Grouping of representations in a user interface

• US 20060117260A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sloo, David Hendler, Scott, Samuel Thomas III, Thukral, Vivek, Carle, Kevin T., Cleron, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/000,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117260A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/719
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• 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

Grouping of representations in a user interface is described. In an implementation, a method includes distinguishing a plurality of on-demand content items from a plurality of time-dependent content items that are described in data. A plurality of linearly-arranged groupings is formed, based on the distinguishing, for output in a user interface. At least one of the groupings includes representations of time-dependent content items that are available via a particular channel. Another one of the groupings includes representations of on-demand content items that are available via plurality of channels.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

distinguishing a plurality of on-demand content items from a plurality of time-dependent content items that are described in data; and

forming a plurality of linearly-arranged groupings, based on the distinguishing, for output in a user interface, wherein;

at least one said grouping includes representations of said time-dependent content items that are available via a particular channel; and

another said grouping includes representations of said on-demand content items that are available via a plurality of channels.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

each said on-demand content item is configured for time independent output; and

each said time-dependent content item is configured for distribution during a specific period of time.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of linearly-arranged grouping is generally arranged in parallel, one to another.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of on-demand content items are selected from the group consisting of:

a video-on-demand (VOD);

an application;

a digitally recorded video that is available locally at a client having digital video recorder (DVR) functionality;

audio-only content; and

a digitally recorded video that is available remotely at a head end having network digital video recorder (NDVR) functionality;

.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein each said representation is selectable to cause an output of a corresponding said content item, when available.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the data is electronic program guide (EPG) data;

the user interface is an EPG; and

at least one said content item is a television program.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the data is electronic program guide (EPG) data; and

the plurality of linear groupings form rows or columns in a table.

8. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, direct the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

9. A method comprising:

obtaining electronic program guide (EPG) data describing a plurality of content items, wherein each said content item has a corresponding description;

identifying a plurality of said descriptions available via a first channel that match another plurality of said descriptions available via a second channel; and

configuring an EPG, based on the identifying, to include interleaved representations of said content items available via the first and second channels.

10. A method as described in claim 9, wherein:

the first and second channels are accessible by a client to output respective said content items;

the first and second channels are consecutively ordered for selection via the client.

11. A method as described in claim 9, wherein each said description available via the first channel matches, one to another.

12. A method as described in claim 9, wherein at least one said description available via the first channel does not match another said description available via the first channel.

13. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the interleaved representations of said content items available via the first and second channels are displayed concurrently with a representation of the first and second channels.

14. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the configured EPG, when displayed, includes:

the interleaved representations that are linearly arranged to define a dimension in the EPG; and

representations of said content items, available via a third channel, that are linearly arranged as generally parallel to the defined dimension.

15. A method as described in claim 14, wherein said content items available via the third channel have corresponding said descriptions which do not match:

the plurality of said descriptions available via the first channel; and

the other plurality of said descriptions available via the second channel.

16. A method as described in claim 14, wherein:

the EPG is arranged as a table;

the dimension is selected from a column or a row of the table.

17. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, direct the computer to perform the method of claim 9.

18. A method comprising:

identifying, in electronic program guide (EPG) data describing;

a first channel having a first plurality of descriptions of content items that match, one to another; and

a second channel having a second plurality of descriptions of content items that match, one to another; and

combining the first plurality of descriptions into a first representation and the second plurality of descriptions in a second representation for adjacent display in an EPG.

19. A method as described in claim 18, wherein:

the first and second representations are linearly arranged, one after another, to define a dimension in the EPG;

the EPG includes a third plurality of representations of content items available via a third channel; and

the third plurality of representations are displayable as generally parallel to the defined dimension.

20. A method as described in claim 19, wherein:

the EPG is arranged as a table;

the defined dimension is a column or a row of the table.

21. A method comprising as described in claim 18, wherein one or more said content items are television programs.

22. A method comprising as described in claim 18, wherein the first and second channels are consecutive.

23. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, direct the computer to perform the method of claim 18.

24. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, direct the computer to generate an electronic program guide (EPG) having a plurality of representations of a plurality of content items, wherein each said content item having an output that is time independent is represented by a single corresponding said representation in the EPG.

25. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 24, wherein a plurality of said representations is linearly arranged in the EPG.

26. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 25, wherein:

the generated EPG is configured as a table; and

the liner arranges forms a row or column of the table.

27. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 24, wherein one or more of said time independent content items is selected from the group consisting of:

a video-on-demand (VOD);

an application; and

a digitally recorded video that is accessible via a client.

28. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 24, wherein the computer is located at a head end.

29. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 24, wherein the computer is a client that is configured to receive at least one said content item from a head end.

30. A system comprising:

electronic program guide (EPG) data arranged according to a plurality of channels, wherein each said channel includes a plurality of descriptions of a plurality of content items; and

one or more modules that are executable to generate an EPG by;

finding matching said descriptions in consecutive said channels; and

representing the matching said descriptions in the consecutive said channels along a single dimension in the EPG.

31. A system as described in claim 30, wherein:

the EPG is arranged as a table;

the particular dimension is a column or a row of the table.

32. A system as described in claim 30, wherein one or more said content items are television programs.

33. A system as described in claim 30, wherein:

each of the matching said descriptions are represented by a respective one of a plurality of representations; and

the plurality of representations are linearly arranged along the single dimension.

34. A system as described in claim 30, wherein:

the EPG data is stored in a database at a head end; and

the one or more modules are executable by at least one server located at the head end.

35. A system as described in claim 30, wherein:

the EPG data is stored in a memory at a client; and

the one or more modules are executable by the client.

36. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

memory configured to maintain one or more modules that are executable on the processor to generate an electronic program guide (EPG) having;

a first grouping of representations of a plurality of content items, wherein each said representation in the first grouping is suitable for identifying a time and a channel for obtaining a represented said content item; and

a second grouping of representations of another plurality of content items, wherein each said representation in the second grouping is suitable for identifying a channel but not a specific time for obtaining a represented said content item.

37. A computing device as described in claim 36, wherein the first and second groupings are concurrently displayable in the EPG.

38. A computing device as described in claim 36, wherein at least one said content item corresponding to at least one said representation in the second grouping is configured for time independent output by a client.

39. A computing device as described in claim 38, wherein the at least one said content item is selected from the group consisting of:

a video-on-demand (VOD);

an application; and

a digitally recorded video that is accessible via a client.

40. A computing device as described in claim 36, wherein at least one said content item corresponding to at least one said representation in the second grouping is configured for time dependent output by a client and has a generic said description.

41. A computing device as described in claim 40, wherein the at least one said content item is a regularly repeating television program that is broadcast via a single channel.

42. A computing device as described in claim 36, further comprising a network transmitter for transmitting the generated EPG to a client over a network.

43. A computing device as described in claim 36, further comprising a network receiver for receiving at least one said content item from a head end over a network.