Methods, systems, and products for sampled content

• US 20060288368A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huslak, Nicholas Steven, McQuaide, Arnold C. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/213,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatuses, devices, and products provide sampled content. One such method receives a programming guide comprising a listing of available content. An ancillary stream of data is received and includes samples of content listed in the programming guide. A user input is received that selects a particular content from the programming guide. Unselected samples of content are filtered from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content. The sample is processed for preview of the selected particular content.

Claims

1. A system for providing sample content, comprising:

at least one processor for receiving a programming guide comprising a listing of available content and for receiving an ancillary stream of data, the ancillary stream of data comprising multiple samples of content listed in the programming guide; and

a user interface for receiving a user input that selects a particular content from the programming guide and for communicating the user input to the processor, wherein the processor filters unselected samples of content from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content as a preview of the selected particular content.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein the processor processes the sample into a video signal and communicates the video signal to the display for displaying the video signal as a preview of the selected content.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver for wirelessly communicating the sample to a communications device.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the communications device is a remote control.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the ancillary stream of data comprises samples of at least a portion of the available content listed in the programming guide.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the ancillary stream of data comprises samples of content matching a profile of the user.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the programming guide is an electronic programming guide.

8. A method for providing sample content, the method comprising:

receiving a programming guide comprising a listing of available content;

receiving an ancillary stream of data comprising samples of content listed in the programming guide;

receiving a user input that selects a particular content from the programming guide;

filtering unselected samples of content from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content; and

processing the sample for preview of the selected particular content.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising processing the sample into a video signal and displaying the video signal at a communications device as a preview of the selected particular content.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the communications device is a remote control.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of at least a portion of the available content listed in the programming guide.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of content matching a profile of the user.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the programming guide is an electronic programming guide.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of all available content listed in the programming guide.

15. A method according to claim 8, wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of a subset of available content listed in the programming guide.

16. A computer-readable medium on which instructions are encoded for performing the steps of:

receiving a programming guide comprising a listing of available content;

receiving an ancillary stream of data comprising samples of content listed in the programming guide;

receiving a user input that selects a particular content from the programming guide;

filtering unselected samples of content from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content; and

processing the sample for preview of the selected particular content.

17. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the sample is processed at a communications device into a video signal for display as a visual preview of the selected particular content.

18. A computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the communications device is a remote control.

19. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of at least a portion of the available content listed in the programming guide.

20. A computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of content matching a profile of the user.