Method and interface for managing movies on a set-top box

• US 20060037043A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Kortum, Philip Ted, Williams, Alyssa Lenorah Noll, Cansler, James L. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/915,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20060037043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

A method of managing video content is provided. The method includes displaying a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface comprising a ready list, a queue list, and an action list. When a first video file is downloaded to a memory within a set top box, a first title corresponding to the first video file is added to the ready list. Further, when the first title is selected from the ready list, the first video file is displayed. Additionally, a second video file can be scheduled for download to the memory within the set top box and if so, a second title corresponding to the second video file is added to the queue list. When the second title is selected from the queue list, the second video file is downloaded to the memory within the set top box.

Claims

1. A method of managing video content, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface at a display device, the graphical user interface comprising a ready list, a queue list, and an action list;

downloading a first video file to a memory within a set top box connected to the display device; and

adding a first title corresponding to the first video file to the ready list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the first title corresponding to the first video file from the ready list; and

displaying the first video file corresponding to the first title selected from the ready list.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

scheduling a second video file to be downloaded to the memory; and

adding a second title corresponding to the second video file to the queue list.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the second title from the queue list; and

downloading the second video file to the memory.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

indicating that a number of titles in the ready list has reached a predetermined limit; and

displaying a warning screen at the display device to prompt a user to delete the first video file from the memory before the second video file is downloaded to the memory.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

deleting the first video file from the memory; and

downloading the second video file to the memory.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a third title corresponding to a third video file; and

adding the third title corresponding to the third video file to the queue list to be downloaded at a later time.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a third title corresponding to a third video file;

adding the third title corresponding to the third video file in the ready list; and

downloading the third video file to the memory.

9. A device for managing video content, the device comprising:

a processor, the processor comprising a computer readable medium and a computer program embedded within the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising;

instructions for displaying a graphical user interface at a display device, the graphical user interface comprising a ready list, a queue list, and an action list;

instructions for downloading a first video file to a memory within the device for managing video content; and

instructions for adding a first title corresponding to the first video file to the ready list.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for receiving a selection of the first title corresponding to the first video file from the ready list; and

instructions for displaying the first video file corresponding to the first title selected from the ready list.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for scheduling a second video file to be downloaded to the memory; and

instructions for adding a second title corresponding to the second video file to the queue list.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for receiving a selection of the second title from the queue list; and

instructions for downloading the second video file to the memory.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for indicating that a number of titles in the ready list has reached a predetermined limit; and

instructions for prompting a user to delete the first video file from the memory before the second video file is downloaded to the memory.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for deleting the first video file from the memory; and

instructions for downloading the second video file to the memory.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for receiving a selection of a third title corresponding to a third video file; and

instructions for adding the third title corresponding to the third video file to the queue list to be downloaded at a later time.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for receiving a selection of a third title corresponding to a third video file;

instructions for adding the third title corresponding to the third video file in the ready list; and

instructions for downloading the third video file to the memory.

17. A method of managing video content, the method comprising:

displaying a ready list at a display device, the ready list comprising a list of titles corresponding to video files that are downloaded to a memory within a set top box;

displaying a queue list at the display device, the queue list comprising a second list of titles corresponding to video files that are to be downloaded to the memory; and

displaying an action list at the display device, the action list comprising a play key, a summary key, a move up key, a move down key, and a delete key.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting the selection of a movie title from the ready list;

detecting the selection of the play key;

activating a parental control process; and

activating a purchase control process.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a parental control password;

receiving a purchase control password; and

verifying the parental control password and the purchase control password.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

downloading a video file corresponding to the movie title; and

displaying the video file corresponding to the movie title.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting when the video file has ended;

deleting the video file from the memory; and

deleting the movie title corresponding to the video file from the ready list.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting the selection of a movie title from the queue list;

detecting the selection of the play key; and

displaying a delete selection screen when the number of movie titles in the ready list is greater than a predetermined limit.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

downloading a video file corresponding to the movie title selected from the queue list;

moving the movie title from the queue list to the ready list after a predetermined time; and

indicating that the video file is ready for display.

24. A system for managing video content, the system comprising:

a display device;

a set top box coupled to the display device, the set top box comprising;

a processor, the processor coupled to a computer readable memory, the memory comprising;

a ready list including a list of titles corresponding to video files that are downloaded to a memory within a set top box and suitable for display at the display device; and

a queue list including a second list of titles corresponding to video files that are targeted to be downloaded to the memory within the set top box.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the memory further comprises:

an action list displayable at the display device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the action list includes a play key, a summary key, a move up key, a move down key, and a delete key.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a remote control, wherein the set top box is responsive to wireless signals generated by the remote control.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the memory further comprises:

instructions for detecting the selection of a movie title from the ready list;

instructions for detecting the selection of the play key;

instructions for activating a parental control process; and

instructions for activating a purchase control process.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises:

instructions for receiving a parental control password;

instructions for receiving a purchase control password; and

instructions for verifying the parental control password and the purchase control password.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for downloading a video file corresponding to the movie title; and

instructions for displaying a video file corresponding to the movie title.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for detecting when the video file has ended;

instructions for deleting the video file from memory; and

instructions for deleting the movie title corresponding to the video file from the ready list.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for detecting the selection of a movie title from the queue list;

instructions for detecting the selection of the play key; and

instructions for displaying a delete selection screen when the number of movie titles in the ready list is greater than a predetermined limit.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions for downloading a video file corresponding to the movie title selected from the queue list;

instructions for moving the movie title from the queue list to the ready list after a predetermined time limit; and

instructions for indicating that the video file is ready for display.