Systems and methods for enabling quick multi-application menu access to media options

• US 10,318,112 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tam T
• Application Number:
  US15/166,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20170344195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling quick access to media options are provided. A display of a plurality of icons is generated, wherein each of the plurality of icons represents a different one of a plurality of applications. A user input is detected that identifies a first of the plurality of icons associated with a first of the plurality of applications. In response to determining that the user input corresponds to a quick access operation, first and second media asset identifiers and corresponding media options are retrieved from each of second and third applications. A menu that includes the retrieved first and second media asset identifiers is generated for display with the plurality of icons.

Claims

1. A method for enabling quick access to media options, the method comprising:

generating a display of a plurality of icons, wherein each of the plurality of icons represents a different one of a plurality of applications;

detecting a user input that identifies a first of the plurality of icons associated with a first of the plurality of applications, wherein the first application is associated with a first quick access data structure;

determining whether a function associated with a type of the user input corresponds to a first function or a second function, wherein the first function corresponds to a launch operation, and wherein the second function corresponds to a quick access operation;

in response to determining that the function associated with the user input corresponds to the second function;

querying a second of the plurality of applications for a second quick access data structure;

querying a third of the plurality of applications for a third quick access data structure;

retrieving a plurality of media asset identifiers and corresponding media options from each of the second and third quick access data structures;

storing in the first quick access data structure the retrieved plurality of media asset identifiers with the corresponding media options, and for each of the stored media asset identifiers, an indication of the quick access data structure from which the media asset identifier was retrieved; and

generating for display with the plurality of icons a menu that includes the plurality of media asset identifiers stored in the first quick access data structure, wherein the plurality of media asset identifiers stored in the first quick access data structure comprise a first media identifier previously selected by the user with the second of the plurality of applications and a second media identifier previously selected by the user with the third of the plurality of applications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the user input comprises at least one of receiving a user selection through a touchscreen of the first icon, receiving verbal input from the user indicating selection of the first icon, and receiving a gesture from the user indicating selection of the first icon.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving data associated with the user input, wherein the data indicates the type of the user input;

searching a database of a plurality of functions each associated with a different type of user input for a function associated with the type of the user input; and

generating the database of the plurality of functions, wherein generating the database comprises;

storing a first type of user input representing a first touch by a user of a touchscreen for a first threshold period of time;

associating the first type of the user input with the first function;

storing a second type of user input representing a second touch by the user of the touchscreen for a second threshold period of time greater than the first threshold period of time;

associating the second type of the user input with the second function;

storing a third type of user input representing a third touch by the user of the touchscreen having a first threshold amount of pressure;

associating the third type of the user input with the first function;

storing a fourth type of user input representing a fourth touch by the user of the touchscreen for a second threshold amount of pressure greater than the first threshold amount of pressure; and

associating the fourth type of the user input with the second function.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising in response to receiving a user selection of a first of the plurality of media asset identifiers from the menu:

retrieving, from the first quick access data structure, the media option that is associated with the first media asset identifier;

retrieving, from the first quick access data structure, the indication of the quick access data structure from which the first media asset identifier was retrieved; and

in response to determining that the retrieved indication corresponds to the second quick access data structure, instructing the second application to perform the retrieved media option for a media asset corresponding to the first media asset identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of applications comprises a startup routine comprising a plurality of startup functions and a landing page that is presented when the respective application is launched, and further comprising:

processing an instruction with the second application to perform the retrieved media option for the media asset corresponding to the first media asset identifier;

selecting an application function, different from any of the plurality of startup functions, that corresponds to the retrieved media option; and

executing the application function to perform the retrieved media option for the media asset without executing the startup routine.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting the menu to the user without launching the first application.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the menu is presented without performing a startup routine of the first application comprising a plurality of startup functions.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising in response to determining that the function associated with the user input corresponds to the first function, launching the first application, wherein launching the first application comprises:

instructing the first application to execute a startup routine comprising a plurality of startup functions; and

generating for display a full screen landing page of the first application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a first of the media options corresponds to a resume command, a second of the media options corresponds to a play command, a third of the media options corresponds to a purchase command, and a fourth of the media options corresponds to a profile selection.

10. A system for enabling quick access to media options, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to;

generate a display of a plurality of icons, wherein each of the plurality of icons represents a different one of a plurality of applications;

detect a user input that identifies a first of the plurality of icons associated with a first of the plurality of applications, wherein the first application is associated with a first quick access data structure;

determine whether a function associated with a type of the user input corresponds to a first function or a second function, wherein the first function corresponds to a launch operation, and wherein the second function corresponds to a quick access operation;

in response to determining that the function associated with the user input corresponds to the second function;

query a second of the plurality of applications for a second quick access data structure;

query a third of the plurality of applications for a third quick access data structure;

retrieve a plurality of media asset identifiers and corresponding media options from each of the second and third quick access data structures;

store in the first quick access data structure the retrieved plurality of media asset identifiers with the corresponding media options, and for each of the stored media asset identifiers, an indication of the quick access data structure from which the media asset identifier was retrieved; and

generate for display with the plurality of icons a menu that includes the plurality of media asset identifiers stored in the first quick access data structure, wherein the plurality of media asset identifiers stored in the first quick access data structure comprise a first media identifier previously selected by the user with the second of the plurality of applications and a second media identifier previously selected by the user with the third of the plurality of applications.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry configured to detect the user input is further configured to at least one of receive a user selection through a touchscreen of the first icon, receive verbal input from the user indicating selection of the first icon, and receive a gesture from the user indicating selection of the first icon.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

retrieve data associated with the user input, wherein the data indicates the type of the user input;

search a database of a plurality of functions each associated with different type of user input for a function associated with the type of the user input; and

generate the database of the plurality of functions by;

storing a first type of user input representing a first touch by a user of a touchscreen for a first threshold period of time;

associating the first type of the user input with the first function;

storing a second type of user input representing a second touch by the user of the touchscreen for a second threshold period of time greater than the first threshold period of time;

associating the second type of the user input with the second function;

storing a third type of user input representing a third touch by the user of the touchscreen having a first threshold amount of pressure;

associating the third type of the user input with the first function;

storing a fourth type of user input representing a fourth touch by the user of the touchscreen for a second threshold amount of pressure greater than the first threshold amount of pressure; and

associating the fourth type of the user input with the second function.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to in response to receiving a user selection of a first of the plurality of media asset identifiers from the menu:

retrieve, from the first quick access data structure, the media option that is associated with the first media asset identifier;

retrieve, from the first quick access data structure, the indication of the quick access data structure from which the first media asset identifier was retrieved; and

in response to determining that the retrieved indication corresponds to the second quick access data structure, instruct the second application to perform the retrieved media option for a media asset corresponding to the first media asset identifier.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of applications comprises a startup routine comprising a plurality of startup functions and a landing page that is presented when the respective application is launched, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

process an instruction with the second application to perform the retrieved media option for the media asset corresponding to the first media asset identifier;

select an application function, different from any of the plurality of startup functions, that corresponds to the retrieved media option; and

execute the application function to perform the retrieved media option for the media asset without executing the startup routine.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to present the menu to the user without launching the first application.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the menu is presented without performing a startup routine of the first application comprising a plurality of startup functions.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to in response to determining that the function associated with the user input corresponds to the first function, launch the first application by:

instructing the first application to execute a startup routine comprising a plurality of startup functions; and

generating for display a full screen landing page of the first application.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein a first of the media options corresponds to a resume command, a second of the media options corresponds to a play command, a third of the media options corresponds to a purchase command, and a fourth of the media options corresponds to a profile selection.