Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving television program information

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. An online television program schedule system comprising:

first means for storing at least one of a desired program start time, a desired program end time, a desired program service, and a desired program type;

means for receiving television program schedule information, said television program schedule information comprising at least one of program start time, program end time, program service, and program type for a plurality of television programs;

second storing means, connected to said first storing means and said receiving means, for storing selected portions of received television program schedule information which meet at least one of the desired program start time, the desired program end time, the desired program service, and the desired program type; and

displaying means, operatively connected to said second storing means, for displaying at least part of the selected portions of received television program schedule information to thereby provide an online television program schedule.

2. The online television program schedule system of claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises means for sequentially receiving packets of television program schedule information.

3. The online television program schedule system of claim 1 wherein said second storing means comprises;

means for comparing the received television program schedule information with the stored at least one of a desired program start time, a desired program and time, a desired program service, and a desired program type; and

means for storing the received television program schedule information which meets said stored at least one of a desired program start time, a desired program and time, a desired program service, and a desired program type.

4. An online television program schedule system comprising:

means for storing at least one of a desired program start time, a desired program end time, a desired program service, and a desired program type;

means for receiving a television program schedule information datastream, said datastream comprising at least one of program start time, program end time, program service, and program type for a plurality of television programs;

means for extracting from said television program schedule information datastream, television programming information which meets at least one of the desired program start time, the desired program end time, the desired program service, and the desired program type;

means for storing the extracted television program schedule information; and

means for displaying at least some of the extracted television program schedule information to thereby provide an online television program schedule.

5. A method for providing an online television program schedule comprising the steps of:

storing at least one of a desired program start time, a desired program end time, a desired program service, and a desired program type;

sequentially receiving packets of television program schedule information comprising at least one of program start time, program end time, program service, and program type for a plurality of television programs;

storing selected portions of the received packets of television program information which meet at least one of the desired program start time, the desired program end time, the desired program service, and the desired program; and

displaying at least part of the stored selected portions of the received packets of television program information to thereby provide an online television program schedule.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said storing selected portions of the received packets of television informa