System and method for enhanced video selection

• US 10,440,437 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible World, LLC
• Inventors: Haberman, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Vy, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US15/212,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20160330523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 725 44, 725 46, 725 87, 725 32, 725112, 725 52, 725 61, 725105, 725110, 725 25, 725127, 725 34, 725 9, 707999107, 707736, 707822
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/738 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/74 Browsing; Visualisation therefor end-user interfaces for requesting or interacting with video content, e.g. video on demand interfaces or electronic program guides, H04N21/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 : Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for presenting video asset information to a viewer to assist the view in selecting a video asset for viewing. The video assets can be available from a plurality of different video asset sources, such as VOD (video on demand), PVR (personal video recorders) and broadcast (including over the air, cable, and satellite). Images from the video assets are displayed in a uniform manner, along with information about the video assets. The information includes data in a metadata category. The view can select one of the video assets for viewing, but also can navigate using metadata categories such as genre, actors, director etc. This allows a much easier and natural navigating and selection process for viewers.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a network, information associated with a plurality of video assets available from a plurality of video asset sources, wherein the information comprises at least one image associated with each video asset available from the plurality of video asset sources and the at least one image is selected based on a bandwidth availability in the network;

a processor configured to extract, from the information, metadata associated with each of the video assets available from the plurality of video asset sources, wherein the metadata is associated with at least one metadata category;

the receiver further configured to receive, from a computing device, usage data associated with the computing device;

the receiver further configured to receive, from at least one server, demographic data associated with at least one user of the computing device;

the processor further configured to generate, based on the received usage data and the received demographic data, a profile associated with the computing device;

the receiver further configured to receive, from the computing device, a request to search the plurality of video assets for video assets having metadata matching a selected metadata category;

the processor configured to generate, based on the metadata and the profile associated with the computing device, search results; and

a transmitter configured to send, to the computing device, the search results to enable display of the search results.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the receiver further configured to receive a selection, from the computing device, indicating which video asset sources from which to receive information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image is sent to the computing device with the search results.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata category comprises actor, director, genre, sport, league, team, player, or school.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of video asset sources comprises video-on-demand (VOD), a personal video recorder (PVR), contemporaneous or future broadcast video, or a website source.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image comprises a still clip, a video clip, or a trailer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage data comprises viewing history information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image comprises a video or still.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is associated with an external data source.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, from a network, information associated with a plurality of video assets available from a plurality of video asset sources, wherein the information comprises at least one image associated with each video asset available from the plurality of video asset sources and the at least one image is selected based on a bandwidth availability in the network;

extracting, from the information, metadata associated with each of the video assets available from the plurality of video asset sources, wherein the metadata is associated with at least one metadata category;

receiving, from a computing device, usage data associated with computing device;

receiving, from at least one server, demographic data associated with at least one user of the computing device;

generating, based on the received usage data and the received demographic data, a profile associated with the computing device;

receiving, from the computing device, a request to search the plurality of video assets for video assets having metadata matching a selected metadata category;

generating, based on the metadata and the profile associated with the computing device, search results; and

sending, to the computing device, the search results to enable display of the search results.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a selection, from the computing device, indicating which video asset sources from which to receive information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one metadata category comprises actor, director, genre, sport, league, team, player, or school.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of video asset sources comprises video-on-demand (VOD), a personal video recorder (PVR), contemporaneous or future broadcast video, or a website source.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the usage data comprises viewing history information.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one image comprises a video or still.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one server is associated with an external data source.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one image comprises a video that is downloaded when bandwidth is available.

18. A device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

receive, from a network, information associated with a plurality of video assets available from a plurality of video asset sources, wherein the information comprises at least one image associated with each video asset available from the plurality of video asset sources and the at least one image is selected based on a bandwidth availability in the network;

extract, from the information, metadata associated with each of the video assets available from the plurality of video asset sources, wherein the metadata is associated with at least one metadata category;

receive, from a computing device, usage data associated with computing device;

receive, from at least one server, demographic data associated with at least one user of the computing device;

generate, based on the received usage data and the received demographic data, a profile associated with the computing device;

receive, from the computing device, a request to search the plurality of video assets for video assets having metadata matching a selected metadata category;

generate, based on the metadata and the profile associated with the computing device, search results; and

send, to the computing device, the search results to enable display of the search results.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one image comprises a video or still.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one image comprises a video that is downloaded when bandwidth is available.