Methods and systems for generating and providing program guides and content
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a network interface;
one or more processing devices;
non-transitory machine readable media that stores executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processing devices, are configured to cause the one or more processing devices to;
identify a first video item to be included in a first program, wherein the first video item is allocated a first span of time within the first program;
generate an electronic program guide including channels and channel programs, including at least the first program scheduled to begin at a first time and end at a second time, and a second program following the first program, the second program scheduled to begin at a third time and end at a fourth time;
determine a current length of the first video item;
determine whether the first video item has a time length different than the first span of time;
at least partly in response to a determination that the first video item has a time length different than the first span of time;
cause, at least in part, the second program to be streamed via the network interface to a first user terminal, beginning at an adjusted time, the adjusted time different than the third time, the adjusted time based at least in part on the calculated time difference between the current length of the first video item and the first span of time;
cause, at least in part, the second program to begin playing at the scheduled third time on a second user terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for identifying, assembling, and publishing content are described. A content item, such as a video, having a first time length, is identified by a system to be included in a program scheduled for a first time period. The video may be hosted on a third party system. A first span of time within the first program is allocated for the video, wherein the first span of time is longer than the first time length. The system determines, prior to or at the first time period, a time difference between a current length of the video and the first span of time. At least partly in response to determining that the video has a time length shorter than the first span of time, the system selects supplemental content based at least in part of the determined time difference to be streamed to user terminals over a data network within the first time period.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a network interface; one or more processing devices; non-transitory machine readable media that stores executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processing devices, are configured to cause the one or more processing devices to; identify a first video item to be included in a first program, wherein the first video item is allocated a first span of time within the first program; generate an electronic program guide including channels and channel programs, including at least the first program scheduled to begin at a first time and end at a second time, and a second program following the first program, the second program scheduled to begin at a third time and end at a fourth time; determine a current length of the first video item; determine whether the first video item has a time length different than the first span of time; at least partly in response to a determination that the first video item has a time length different than the first span of time; cause, at least in part, the second program to be streamed via the network interface to a first user terminal, beginning at an adjusted time, the adjusted time different than the third time, the adjusted time based at least in part on the calculated time difference between the current length of the first video item and the first span of time; cause, at least in part, the second program to begin playing at the scheduled third time on a second user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system comprising:
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a network interface; one or more processing devices; non-transitory machine readable media that stores executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processing devices, are configured to cause the one or more processing devices to; identify a first video item to be included in a first program, wherein the first video item is allocated a first span of time within the first program; generate an electronic program guide including channels and channel programs, including at least the first program scheduled to begin at a first time and end at a second time, and a second program following the first program, the second program scheduled to begin at a third time and end at a fourth time; provide, via the network interface, the electronic program guide, including at least the first program and the second program, to user terminals; determine a current length of the first video item; determine whether the first video item has a time length different than the first span of time; at least partly in response to a determination that the first video item has a time length different than the first span of time; compensating, at least in part for the time length different than the first span of time by inhibiting streaming of at least one item of content to the first user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
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identifying, by a first system comprising computer hardware configured with specific executable instructions, a first video item to be included in a first program; allocating a first span of time within the first program for the first video item; generating, by the first system, an electronic program guide listing channels and channel programs, including at least the first program scheduled to begin at a first time and end at a second time, and a second program following the first program, the second program scheduled to begin at a third time and end at a fourth time; providing the electronic program guide, listing at least the first program and the second program, to a plurality of user terminals; after providing the electronic program guide, listing at least the first program and the second program, to the plurality of user terminals, determining, by the first system, a current length of the first video item; calculating, by the first system a time difference between the current length of the first video item and the first span of time; at least partly in response to determining by the first system that the first video item has a time length different than the first span of time; causing, at least in part, the second program to be streamed to a first user terminal, beginning at an adjusted time different than the third time, wherein the first user terminal had been playing the first program, and the adjusted time is based at least in part on the calculated time difference between the current length of the first video item and the first span of time; causing, at least in part, the second program to begin playing at the scheduled third time on a second user terminal, wherein the second user terminal had not been playing the first program prior to playing the first program. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
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identifying, by a system comprising computer hardware configured with specific executable instructions, a first video item to be included in a first program, wherein the first video item is allocated a first span of time within the first program; maintaining, by the system, an electronic program schedule including; at least the first program scheduled to begin at a first time and end at a second time, and a second program following the first program, the second program scheduled to begin at a third time and end at a fourth time; determining, by the system, a current length of the first video item; determining, by the system a time difference between a current length of the first video item and the allocated first span of time; at least partly in response to determining by the system that the first video item has a time length different than the first span of time; causing, at least in part, the second program to begin at an adjusted time on a first user terminal, the adjusted time based at least in part on the time difference between the current length of the first video item and the first span of time; causing, at least in part, the second program to begin at the originally scheduled third time on a second user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification