Patent ID: 7281261

Claim:
A method for remotely scheduling events at the client system with an access device, in a system that is comprised of an access device, a programmable client system and a provider, all of which are logically interconnectable through a network such as the Internet, wherein the client system stores program guide data that is used by a user to schedule events, the method comprising steps for: using an access device that is remotely located from the programmable client system to access and log on an access device service; in response to logging on the access device service, authenticating a user of the remotely located access device with an authentication service which is associated with the access device service; subsequent to authenticating the user with the authentication service, accessing the client system through the network with the remotely located access device, wherein the client system has a bi-directional connection with the network, and wherein prior to accessing the client system through the network, causing the client system to establish the bi-directional connection by performing the following: sending instructions to a broadcast source that is connected to the client system through a unidirectional connection inasmuch as the broadcast source only transmits programming information to the client system without receiving data from the client system, wherein the broadcast source transmits the instructions to the client system, and wherein the instructions cause the client system to open a bi-directional connection with the network; automatically authenticating the user of the remotely located access device to the client system by providing authentication information previously issued to the user from the authentication service, and in response to the user having been previously authenticated by the authentication service through the access device service; once the user of the remotely located access device is authenticated to the client system, retrieving current program guide data from the client system with the remotely located access device, wherein the current program guide data is displayed on the remotely located access device; selecting an event using the retrieved program guide data displayed at the remotely located access device; sending the selected event to the client system; and scheduling the selected event at the client system.