Method and system of providing user interface

• US 20060230427A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Weinraub, Mitchell J., Capps, James, Groustra, Daniel P., Traver, Gary, Silva, Steve, Moore, Griffin, Chen, Michael, Ahmad-Taylor, Ty O., Kunkel, Gerard
• Application Number:
  US11/093,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20060230427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Method and system of providing a user interface. The method and system relating to the user of a media device to support displaying video and the user interface in a video rich fashion. The method and system may provide dynamic operations which provide increased functionality and interactivity, such as to provide a multi-functional user interface and navigation portal which provides aesthetically pleasing and functional mosaics of video, advertisements, textual and graphical displays, and other motion or non-motion based displays.

Claims

1. A method of directing operation of a media device having capabilities for displaying videos and a user interface, the method comprising:

providing at least two video feeds within a composite video feed, the media device being configured to display the composite video feed and thereby each video feed included therein; and

providing user interface instructions, the user interface instructions being operable with the media device to facilitate displaying the user interface, the user interface instructions including navigation instructions specific to content of at least one of the video feeds within the composite video so as to facilitate providing navigation features within the user interface that are specific to content of at least one of the video feeds.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to display an electronic programming guide, the electronic programming guide displaying channels having content specific to at least one of the video feeds.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to display a pop-up menu, the pop-up menu displaying media device control options for controlling the media device to execute operations specific to at least one of the video feeds.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising configuring the media device control options to facilitate setting a recording of a content associated with the video feed, setting a reminder for tuning to a channel showing content associated with the video feed, tuning to a channel showing content associated with the video feed, adding information associated with the video feed to a favorites file, ordering a product associated with the video feed, or purchasing a movie associated with the video feed.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to display an VOD guide, the VOD guide displaying content specific to at least one of the video feeds.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to engage an application program interface (API).

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to display a webpage, the webpage having content specific to at least one of the video feeds.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to tuned to a channel associated with one of the video feeds.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to include instructions for displaying an advertisement.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising automatically updating the user interface instructions to facilitate displaying a different advertisement so as to facilitate barking operations wherein different advertisements are automatically displayed within the user interface at predefined periods.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to include navigation features for transporting to additional information on products or services associated with the advertisement.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising configuring the advertisement to display content specific to at least one of the video feeds.

13. The method of claim 1 automatically updating the user interface instructions at predefined periods, wherein the user interface instructions are automatically provided from an electronic database so as to facilitate updating of the user interface instructions without manual interaction.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising automatically changing content associated with at least one of the video feeds and automatically providing the user interface instructions to support the changed content.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising automatically adding a video feed to the composite video feed and automatically providing the user interface instructions to support the changed content.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising automatically subtracting a video feed from the composite video feed and automatically providing the user interface instructions to support the changed content.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising transporting the composite video feed and user interface instructions within a common transport from a location upstream from the media device.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising coordinating the user interface instructions to correspond with user interface capabilities of the media device.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating a background overlay with the composite video feed to fill blank portions of the composite video feed.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing user interface instructions for displaying information within the user interface, the displayed information being specific to content of at least one of the video feeds.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to change the displayed information according to user interaction with the user interface.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating audio feeds with each of the video feeds and configuring the user interface instructions to facilitate selective playback of the audio feeds while the composite video feed and user interface are displayed.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising scaling the video feeds prior fit within the composite video feed.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising scaling the video feeds at a location upstream from the media device.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising scaling the video feeds at the media device.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting the video feeds according to instructions provided by a scheduler associated with an automation processor.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising coordinating delivery of the video feeds between one or media providers and a video processor, wherein the video processor combines the video feeds into the composite video feed.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing one of the video feeds from the composite video feed and replacing it with a locally inserted video feed.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising updating the user interface instructions with locally inserted user interface instructions to facilitate providing navigation features associated with the locally inserted video feed.

30. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking features associated with the user interface for use in billing advertisers.

31. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting the video feeds as a function of user requests.

32. The method of claim 1 further comprising arranging the video feeds within the composite video feed according to instructions provided by an automation processor.

33. The method of claim 1 further comprising arranging the video feeds within the composite video such that at least one of the video feeds appears larger than the other video feeds.

34. The method of claim 1 further comprising arranging the video feeds according one of a number of predefined mosaics.

35. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the resolution of one or more of the video feeds to save bandwidth.

36. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at least one of the video feeds from a VOD server.

37. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at least one of the video feeds from a video broadcasting source.

38. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at least one of the video feeds from a satellite source.

39. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at least one of the video feeds from a packet-switching network.

40. The method of claim 1 further comprising transporting the composite video feed and user interface instructions in a linear transport.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to support navigation to a non-linear transport in response to selection of one or more of the features provided in the user interface.

42. The method of claim 1 further comprising outputting the composite video feed and the user interface from the media device.

43. The method of claim 1 further comprising assembling the composite video feed at a location upstream from the media device.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising assembling the user interface instructions with the composite image feed at the location upstream from the media device.

45. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the composite video feed and the user instructions to the media device in separate transport streams.

46. A method of providing a user interface, the method comprising:

providing a video feed and user interface instructions, the user interface instructions including features for instructing a media device to display features within a user interface during viewing of the video feed;

associating the displayed features with content specific to the video feed such that the user interface displays features specific to the video feed; and

automatically updating the user interface instructions at predefined periods, wherein the user interface instructions are automatically provided from an electronic database so as to facilitate updating of the user interface instructions without manual interaction.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to include instructions for displaying an advertisement.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising automatically updating the user interface instructions to facilitate displaying a different advertisement so as to facilitate barking operations wherein different advertisements are automatically displayed within the user interface at predefined periods.

49. The method of claim 47 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to include navigation features for transporting to additional information on products or services associated with the advertisement.

50. The method of claim 47 further comprising configuring the advertisement to display content specific to the video feed.

51. The method of claim 46 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to provide navigation features specific to content of the video feed.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to display an electronic programming guide, the electronic programming guide displaying channels having content specific to the video feed.

53. The method of claim 51 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to display a pop-up menu, the pop-up menu displaying media device control options for controlling the media device to execute operations specific to the video feed.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising configuring the media device control options to facilitate setting a recording of a content associated with the video feed, setting a reminder for tuning to a channel showing content associated with the video feed, tuning to a channel showing content associated with the video feed, adding information associated with the video feed to a favorites file, ordering a product associated with the video feed, or purchasing a movie associated with the video feed.

55. The method of claim 51 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to display an VOD guide, the VOD guide displaying content specific to the video feed.

56. The method of claim 51 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to engage an application program interface (API).

57. The method of claim 51 further comprising configuring the navigation features to facilitate controlling the media device to display a webpage, the webpage having content specific to the video feed.

58. The method of claim 46 further comprising automatically changing content associated with the video feed at a predefined video feed update period, and updating the user interface instructions to display features specific to the changed content.

59. The method of claim 46 further comprising configuring the video feed to include at least two separate video portions, and associating the displayed features with at least one of the two video portions.

60. The method of claim 59 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to include instructions to facilitate displaying at least two different configurations of the user interface, wherein at least one of the configurations covers at least one of the video portions shown within the video feed and wherein at least one of the configurations covers a different one of the video portions.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising selectively controlling which one of the user interface configurations is displayed so as to control which one or more video portions within the video feed are shown.

62. A method of directing operation of a media device having capabilities for displaying videos and a user interface, the method comprising:

providing at least two video feeds within a composite video feed, the media device being configured to display the composite video feed and thereby each video feed included therein;

providing user interface instructions, the user interface instructions being operable with the media device to facilitate displaying the user interface, the user interface instructions including instructions to facilitate displaying at least two different configurations of the user interface, wherein at least one of the configurations covers at least one of the video feeds shown within the composite video feed and wherein at least one of the configurations covers a different one of the video feeds; and

selectively controlling which one of the user interface configurations is displayed so as to control which one or more video feeds within the composite video feed are shown.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising configuring the user interface instructions to specify placement of selectable features within the user interface such that the placement of the selectable features controls which one or more video feeds with the composite video feed are shown.

64. The method of claim 62 further comprising configuring the user interface instruction to include navigation instructions specific to content of at least one of the video feeds within the composite video feed so as to facilitate displaying user selectable navigation options within the user interface that are specific to content of at least one of the video feeds

65. The method of claim 62 further comprising automatically changing content associated with at least one of the video feeds and automatically providing the user interface instructions to support the changed content.

66. The method of claim 62 further comprising automatically adding a video feed to the composite video feed and automatically providing the user interface instructions to support the changed content.

67. The method of claim 62 further comprising automatically subtracting a video feed from the composite video feed and automatically providing the user interface instructions to support the changed content.

68. The method of claim 62 further comprising receiving user requests with the media device and selectively controlling which one of the user interface configurations is shown as a function thereof.

69. The method of claim 62 further comprising receiving user requests at a location upstream from the media device and selectively controlling which one of the user interface configurations is shown as a function thereof.

70. A system of providing a user interface, the system comprising:

a media device configured to receive user interface instructions and to output a user interface as a function thereof, the media device further configured to receive a video feed; and

an automation processor configured to provide the user interface instructions, the user interface instructions including features specific to content of the video feed so as to facilitate displaying user interface features that are specific to content of the video feed.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein the automation processor is configured to automatically update the user interface instructions at predefined periods.

72. The system of claim 71 further comprising a scheduler in communication with the automation processor to facilitate automatically updating the user interface instructions, the scheduler specifying the predefined periods associated with updating the user interface instructions.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the scheduler further specifies predefined periods for changing content associated with the video feed.

74. The system of claim 73 further comprising a database of secondary information in communication with the automation processor to facilitate updating the user interface instructions, the database including secondary information relating to content associated with the video feed, wherein the automation processor updates the user interface instructions as a function of the secondary information associated with the content of the video feed.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the secondary information specifies at least a portion of the features to be displayed within the user interface.

76. The system of claim 70 further comprising an encoder configured to facilitate transporting the video feed and user interface instructions to the media device.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein the automation processor synchronizes the user interface instructions with the video feed to support transporting the video feed and user interface instructions to the media device in a common transport stream.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein the automation processor synchronizes the user instructions to compensate for processing latencies of the media device.

79. The system of claim 70 wherein the video feed is a composite video feed, the composite video feed being characterized as a single video feed having at least two individual feeds included therein, wherein the media device need only tune to the composite video feed to simultaneously display each video feed included therein.

80. The system of claim 79 further comprising a video processor for combining the individual video feeds into the composite video feed.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein the video processor is configured to scale the individual video feeds to fit within the composite video feed.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein the automation processor is configured to direct the video processor to control sizing of the individual video feeds within the composite video feed.

84. The system of claim 79 wherein the automation processor is configured to direct the video processor to control placement of the individual video feeds within the composite video feed.

85. The system of claim 84 wherein the scheduler specifies placement of the individual video feeds within the composite video feed so as to facilitate automatically change video feed positioning.

86. The system of claim 80 wherein the automation processor coordinates delivery of the video feeds between at least one of a number of media providers and the video processor.

87. The system of claim 80 further comprising a separator located upstream form the video processor for separating audio out from the video feeds such that the video processor only processes video into the composite video feed.

88. The system of claim 87 further comprising an audio processor configured for processing the audio separated out of the video feeds to compensate for processing delays associated with video processing.

89. The system of claim 79 wherein the composite video feed includes blank portions between the individual video feeds, and wherein the system further includes an overlay process for adding an overlay to at least a portion of the blank portions of the composite video feed, the overlay becoming part of the composite video feed such that the media device need only tune to the composite video feed to display the each video feed and the overlay included therein.

90. The system of claim 89 wherein the automation processor is configured to select the overlay so as to facilitate automatically changing graphics, images, or other features associated therewith.

91. The system of claim 90 wherein the scheduler specifies selection of the overlay so as to facilitate automatically changing the overlay.

92. The system of claim 79 further comprising a local insertion unit configured to replace one of the video feeds from the composite video feed with a local video feed.

93. The system of claim 79 wherein the user interface instructions including instructions to facilitate displaying at least two different configurations of the user interface, wherein at least one of the configurations covers at least one of the video feeds shown within the composite video feed and wherein at least one of the configurations covers a different one of the video feeds.

94. The system of claim 93 wherein the user interface instructions include instructions to facilitate selectively controlling which one of the user interface configurations is displayed so as to control which one or more video feeds within the composite video feed are shown.

95. The system of claim 70 wherein the media device is a settop box configured to display the user interface and the video feed on a television.

96. The system of claim 70 wherein the media device is a server configured to stream the video feed and the user interface to a unit for playback.

97. The system of claim 95 further comprising user instructions for displaying pop-up navigation features during playback of the video feed.

99. The system of claim 96 further comprising a database of secondary information in communication with the automation processor to facilitate updating the user interface instructions, the database including secondary information relating to content associated with the video feeds, wherein the automation processor updates the user interface instructions as a function of the secondary information associated with the content of the video feed.

100. The system of claim 97 wherein the secondary information specifies one or more navigation features to be provided within the user interface, the navigation features being specific to content of the selected video feeds.

101. The system of claim 97 wherein the secondary information specifies one or more advertisements to be displayed within the user interface, the advertisements being specific to content of the selected video feeds.

102. The system of claim 97 wherein the secondary information specifies one or more textual or graphical displays to be displayed within the user interface, the textual or graphical displays being specific to content of the selected video feeds.

83. The system of claim 83 wherein the scheduler specifies sizing of the individual video feeds within the composite video feed so as to facilitate automatically changing video feed sizing.

98. A system of providing a video rich user interface, the system comprising:

an number of media providers, the media providers configured to provide one or more video feeds;

a video processor in communication with the media provider to receive the video feeds, the video processor further configured to combine the video feeds into a composite video feed;

an automation processor configured for selecting the video feeds included within the composite video feed, the automation processor further configured to provide user interface instructions, the user interface instructions being specific to content of the selected video feeds, the user interface instructions providing instructions operable with a media device to display a user interface so as to facilitate displaying features in the user interface that are specific to content of one or more of the selected video feeds; and

a scheduler in communication with the automation processor for instructing the automation processor to automatically update, add, or subtract one of the select video feeds and/or to automatically update the user interface instructions as a function thereof or independently thereof.

103. A system of providing a user interface, the system comprising:

a composite video feed for displaying a number of individual video feeds;

a number of user interface instructions configured to facilitate displaying at least two different configurations of a user interface, wherein at least one of the configurations covers at least one of the video feeds shown within the composite video feed and wherein at least one of the configurations covers a different one of the video feeds; and

a media device configured to display the composite video feed and the user interface.

104. The system of claim 103 further comprising an automation processor configured to select an arrangement of the video feeds within the composite video feed and to determine the different configurations of the user interface as a function thereof.

105. The system of claim 104 wherein the user interface instructions specify placement of selectable features within the user interface such that the placement of the selectable features controls which one or more video feeds with the composite video feed are shown.

106. The system of claim 104 wherein the user interface instructions define the different user interface configurations according to different themes, and wherein the video feeds within the composite video feed are correlated with the different themes so as to permit selection of the user interfaces by theme and the display of the videos associated with the selected theme.

107. A system of providing a user interface, the system comprising:

a media device having capabilities for displaying videos and a user interface;

a regional enterprise configured for;

providing at least two video feeds within a composite video feed, the media device being configured to display the composite video feed and thereby each video feed included therein; and

providing user interface instructions, the user interface instructions being operable with the media device to facilitate displaying the user interface, the user interface instructions including navigation instructions specific to content of at least one of the video feeds within the composite video so as to facilitate providing navigation features within the user interface that are specific to content of at least one of the video feeds; and

a local enterprise located downstream from the regional enterprise and upstream from the media device, the location enterprise configured to remove at least one video feed from the composite video feed and to update the user interface instructions as a function thereof such that the updated user interface instructions and composite video feed with the at least one local video feed are transported downstream to the media device.

108. The system of claim 107 wherein the local enterprise includes a local server in communication with the regional enterprise, the local server being configured to synchronize local video insertion and user interface instructions updating with a VRN channel transmitted from the regional enterprise, the VRN channel including the composite video feed and user instructions provided by the regional enterprise.

109. The system of claim 108 further comprising a communication medium for communication time codes between the regional enterprise and the local server to facilitate synchronization.