Method, system and software for display of multiple media channels

• US 20030018972A1
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies Incorporated (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI Technologies Incorporated (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arora, Jitesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,677,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• 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

Abstract

A method, system, and software for improved display of multiple media channels are disclosed herein. A system may be used to select, independent of direct user input, a subset of a plurality of media channels based on a user'"'"'s viewing pattern. The system can include one or more media sources, a media processing system, and a display device, as well as a method for its use. The media processing system receives a plurality of media channels from the one or more media sources. One or more attributes associated with each media channel are compared with a user'"'"'s viewing pattern determined independent of direct user input by the media processing system. A surf list is generated from the plurality of media channels, where the surf list includes a subset of the plurality of media channels having one or more attributes that are congruent with the user'"'"'s viewing pattern. A portion, such as a still image, of each media channel in the surf list is output to an output device, such as a display device or storage device. The portions can be displayed simultaneously in a grid on the screen of the display device; the portions can be displayed individually in sequence; or displayed using a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

selecting, independent of explicit input from a user, a set of media channels from a plurality of media channels based on an attribute associated with each media channel of the media of media channels; and

providing a portion of each media channel of the subset of media channels to an output device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the output device includes a display device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the output device includes a storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portions are provided simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the portions are provided sequentially.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media channels includes television channels.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media channels includes information from a single media source.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media channels includes information from a plurality of media sources.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of each media channel includes a still image.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of each media channel includes a video clip.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of each media channel includes an audio clip.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of each media channel includes program guide information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of each media channel to be provided is updated over a predetermined time period.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of some of the media channels to be provided are updated more frequently than the portions of other media channels of the set of media channels to be displayed, and where the frequency of update is based on the attribute associated with each media channel.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes a frequency of viewing by a user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are more frequently viewed.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are less frequently viewed.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes an amount of time viewed by a user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are viewed more frequently.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are viewed less frequently.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes a channel number.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the subset of media channels are selected sequentially based on the channel number.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a prioritization value.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a highlight value.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a time of day a media channel is viewed.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a time of day.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a day of the week.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a day of the week.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a date.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a date.

31. The method of claim 1, further including the step of receiving information associated with the plurality of media channels.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the information associated with the plurality of media channels includes content information for each media channel.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on the content information.

34. The method of claim 1, further including the step of obtaining preference information from at least one user.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based, in part, on the preference information.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the preference information includes an authentication period.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the preference information is obtained using a setup menu.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the plurality of media channels include television channels.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the plurality of media channels include information from a single media source.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the plurality of media channels include information from a plurality of media sources.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the list of media channels is updated over a predetermined time period.

43. The method of claim 38, further including the step of:

providing a representation for each of the media channels of the list of media channels to an output device.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the output device includes a display device.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the representations of the media channels of the list of media channels are displayed in a grid pattern.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the output device includes a storage device.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the representations for each of the media channels of the list of media channels are provided simultaneously.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the representations for each of the media channels of the list of media channels are provided sequentially.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the representation of each media channel includes a still image.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the representation of each media channel includes a video clip.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein the representation of each media channel includes an audio clip.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the representation of each media channel includes program guide information.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein the representations of some of the media channels to be displayed are updated more frequently than the representations of other media channels of the list of media channels to be displayed, where the frequency of update is based on the a relationship between each media channel and the viewing pattern.

54. The method of claim 38, wherein the viewing pattern includes a frequency of selection by a user for each media channel of the plurality of media channels.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the list of media channels is generated from the most frequently viewed media channels.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the list of media channels is generated from the least frequently viewed media channels.

57. The method of claim 38, wherein the viewing pattern includes a measure of an amount of time viewed for each media channel of the plurality of media channels.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the list of media channels is generated from the most viewed media channels.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the list of media channels is generated from the least viewed media channels.

60. The method of claim 38, wherein a channel number is associated with each media channel.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the list of media channels is generated based on a sequence of the channel numbers.

62. The method of claim 38, wherein a priority value is associated with each media channel of the plurality of media channels.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein list of media channels is generated based on the priority values.

64. The method of claim 38, wherein a highlight value is associated with each media channel of the plurality of media channels.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein list of media channels is generated based on the highlight values.

66. The method of claim 38, wherein the viewing pattern includes information based on a time of day a media channel is viewed.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the list of media channels is generated based on a time of day.

68. The method of claim 38, wherein the viewing pattern includes information based on a day of the week a media channel is viewed.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein list of media channels is generated based on a day of the week.

70. The method of claim 38, wherein the viewing pattern includes information based on a date a media channel is viewed.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein list of media channels is generated based on a date.

72. The method of claim 38, further including the step of receiving information associated with the plurality of media channels.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the information associated with the plurality of media channels includes content information for each media channel.

74. The method of claim 38, wherein the viewing pattern includes content information.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the list of media channels is generated based on content information.

76. The method of claim 38, wherein the viewing pattern is determined based on preference information obtained from at least one user.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the preference information includes an authentication period.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the preference information is obtained using a setup menu.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein the output device includes a display device.

81. The system of claim 79, wherein the output device includes a storage device.

82. The system of claim 79, wherein the portions are provided simultaneously.

83. The system of claim 79, wherein the portions are provided sequentially.

84. The system of claim 79, wherein the plurality of media channels includes television channels.

85. The system of claim 79, wherein the plurality of media channels includes information from a single media source.

86. The system of claim 79, wherein the plurality of media channels includes information from a plurality of media sources.

87. The system of claim 79, wherein the portion of each media channel includes a still image.

88. The system of claim 79, wherein the portion of each media channel includes a video clip.

89. The system of claim 79, wherein the portion of each media channel includes an audio clip.

90. The system of claim 79, wherein the portion of each media channel includes program guide information.

91. The system of claim 79, wherein the portion of each media channel to be provided is updated over a predetermined time period.

92. The system of claim 79, wherein the portion of some of the media channels to be provided are updated more frequently than the portions of other media channels of the set of media channels to be displayed, and where the frequency of update is based on the attribute associated with each media channel.

93. The system of claim 79, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes a frequency of viewing by a user.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are more frequently viewed.

95. The system of claim 93, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are less frequently viewed.

96. The system of claim 79, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes an amount of time viewed by a user.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are viewed more frequently.

98. The system of claim 96, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are viewed less frequently.

99. The system of claim 79, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes a channel number.

100. The system of claim 99, wherein the subset of media channels are selected sequentially based on the channel number.

101. The system of claim 79, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a prioritization value.

102. The system of claim 79, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a highlight value.

103. The system of claim 79, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a time of day a media channel is viewed.

104. The system of claim 103, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a time of day.

105. The system of claim 79, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a day of the week.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a day of the week.

107. The system of claim 79, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a date.

108. The system of claim 107, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a date.

109. The system of claim 79, further including the step of receiving information associated with the plurality of media channels.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein the information associated with the plurality of media channels includes content information for each media channel.

111. The system of claim 110, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on the content information.

112. The system of claim 79, further including the step of obtaining preference information from at least one user.

113. The system of claim 112, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based, in part, on the preference information.

114. The system of claim 112, wherein the preference information includes an authentication period.

115. The system of claim 112, wherein the preference information is obtained using a setup menu.

117. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the output device includes a display device.

118. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the output device includes a storage device.

119. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the portions are provided simultaneously.

120. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the portions are provided sequentially.

121. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the plurality of media channels includes television channels.

122. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the plurality of media channels includes information from a single media source.

123. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the plurality of media channels includes information from a plurality of media sources.

124. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the portion of each media channel includes a still image.

125. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the portion of each media channel includes a video clip.

126. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the portion of each media channel includes an audio clip.

127. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the portion of each media channel includes program guide information.

128. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the portion of each media channel to be provided is updated over a predetermined time period.

129. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the portion of some of the media channels to be provided are updated more frequently than the portions of other media channels of the set of media channels to be displayed, and where the frequency of update is based on the attribute associated with each media channel.

130. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes a frequency of viewing by a user.

131. The computer readable medium of claim 130, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are more frequently viewed.

132. The computer readable medium of claim 130, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are less frequently viewed.

133. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes an amount of time viewed by a user.

134. The computer readable medium of claim 133, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are viewed more frequently.

135. The computer readable medium of claim 133, wherein the subset of media channels are selected from the plurality of media channels that are viewed less frequently.

136. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes a channel number.

137. The computer readable medium of claim 136, wherein the subset of media channels are selected sequentially based on the channel number.

138. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a prioritization value.

139. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a highlight value.

140. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a time of day a media channel is viewed.

141. The computer readable medium of claim 140, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a time of day.

142. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a day of the week.

143. The computer readable medium of claim 142, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a day of the week.

144. The computer readable medium of claim 116, wherein the attribute associated with each media channel includes information based on a date.

145. The computer readable medium of claim 144, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on a date.

146. The computer readable medium of claim 116, further including instructions to manipulate said processor to receive information associated with the plurality of media channels.

147. The computer readable medium of claim 146, wherein the information associated with the plurality of media channels includes content information for each media channel.

148. The computer readable medium of claim 147, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based on the content information.

149. The computer readable medium of claim 116, further including the step of obtaining preference information from at least one user.

150. The computer readable medium of claim 149, wherein the subset of media channels are selected based, in part, on the preference information.

151. The computer readable medium of claim 149, wherein the preference information includes an authentication period.

152. The computer readable medium of claim 149, wherein the preference information is obtained using a setup menu.

38. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of media channels;

determining a viewing pattern of a user; and

generating, independent of direct user input, a list of media channels selected from the plurality of media channels, where the list is generated based on the viewing pattern of the user.

79. A system comprising:

a processor;

memory operably coupled to said processor; and

a program of instructions capable of being stored in said memory and executed by said processor, said program of instructions to manipulate said processor to;

select, independent of explicit input from a user, a set of media channels from a plurality of media channels based on an attribute associated with each media channel of the media of media channels; and

provide a portion of each media channel of the subset of media channels to an output device.

116. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions to manipulate a data processor to:

select, independent of explicit input from a user, a set of media channels from a plurality of media channels based on an attribute associated with each media channel of the media of media channels; and

provide a portion of each media channel of the subset of media channels to an output device.