Electronic programming guide system and method

• US 20040140995A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cluts, Jonathan C., Heath, Pamela J., Pleyer, Sven, Ashok, Immaneni, Baumert, David William, Goldthwaite, Flora, Woodman, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• 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 21/4532 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for use in customizing, organizing and presenting digital information for selection and interaction by end users. The present invention conveys multiple pieces of information to a user in a multi-dimensional metaphor. A user is presented with a selection of content options that are catered to the user. Presented information is filtered on the basis of configurable user criteria, wherein the criteria includes both what is represented and how it is presented, as it relates to current and past user choices of content. The present invention also presents ancillary information that is associated with the digital content. Additionally, the present invention provides user interface features directed to content from a variety of media, including on air, video, photos, music, games and books.

Claims

1. A method for the consolidated display and presentation of digital information for interaction by a participant, comprising:

providing one or more content material from one or more content sources;

organizing said one or more content material on the basis of one or more configurable criteria; and

presenting an indicia of the organized one or more content material, for use by the participant.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said indicia is selectable by a participant.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said indicia is a pictorial representation of said content material.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said indicia of content material is a multiple list of content materials.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said multiple list of content materials can be expanded to display and allow selection of constituent individual content.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising a displayed indicia corresponding to at least one meta-data associated with said one or more content material.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said associated meta-data is a textual description of said content material.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said associated meta-data is represented to the participant by emoticons.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein organizing said one or more content material is filtering and grouping of available media content.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more configurable criteria is the historic pattern of access and selection of media content by said participant.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more configurable criteria is the similarity of the one or more content material to a newly selected content by said participant.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more content sources is at least one of digitally stored movies, music, books and video clips.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more configurable criteria is provided by the said one or more content material.

14. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

accepting a selection of a first indicia;

if the selected first indicia is representative of a multiple list then displaying one or more selectable pictorial indicia of content material from one or more content sources; and

if the selected first indicia is representative of a single content then displaying detailed information about the organized content material associated with said first indicia.

15. A system for organizing and selecting digital content information comprising:

an input means for receiving selections from a participant;

a multi-dimensional output device means for conveying multiple pieces of information relating to a media content;

a configurable filter means; and

a processing means;

said processing means accepting selections from said input means and applying said filter means to provide digital content information and associated meta-data to the participant through said multi-dimensional output device means.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said a multi-dimensional output device means is a visual display.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said display is a personal computer monitor.

18. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said display is a television screen.

19. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said processing means receives information relating to a content item and correlates that information with the displayed content item.

20. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the displayed content items is in the form of a list.

21. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein the displayed content items is in the form of a grid.

22. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said multi-dimensional display presents content related information as an emoticon that is associated with said media content.

23. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said multi-dimensional display presents meta-data relating to a content event.

24. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said meta-data includes links to other information that is relevant to said content event.

25. A method for presenting digital content, comprising:

providing a selection of one or more content material from one or more sources;

grouping and sorting said one or more content material on the basis of one or more user configurable criteria;

presenting the one or more content material icons, and presenting associated meta-data as emoticons, to convey multiple items of information for selection by a user.

26. A computer readable medium having computer executable code for performing a method for presenting digital content, the method comprising:

providing a selection of one or more content material from one or more sources;

grouping and sorting said one or more content material on the basis of one or more user configurable criteria; and

presenting the one or more content material along, as icons and presenting associated meta-data as emoticons to convey multiple items of information, for selection by a user.

27. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to execute a method for presenting digital content, the method comprising:

providing a selection of one or more content material from one or more sources;

grouping and sorting said one or more content material on the basis of one or more user configurable criteria;

presenting the one or more content material and presenting associated meta-data as emoticons to convey multiple items of information for selection by a user.

28. A computer readable medium having computer executable code for performing a method for the consolidated display and presentation of a digital information for interaction by a participant, the method comprising:

providing one or more content material from one or more content sources;

organizing said one or more content material on the basis of one or more configurable criteria;

presenting the organized one or more content material with an indicia and at least one associated meta-data, for consumption or further use by the participant; and

wherein said one or more configurable criteria is at least one of—

the historic pattern of access and selection of media content by said participant; and

the similarity of said one or more media content to a current selection of content by said participant.

29. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to execute a method for the consolidated display and presentation of a digital information for interaction by a participant, the method comprising:

providing one or more content material from one or more content sources;

organizing said one or more content material on the basis of one or more configurable criteria;

presenting the organized one or more content material with an indicia and at least one associated meta-data, for consumption or further use by the participant;

wherein the presented associated meta-data is an emoticon; and

wherein said one or more configurable criteria is at least one of—

the historic pattern of access and selection of media content by said participant; and

the similarity of said one or more media content to a current selection of content by said participant.