Patent ID: 8589975

Claim:
A method for accessing unscheduled programs, comprising: generating for display on a display device, using control circuitry implemented on user equipment, a plurality of interactive program listings for unscheduled programs that will be broadcast at a future time, wherein the unscheduled programs are outside a program listings time frame that is currently available to a user; receiving, using the control circuitry, a user selection of an interactive program listing of the displayed plurality of interactive program listings for unscheduled programs associated with a program that is unscheduled at the time of the user selection, wherein the user selection is stored; periodically receiving new scheduling data indicating programs available during a current program listings time frame; determining, using the control circuitry, based on the stored user selection, that the new scheduling data includes schedule information for the user selected interactive program listing associated with the program that was unscheduled at the time of the user selection; generating, using the control circuitry, a program-specific availability notification to the user indicating the availability of the previously selected unscheduled program associated with the user selected interactive program listing in response to the determination; and generating for display on the display device, using the control circuitry, a symbol on the previously selected unscheduled program of the displayed plurality of interactive program listings for unscheduled programs, wherein the symbol visually distinguishes the previously selected unscheduled program from the plurality of interactive program listings not previously selected by the user.