Daypart based navigation paradigm

• US 20020188944A1
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Noble, Taber B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing media program information to a user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a command to provide a menu guide from a plurality of menu guides defining a media program information space segmented by a daypart, wherein the menu guide is associated with a first daypart, and providing a menu guide comprising a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information. The apparatus comprises a receiver having a tuner for receiving the media program and the media program information, a processor, communicatively coupled to the tuner for providing a menu guide having a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information, wherein the menu guide is selectable from a plurality of menu guides together defining a program information space segmented by a daypart. The foregoing daypart-based presentation of the media program information provides for an efficient use of display space by initially providing information programs the user is likely to be interested in, while still permitting the user to intuitively navigate to other media program information as well.

Claims

1. A method of providing media program information, comprising the steps of:

accepting a command to provide a menu guide selected from a plurality of menu guides together defining a media program information space segmented by a daypart, wherein the menu guide is associated with a first daypart; and

providing the menu guide, the menu guide comprising a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least some media program information describes at least one media program scheduled to be available on an active channel during the first daypart.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the menu guide further comprises a channel portion indicating an active channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the channel portion further indicates selectable channels.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the channel portion selectable channels are organized according to a sort selected from the group comprising

alphabetical order, wherein each of the selectable channels is associated with a unique alphabetical designator,

numerical order, wherein each of the selectable channels is associated with a unique numerical designator

implicit user preference;

explicit user preference; and

at least one category, wherein at least some of the selectable channels are members of the at least one category.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the menu guide content portion is synchronized with the channel portion so that the menu guide portion presents media program information regarding at least one media program available during the first daypart on the active channel.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the method further comprises the step of accepting a selection of one of the selectable channels as the active channel; and

the step of presenting the menu guide comprises the step of providing the menu guide comprising the menu guide content portion presenting media program information regarding at least one media program available during the first daypart on the active channel.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the menu guide further comprises a picture in guide (PIG) portion.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the PIG portion presents media content for an active media program, wherein the active media program is a media program currently provided on the active channel.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the PIG portion presents media program information regarding the media program currently provided on the active channel.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the menu guide content portion comprises:

a first portion of the media program information describing at least one media program available during the first daypart on the active channel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the menu guide content portion comprises:

a plurality of portions of the media program information describing a respective plurality of media programs available during the first daypart on the active channel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of portions of the media program information describe all of the media programs available during the first daypart on the active channel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of portions are scrollable and each of the plurality of portions are selectable.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

accepting a command to select one of the plurality of media programs available during the first daypart on the active channel; and

presenting further media program information further describing the selected one of the media programs.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the menu guide further comprises an advertising content portion having advertising content.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the advertising content is determined by a provider of the media program provided on the active channel.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the advertising content is contextually related to the media program provided on the active channel.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the advertising content is determined according to user preferences.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the advertising content is determined according to user viewing habits.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the advertising content is determined according to the first daypart.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the advertising content is user-selectable and selecting the advertising content initiates contact with a vendor.

23. The method of claim 2, wherein the menu guide content portion comprises a plurality of portions of the media program information describing a respective plurality of media programs available during the first daypart on the selected channel, and the method further comprises the steps of:

accepting a command to activate the menu guide content portion for navigation;

accepting a command to scroll through the plurality of portions of the media program information describing the respective plurality of media programs; and

accepting a command to select one of the plurality of media programs.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

presenting further media program information regarding the selected one of the plurality of media programs.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

designating the selected media program as the home media program.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

designating the selected media program for recording.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the first daypart is a current daypart.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the first daypart is a selected daypart.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the media program information is wrappably scrollable in daypart increments in a time dimension and scrollable in a channel dimension.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

accepting a selection of a second daypart from the media program information space; and

providing a second menu guide, the second menu guide comprising the menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program scheduled to be available on an active channel during the second daypart.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the selected second daypart is temporally distant from the first daypart by a time period selected from the group comprising;

a daypart;

a day;

a week;

a month; and

the step of accepting a selection of the second daypart comprises the step of selecting a single user input.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of accepting a selection of a second daypart from the media program information space comprises the steps of:

activating the menu guide content portion of the menu guide for navigation;

accepting a selection of a media program scheduled to be available on an active channel during the second daypart.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the menu guide includes a menu content portion navigation icon indicating when the menu content portion of the menu guide is activated for navigation.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the menu content navigation icon further comprises a plurality of elements indicating navigation of the menu content portion of the menu guide.

35. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

accepting a command to designate a second channel as the active channel;

modifying the first menu guide content portion to present at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program to be available on the second channel during the first daypart.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the menu guide further comprises a channel portion indicating an active channel and selectable channels, and the step of accepting a command to designate a second channel as the active channel comprises the steps of:

accepting a command to activate the channel portion of the menu guide; and

accepting a command to designate one of the selectable channels as the active channels.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the selectable channels are selectably organizable according to a sort selected from the sort group comprising:

alphabetical order, wherein each of the selectable channels is associated with a unique alphabetical designator,

numerical order, wherein each of the selectable channels is associated with a unique numerical designator

implicit user preference;

explicit user preference; and

at least one category, wherein at least some of the selectable channels are members of the at least one category.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

accepting a command to organize the selectable channels according to the sort selected from the sort group; and

organizing the selectable channels according to the selected sort.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the selectable channels are organized according to a plurality of categories, and the method further comprises the steps of:

accepting a selection of a category from the plurality of categories;

modifying the first menu guide content portion to present at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program to be available on the channels belonging to the selected category during the first daypart.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the selectable channels are organized according to a category selected from the category group comprising:

a movie category;

a pay per view category;

a news category, and

a sports category.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein at least one of the categories further comprises a plurality of subcategories.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

accepting a selection of a subcategory from the plurality of subcategories;

modifying the first menu guide content portion to present at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program to be available on the channels belonging to the selected subcatetory during the first daypart.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of:

selecting a second daypart;

providing a second menu guide, the second menu guide comprising the menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program to be available on the channels belonging to the selected subcategory during the second daypart.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the second channel is a channel providing access to an interactive service.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the channel is a personal video recorder (PVR) channel providing access to media programs recorded on the PVR, and the first menu guide content portion describes at least one media program available on the PVR channel.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least some media program information describes at least one media program scheduled to be available on an active channel during the first daypart.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the menu guide farther comprises a channel portion indicating an active channel.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the channel portion further indicates selectable channels.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the channel portion selectable channels are organized according to a sort selected from the group comprising

alphabetical order, wherein each of the selectable channels is associated with a unique alphabetical designator,

numerical order, wherein each of the selectable channels is associated with a unique numerical designator

implicit user preference;

explicit user preference; and

at least one category, wherein at least some of the selectable channels are members of the at least one category.

51. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the menu guide content portion is synchronized with the channel portion so that the menu guide portion presents media program information regarding at least one media program available during the first daypart on the active channel.

52. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein:

the input device further accepts a selection of one of the selectable channels as the active channel; and

processor further provides the menu guide comprising the menu guide content portion presenting media program information regarding at least one media program available during the first daypart on the active channel.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the menu guide further comprises a picture in guide (PIG) portion.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the PIG portion presents media content for an active media program, wherein the active media program is a media program currently provided on the active channel.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the PIG portion presents media program information regarding the media program currently provided on the active channel.

56. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the menu guide content portion comprises:

a first portion of the media program information describing at least one media program available during the first daypart on the active channel.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the menu guide content portion comprises:

a plurality of portions of the media program information describing a respective plurality of media programs available during the first daypart on the active channel.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the plurality of portions of the media program information describe all of the media programs available during the first daypart on the active channel.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the plurality of portions are scrollable and each of the plurality of portions are selectable.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein:

the input device further accepts a command to select one of the plurality of media programs available during the first daypart on the active channel; and

the processor further presents media program information further describing the selected one of the media programs.

61. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the menu guide further comprises an advertising content portion having advertising content.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the advertising content is determined by a provider of the media program provided on the active channel.

63. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the advertising content is contextually related to the media program provided on the active channel.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the advertising content is determined according to user preferences.

65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the advertising content is determined according to user viewing habits.

66. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the advertising content is determined according to the first daypart.

67. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the advertising content is user-selectable and selecting the advertising content initiates contact with a vendor.

68. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the menu guide content portion comprises a plurality of portions of the media program information describing a respective plurality of media programs available during the first daypart on the selected channel, and wherein the input device further accepts:

a command to activate the menu guide content portion for navigation,

a command to scroll through the plurality of portions of the media program information describing the respective plurality of media programs; and

a command to select one of the plurality of media programs.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the processor further presents further media program information regarding the selected one of the plurality of media programs.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the input device further accepts an input to designate the selected media program as the home media program.

71. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the input device further accepts an input to designate the selected media program for recording.

72. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the first daypart is the current daypart.

73. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the first daypart is a selected daypart.

74. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the media program information is wrappably scrollable in daypart increments in a time dimension and scrollable in a channel dimension.

75. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein:

the input device further accepts a selection of a second daypart from the media program information space;

the processor further provides a second menu guide in response to the selection of the second daypart from the media program information space, the second menu guide comprising the menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program scheduled to be available on an active channel during the second daypart.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein:

the selected second daypart is temporally distant from the first daypart by a time period selected from the group comprising;

a daypart;

a day;

a week;

a month; and

the selection of the second daypart from the media program information space is accomplished with a single input.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the input device further accepts a command to activate the menu guide content portion of the menu guide for navigation, and accepts a selection of a media program scheduled to be available on an active channel during the second daypart.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the menu guide includes a menu content portion navigation icon indicating when the menu content portion of the menu guide is activated for navigation.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the menu content navigation icon further comprises a plurality of elements indicating navigation of the menu content portion of the menu guide.

80. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein:

the input device further accepts a command to designate a second channel as the active channel;

the processor further modifies the first menu guide content portion to present at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program to be available on the second channel during the first daypart.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the menu guide further comprises a channel portion indicating an active channel and selectable channels, and the input device further accepts a command to activate the channel portion of the menu guide, and a command to designate one of the selectable channels as the active channels.

82. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the selectable channels are selectably organizable according to a sort selected from the sort group comprising:

alphabetical order, wherein each of the selectable channels is associated with a unique alphabetical designator,

numerical order, wherein each of the selectable channels is associated with a unique numerical designator

implicit user preference;

explicit user preference; and

at least one category, wherein at least some of the selectable channels are members of the at least one category.

83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein:

the input device further accepts a command to organize the selectable channels according to the sort selected from the sort group; and

the processor further organizes the selectable channels according to the selected sort in response to the command to organize the selectable channels according to the sort selected from the sort group.

84. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the selectable channels are organized according to a plurality of categories, and wherein:

the input device further accepts a selection of a category from the plurality of categories;

the processor further modifies the first menu guide content portion to present at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program to be available on the channels belonging to the selected category during the first daypart in response to the selection of a category from the plurality of categories.

85. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the selectable channels are organized according to a category selected from the category group comprising:

a movie category;

a pay per view category;

a news category; and

a sports category.

86. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein at least one of the categories further comprises a plurality of subcategories.

87. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein:

the input device further accepts a selection of a subcategory from the plurality of subcategories;

the processor further modifies the first menu guide content portion to present at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program to be available on the channels belonging to the selected subcatetory during the first daypart.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein:

the input device further accepts a selection of a second daypart; and

the processor further provides a second menu guide, the second menu guide comprising the menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information describing at least one media program to be available on the channels belonging to the selected subcategory during the second daypart.

89. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the second channel is a channel providing access to an interactive service.

90. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the channel is a personal video recorder (PVR) channel providing access to media programs recorded on the PVR, and the first menu guide content portion describes at least one media program available on the PVR channel.

46. An apparatus for providing media program information describing media programs, comprising:

a receiver, having;

a tuner for receiving the media program and the media program information,

a processor, communicatively coupled to the tuner, for providing a menu guide having a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information;

wherein the menu guide is selectable from a plurality of menu guides together defining a media program information space segmented by a daypart via a command from an input device communicatively coupleable with the receiver.

91. A method of presenting advertising in a menu guide, comprising the steps of:

accepting advertising media content and a media program from a media content provider; and

providing the media program information to a subscriber on an active channel; and

providing a menu guide selected from a plurality of menu guides together defining a media program information space segmented by daypart, wherein the menu guide includes a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information for at least one media program scheduled to be available on the active channel during a daypart selected from a current daypart and a selected daypart.

92. A menu guide for presenting media program information, comprising:

a menu guide content portion presenting at least some of the media program information; and

wherein the menu guide is selected from a plurality of menu guides together defining a media program information space segmented by a daypart.

93. The menu guide of claim 92, wherein the menu guide content portion presents media program information describing at least one media program scheduled to be available on an active channel.

94. A method of presenting media program information describing at least one media program, comprising the steps of:

accepting a command to access the media program information at a time of day;

determining a first daypart selected from the group comprising a current daypart defined from the time of day and a selected daypart; and

providing a menu guide having menu guide content including media program information, the media program information describing at least one media program scheduled to be available during the first daypart.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the menu program information is further based on the time of day.