the user wishes reminders. Historical listings are implicitly identified by the user; that is, the system tracks those programs that the user watches.  
      The guide, in response to the user indication, provides a video display and the identified listings at step  1572 . The video display may be, for example, a video window. At step  1574 , the guide provides the user with an opportunity to navigate within the listings. As the user navigates within the listings, the guide synchronizes the video display to the current listing identified (e.g., highlighted) by the user.  
      Thus, a program guide having an improved user interface is provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow.