Data-driven media guide

• US 20060107304A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T., Sloo, David Hendler, Cleron, Michael, Heer, David de
• Application Number:
  US10/989,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20060107304A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An electronic program guide system receives data that identifies various types of available media content. A data-driven media guide is then generated to display visual representations of the available media content. The media guide is dynamically generated based on attributes associated with the various types of available media content.

Claims

1. A data structure, comprising:

a media channel interface that defines methods associated with displaying metadata associated with a media channel;

a media channel class that is based on the media channel interface that specifies methods associated with displaying metadata associated with a particular type of media channel; and

a media channel object that is an instantiation of the media channel class and represents a particular media channel.

2. The data structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the media channel interface comprises at least one of an on now method definition for identifying a program that is currently available on a particular media channel, an on next method definition for identifying a program that is scheduled to be available on the particular media channel after the program that is currently available on the particular media channel, an on later method definition for identifying a program that is scheduled to be available on the particular media channel after the program that is identified by the on next method, a get media item for channel method definition for identifying a media item that will be associated with a channel header, a time based method definition for identifying whether or not the particular media channel is associated with time-based media items, a groupable method definition for identifying whether or not the particular media channel may be grouped with one or more other media channels, a group header method definition for identifying a header to be used to represent a group of groupable media channels, a get grid cell method definition for generating a user interface element that represents a particular media item associated with the particular media channel, a get channel guide data method definition for identifying one or more media items to be displayed in association with the particular media channel in a channel-based columnar media guide display, a get channel list item method definition for generating a user-interface element that represents a particular media item in a channel-based columnar media guide display, or an is blocked by parental controls method definition for identifying whether or not the particular media channel is displayable based on parental control settings.

3. The data structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the media channel class comprises at least one of a live TV media channel class for representing a broadcast television channel, a VOD media channel class for representing a channel over which a video-on-demand is available, a DVR application media channel class for representing a channel over which media content managed by a digital video recorder is available, or a VOD application media channel class for representing a channel over which an application through which video-on-demand may be purchased is available.

4. The data structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a media item interface that defines methods associated with responding to selection of a particular media item;

a media item class that is based on the media item interface that specifies methods associated with responding to selection of a particular type of media item; and

a media item object that is an instantiation of the media item class and represents a particular media item.

5. The data structure as recited in claim 4, wherein the media item interface comprises at least one of an open method definition for defining actions to be performed when a user requests a particular media item be opened, a more information method definition for defining actions to be performed when a user request more information in association with a particular media item, a record method definition for defining actions to be performed when a user requests that a particular media item be recorded, a show rollover information method definition for defining actions be performed when a particular media item is given the focus within a media guide display, or a show channel bar information method definition for defining actions to be performed when a particular media item is accessed through a channel change command.

6. The data structure as recited in claim 4, wherein the media item class comprises at least one of a VOD purchases media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of an application through which previously purchased on-demand media content may be accessed, a DVR application media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of a DVR application, a DVR application channel media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of a channel via which a DVR application is available, a channel media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of a particular channel, a VOD media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of a particular video-on-demand, a VOD channel media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of a particular VOD channel, a DVR media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of a media item that is managed by a DVR, a VOD application media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of a VOD application, a VOD application channel media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of channel via which a VOD application is available, or a live television media item class for representing actions to be performed upon selection of a representation of a broadcast television program.

7. The data structure as recited in claim 4, wherein the selection of a particular media item comprises at least one of determining that a particular media item object has focus, determining that an open command has been received while a particular media item object has the focus, determining that a more info command has been received while a particular media item object has the focus, or determining that a record command has been received while a particular media item object has the focus.

8. The data structure as recited in claim 4, wherein the media item object is associated with a media channel object.

9. A method, comprising:

identifying a media channel to be represented in an electronic media guide;

identifying a media channel object that is a representation of the media channel;

identifying a media item object that is associated with the media channel object;

generating a visual representation of the media item object; and

rendering an electronic media guide that includes the visual representation of the media item object.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the generating a visual representation of the media item object comprises calling a GetGridCell method associated with the media channel object.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the visual representation of the media item object comprises a row header that indicates a channel number associated with the media channel.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the visual representation of the media item object comprises a grid cell that indicates the name of a media item that is available via the media channel.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the media item comprises at least one of a broadcast television program, a previously purchased video-on-demand, a software application, an interface through which an on-demand video may be purchased, previously recorded media content, or an interface through which media content may be scheduled to be recorded.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the electronic media guide comprises a grid arranged vertically by channel and horizontally by time.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the electronic media guide comprises a plurality of columns, where each column is representative of a channel.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the electronic media guide comprises a browse bar configured to be displayed simultaneously with a currently playing media content.

17. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the media channel comprises at least one of a television channel over which broadcast television programs may be viewed, a media-on-demand channel over which on-demand media content may be accessed, a DVR application channel over which an application associated with a digital video recorder may be accessed, or a VOD application channel over which an application associated with on-demand media content may be accessed.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the on-demand media content comprises at least one of video, audio, or a game application.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the application associated with a digital video recorder comprises at least one of an application through which media can be scheduled for recording, or an application through which previously recorded media content can be accessed.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the application associated with on-demand media content comprises at least one of an application through which on-demand media content can be purchased, or an application through which previously purchased on-demand media content can be accessed.

21. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an media guide application stored in the memory and executed on the processor configured to

receive channel data associated with a plurality of channels, wherein a particular one of the plurality of channels comprises at least one of a broadcast television channel, a video-on-demand channel, a DVR application channel, or a VOD application channel;

receive media content data associated with a plurality of media items that are available via the plurality of channels, wherein a particular one of the plurality of media items comprises at least one of a broadcast television program, an available video-on-demand, a previously purchased video-on-demand, an available on-demand video game, a previously recorded program, a digital video recorder application, or a VOD purchasing application; and

generate an interactive media guide that displays representations of the plurality of channels and representations of the plurality of media items, wherein the representations are generated dynamically based on attributes associated with each of the plurality of channels and interactivity is based on attributes associated with each of the plurality of media items.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the media guide application comprises a media channel class for determining how to render various representations of a particular channel.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the media channel class comprises at least one of a live television media channel class for determining how to render a representation of a broadcast television channel, a VOD media channel class for determining how to render a representation of a video-on-demand channel, a DVR application media channel class for determining how to render a representation of a DVR application channel, or a VOD application media channel class for determining how to render a representation of a VOD application channel.

24. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the media guide application comprises a media item class for determining how to respond to selection of a representation of a particular media item.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the media item class comprises at least one of a VOD purchases media item class for determining how to respond to selection of a representation of a VOD purchasing application, a DVR application media item class for determining how to respond to selection of a representation of a digital video recorder application, a VOD media item class for determining how to respond to selection of a representation of a video-on-demand, a DVR media item class for determining how to respond to selection of a representation of a previously recorded program, a live television media item class for determining how to respond to selection of a representation of a broadcast television program, or a VOD application media item class for determining how to respond to selection of a representation of a VOD application.

26. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the media guide application is further configured to generate at least one of a time-based grid media guide, a channel-based columnar media guide, or a browse bar media guide that can be displayed concurrently with media content.

27. The system as recited in claim 21 embodied as a media entertainment system set-top box.

28. A system, comprising:

a media channel class that represents a particular type of media channel;

a media item class that represents a particular type of media item;

a media channel object that comprises an instantiation of the media channel class and represents a particular media channel;

a media item object that comprises an instantiation of the media item class and represents a particular media item that is associated with the particular media channel;

a guide generator configured to generate an interactive media guide that presents a visual representation of the particular media item in association with the particular media channel.

29. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein media items of different types may be associated with a single media channel.

30. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the interactive media guide may simultaneously present visual representations of different types of media items associated with a particular media channel.

31. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the interactive media guide may simultaneously present visual representations of different types of media channels.

32. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the media channel class is based on a media channel interface that defines methods associated with generating a display of metadata associated with a media channel.

33. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the media item class is based on a media item interface that defines methods associated with responding to selection of a representation of a media item.

34. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the guide generator comprises a grid guide generator configured to generate a time-based grid media guide.

35. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the guide generator comprises a channel guide generator configured to generate a channel-based columnar media guide.

36. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the guide generator comprises a browse bar guide generator configured to generate a browse bar media guide that is designed to be displayed simultaneously with currently playing media content.

37. The system as recited in claim 28, further comprising a data repository configured to maintain metadata associated with media items and media channels.

38. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

receive data that identifies available media channels and media items that are associated with the media channels;

for each of the media channels, instantiate a channel-type-specific media channel object;

for each of the media items, instantiate a media item-type-specific media item object; and

dynamically generate an interactive media guide based on one or more of the media channel objects, wherein the interactive media guide presents a visual representation of one or more of the media item objects.

39. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 38, further comprising computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

receive an indication that a particular one of the media item objects has been selected; and

respond to the selection of the particular one of the media item objects by calling a method associated with the particular one of the media item objects.