Virtual channel preview guide

• US 20040205816A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T.
• Application Number:
  US10/412,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/49
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

In an implementation of virtual channel preview guide, a different virtual channel is associated with each of one or more recorded programs. A virtual channel preview guide is generated to display the different virtual channels and the associated recorded programs. In an event that a virtual channel is selected, a preview of a recorded program associated with the virtual channel is initiated.

Claims

1. A client device, comprising:

an application program configured to associate a different virtual channel with each of one or more recorded programs, the application program further configured to generate a virtual channel preview guide to display the different virtual channels and the associated one or more recorded programs; and

a processor configured to receive a virtual channel selection of a virtual channel and initiate a preview of a recorded program associated with the virtual channel.

2. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more recorded programs include at least one recorded broadcast program and at least one on-demand program.

3. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more recorded programs include at least one of a recorded broadcast program and an on-demand program.

4. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program is further configured to generate the virtual channel preview guide to display the different virtual channels for each of one or more recorded broadcast programs and each of one or more on-demand programs.

5. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program is further configured to generate the virtual channel preview guide to display a different virtual channel for at least one of a recorded broadcast program and an on-demand program.

6. A client device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory component configured to maintain digital program content corresponding to at least one recorded broadcast program, and wherein the one or more recorded programs include the at least one recorded broadcast program and at least one on-demand program maintained with a remote program data store.

7. A client device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory component configured to maintain digital program content corresponding to at least one recorded broadcast program, and wherein the one or more recorded programs include the at least one recorded broadcast program and at least one on-demand program maintained by an on-demand program provider.

8. A client device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory component configured to record broadcast program content corresponding to the one or more recorded programs, and wherein the application program is further configured to generate the virtual channel preview guide to display the different virtual channels for each of the one or more recorded programs and each of one or more on-demand programs.

9. A client device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a tuner configured to receive broadcast program content corresponding to the one or more recorded programs, the tuner further configured to receive on-demand program content corresponding to the one or more recorded programs;

a memory component configured to record the broadcast program content; and

wherein the application program is further configured to generate the virtual channel preview guide to display the different virtual channels for each of the recorded broadcast programs and for each of the on-demand programs.

10. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an on-demand selection corresponding to the virtual channel and initiate receiving the recorded program associated with the virtual channel.

11. A client device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory component configured to maintain digital program content corresponding to the recorded program, and wherein the processor is further configured to receive an on-demand selection corresponding to the virtual channel and initiate receiving the recorded program.

12. A client device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a tuner configured to receive broadcast program content, and further configured to receive on-demand program content; and

a memory component configured to maintain the broadcast program content and the on-demand program content as the one or more recorded programs.

13. A client device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a program content processor configured to render the preview of the recorded program.

14. A client device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a program content processor configured to render the preview of the recorded program, and wherein the processor is further configured to receive a selectable input to initiate rendering the recorded program.

15. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the preview as a duration of the recorded program that corresponds to a beginning of the recorded program.

16. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the preview as a section of the recorded program, the section being designated with a preview marker.

17. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate the preview as one or more sections of the recorded program, each section being designated with one or more preview markers.

18. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program is further configured to list the one or more recorded programs in alphabetical order in the virtual channel preview guide.

19. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program is further configured to list the one or more recorded programs in a user-selectable order in the virtual channel preview guide.

20. A client device as recited in claim 1, wherein the application program is further configured to generate the virtual channel preview guide to display, for each of the one or more recorded programs, a program name, an associated virtual channel number, and at least one of a date when a recorded program was recorded, a time when the recorded program was recorded, and a program descriptor.

21. A digital video recorder comprising the client device as recited in claim 1.

22. A virtual channel preview guide, comprising:

one or more program identifiers that each correspond to a recorded program;

one or more virtual channel identifiers each associated with a different program identifier;

a selectable control configured to initiate a preview of a recorded program; and

a preview display configured to display the preview of the recorded program in an event that the selectable control is selected.

23. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more program identifiers correspond to at least one recorded broadcast program and at least one on-demand program.

24. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more program identifiers correspond to at least one of a recorded broadcast program and an on-demand program.

25. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more program identifiers correspond to at least one recorded broadcast program maintained with a local memory component and at least one on-demand program maintained with a remote program data store.

26. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the selectable control is a virtual channel identifier corresponding to the recorded program.

27. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the selectable control is a program identifier corresponding to the recorded program.

28. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the preview display includes an additional selectable control configured to initiate rendering the recorded program in an event that the additional selectable control is initiated.

29. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the selectable control is further configured to initiate the preview as a duration of the recorded program that corresponds to a beginning of the recorded program.

30. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the selectable control is further configured to initiate the preview as a section of the recorded program, the section being designated with a preview marker.

31. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the selectable control is further configured to initiate the preview as one or more sections of the recorded program, the one or more sections being designated with one or more preview markers.

32. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

an additional virtual channel identifier associated with a group of recorded programs; and

an additional selectable control configured to initiate a preview of each of the group of recorded programs.

33. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more program identifiers are listed in alphabetical order.

34. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more program identifiers are listed in a user-selectable order.

35. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more program identifiers are each a program name of a recorded program, and wherein the one or more virtual channel identifiers are each a different virtual channel number associated with a different program name.

36. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, wherein the one or more program identifiers are each a program name of a recorded program, and wherein the one or more virtual channel identifiers are each a different virtual channel number associated with a different program name.

37. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, further comprising one or more calendar dates to each identify when a recorded program was recorded.

38. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, further comprising one or more time designators to each identify when a recorded program was recorded.

39. A virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22, further comprising one or more recorded program descriptors that each identify a category of a recorded program.

40. A program guide, comprising:

a virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22;

one or more broadcast program identifiers each corresponding to a program scheduled for broadcast; and

one or more program channel identifiers each associated with a different broadcast program identifier in a display of the program guide.

41. A client device in a television-based system comprising the virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22.

42. A digital video recorder comprising the virtual channel preview guide as recited in claim 22.

43. A method, comprising:

assigning a different virtual channel to each of one or more recorded programs;

generating a virtual channel preview guide to display the different virtual channels and the one or more recorded programs;

receiving a virtual channel selection of a virtual channel; and

initiating a preview of a recorded program assigned to the virtual channel.

44. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein assigning includes assigning different virtual channels to each of one or more recorded broadcast programs and each of one or more on-demand programs.

45. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein assigning includes assigning a different virtual channel to at least one of a recorded broadcast program and an on-demand program.

46. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising assigning an additional virtual channel to a group of the one or more recorded programs.

47. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising assigning an additional virtual channel to a group of one or more recorded programs, and wherein generating includes generating the virtual channel preview guide to display the additional virtual channel and a group identifier of the group of one or more recorded programs.

48. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:

assigning an additional virtual channel to a group of one or more recorded programs;

generating the virtual channel preview guide to display the additional virtual channel and a group identifier of the group of one or more recorded programs;

receiving a virtual channel selection of the additional virtual channel; and

initiating a preview of each recorded program in the group of one or more recorded programs.

49. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising receiving the one or more recorded programs which include at least one recorded broadcast program and at least one on-demand program.

50. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising receiving the one or more recorded programs which include at least one of a recorded broadcast program and an on-demand program.

51. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:

receiving the one or more recorded programs which include at least one recorded broadcast program and at least one on-demand program;

maintaining the at least one recorded broadcast program with a local memory component; and

wherein generating includes generating the virtual channel preview guide to display the at least one recorded broadcast program and the at least one on-demand program maintained with a remote program data store.

52. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:

receiving the one or more recorded programs which include at least one recorded broadcast program and at least one on-demand program;

maintaining the at least one recorded broadcast program with a local memory component; and

wherein generating includes generating the virtual channel preview guide to display the at least one recorded broadcast program and the at least one on-demand program maintained by an on-demand program provider.

53. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising receiving an on-demand program corresponding to the virtual channel selection.

54. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising receiving the preview as a section of an on-demand program corresponding to the virtual channel selection.

55. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising rendering the preview of the recorded program.

56. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:

receiving an on-demand program corresponding to the virtual channel selection; and

rendering the preview as a section of the on-demand program.

57. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising rendering the preview as a duration of the recorded program corresponding to a beginning of the recorded program.

58. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising rendering the preview as a section of the recorded program, the section being designated with a preview marker.

59. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising rendering the preview as one or more sections of the recorded program, the one or more sections being designated with one or more preview markers.

60. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:

rendering the preview of the recorded program;

receiving a selectable input to initiate rendering the recorded program; and

rendering the recorded program.

61. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:

rendering the preview of the recorded program;

receiving a selectable input to initiate rendering the recorded program; and

rendering an on-demand program as the recorded program.

62. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:

rendering the preview of the recorded program;

receiving a selectable input to initiate rendering the recorded program; and

rendering a recorded broadcast program as the recorded program.

63. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein generating includes generating the virtual channel preview guide to display the one or more recorded programs in alphabetical order.

64. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein generating includes generating the virtual channel preview guide to display the one or more recorded programs in a user-selectable order.

65. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein generating includes generating the virtual channel preview guide to display, for each of the one or more recorded programs, a program name, an associated virtual channel number, and at least one of a date when a broadcast program was recorded, a time when a broadcast program was recorded, and a recorded program descriptor.

66. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising generating a program guide that includes:

a broadcast program identifier and an associated program channel identifier for each of one or more programs scheduled to be broadcast; and

the virtual channel preview guide that includes a recorded program identifier and an associated virtual channel identifier for each of the one or more recorded programs.

67. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a digital video recorder to perform the method of claim 43.

68. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a digital video recorder to:

generate a virtual channel preview guide to display virtual channels and associated recorded programs;

initiate a preview of one or more recorded programs in response to receiving a virtual channel selection.

69. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to assign a different virtual channel to each of the associated recorded programs.

70. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to assign a different virtual channel to a group of the associated recorded programs.

71. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to generate the virtual channel preview guide to display one or more recorded broadcast programs and one or more on-demand programs.

72. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to generate the virtual channel preview guide to display at least one of a recorded broadcast program and an on-demand program.

73. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to record a broadcast program and initiate the preview as a section of the broadcast program in response to receiving the virtual channel selection.

74. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to receive an on-demand program and initiate the preview as a section of the on-demand program in response to receiving the virtual channel selection.

75. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to render the preview as one or more sections of an on-demand program, the one or more sections being designated with one or more preview markers.

76. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to render the preview as one or more sections of a recorded broadcast program, the one or more sections being designated with one or more preview markers.

77. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to render a recorded broadcast program in response to receiving a preview input to display the recorded broadcast program.

78. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 68, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the digital video recorder to render an on-demand program in response to receiving a preview input to display the on-demand program.