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  Systems and methods for providing a program as a gift using an interactive applicationRelated Patent Categories: Interactive Video Distribution Systems, Operator Interface, Interactive Program SelectionThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060190966. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,245, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/099,301, filed Aug. 26, 1998. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to television message systems, and more particularly, to techniques for supporting the transmission of messages in a television environment that may include an interactive television program guide. [0003] A popular aspect of the Internet and other networking environments relates to e-mail messages. A network or Internet user can send e-mail messages to other users of the network or the Internet. Messages are delivered to a server where they are held until downloaded by a client such as a personal computer. The recipient of a message can access it at any time from the server and read it at his convenience. [0004] Television programs are sometimes discussed in e-mail messages. However, there is generally no way in which users of a traditional e-mail message system may easily view a television program while exchanging messages about that program. A user might locate a television in the same room as the user's personal computer, but such an arrangement would be awkward to view. Moreover, many households locate their televisions in the living room, but are reluctant to locate their computers in the living room. [0005] Although personal computers may be provided with tuner cards that allow television signals to be displayed on the computer monitor, many television viewers would prefer to view television on a traditional television set. Television sets generally offer greater viewing areas than computer monitors, so that users need not sit nearly as close to a television screen as they would a computer monitor. Televisions sets are also typically located in rooms within the home that are more suitable for watching television than where computers are typically located. [0006] A system that attempts to integrate aspects of the Internet with the television viewing experience is available from WebTV Networks, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. The WebTV system permits television viewers to access the Internet through a WebTV Plus Receiver connected to their television sets. The WebTV Plus Receiver enables users to surf the World Wide Web on their television by connecting their televisions to the web-based WebTV Network through a standard phone line. The WebTV System permits users to view television program listings and web sites related to television programs that appear in the program listings. [0007] The WebTV system also provides TV Crossover Links that allow users to access web sites that are related to television programs. The WebTV PLUS Receiver detects data such as web links (i.e., universal resource locators (URL)) that is embedded in the video broadcast and notifies users with a TV Crossover Link watermark on the television screen. The TV Crossover Links permit users to link to web sites through the Internet related to the television program that the user is watching. The user can view the web site and the television program simultaneously through the WebPIP picture-in-picture function. If the web site supports e-mail features, the user might then send an e-mail message through the Internet while watching a television program. The WebTV system also provides users with e-mail accounts for sending and receiving e-mail through the Internet. A user can access a Web Home page from which he can send and receive e-mail. [0008] Interactive television program guides implemented on set-top boxes allow users to view television program listings on their televisions. Such program guides allow users to view television program listings in different display formats and to perform various other functions. For example, a user may instruct the program guide to display a channel-ordered grid of current program listings. The user may also use the program guide to search for programs in a desired programming category such as sports, movies, news, or the like. If desired, the program guide may be used to order pay-per-view programming. [0009] Previously known systems have not provided an integrated system allowing television viewers to view television programming and to exchange messages with other television viewers independent of the Internet. Previously known systems also have not provided television viewers with the opportunity to send messages to exclusively other viewers of a television program or channel. Previously known interactive program guides have not contained a feature that allows television viewers to exchange messages with each other. [0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a television message system that provides a television viewer with an opportunity to view television programming and to exchange messages related to the television programming to other television viewers that does not rely solely on the Internet. [0011] It is also an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television program guide that contains message features. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing a television message system that receives television programming over a communications path from a television distribution facility such as a cable system headend. The television message system allows users to transmit messages relating to a given television program to users who are currently watching that television program. [0013] The message system allows messages to be transmitted between users at user television equipment devices. The user television equipment devices may be connected to a television distribution facility (such as a cable system headend) by coaxial cables or other suitable communications paths that carry television signals. In an illustrative configuration, the system eliminates the need for additional communications paths physically separate from the paths that carry television signal broadcast channels for the transmission of messages. [0014] The television message system of the present invention permits users to participate in a television program-related contest, promotion, or survey while watching a television program by sending and receiving messages through the television message system. The television message system also permits users to evaluate a television program and send the evaluation to a television program entity such as the TV channel or another user as a recommendation. [0015] The television message system of the present invention permits users to compose and send a message to a television program entity such as the program producers or a program cast member. In addition, users can send messages through the television message system to other users, such as other users of an interactive program guide, Internet users, PC users, etc., who are connected to the user's television distribution facility through a communications network. The messages can be composed by the user, or the messages can be standard messages such as a reminder message to watch a particular program. Message may be composed on an interactive TV screen or on a display remote control device. [0016] The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient. [0017] The television message system may be based on an interactive television program guide implemented on the set-top box. If desired, the system may be implemented on other suitable user television equipment such as a satellite receiver, an advanced television receiver (e.g. a high definitive television or HDTV receiver), a television into which set-top box circuitry is integrated or the like. [0018] Further features of the present 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 [0019] FIG. 1A is a diagram of a television message system in accordance with the present invention. [0020] FIG. 1B is a diagram of a user television equipment device having a user interface based on a wireless keyboard in accordance with the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Systems and methods for providing a program as a gift using an interactive application Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Systems and methods for providing a program as a gift using an interactive application patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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