System and method for enhanced video selection using an on-screen remote

• US 20070101375A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Haberman, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 9,087,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/738 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4532 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for presenting video asset information to a viewer to assist the view in selecting a video asset for viewing is described. The video assets can be available from a plurality of different video asset sources, such as VOD (video on demand), PVR (personal video recorders) and broadcast (including over the air, cable, and satellite). Images from the video assets are displayed in a uniform manner, along with information about the video assets. The information includes data in a metadata category. The view can select one of the video assets for viewing, but also can navigate using metadata categories such as genre, actors, director etc. Moreover, the system and method includes an on-screen remote control that can be utilized in conjunction with a physical input device for navigation and viewing one or more video assets. This allows a much easier and natural navigating and selection process for viewers.

Claims

1. A receiver device for assisting a user to control one or more video assets, the receiver device comprising:

means for receiving the one or more video assets from a plurality of different video asset sources; and

a display application being capable of generating an image of an on-screen remote control for display on a display device to allow the user to control the one or more video assets displayed on the display device.

2. The receiver device of claim 1, further comprising:

means for attaching customized metadata to at least one of the video assets available from the plurality of different video asset sources, the at least one of the video assets being grouped into at least one customized metadata category;

the display application being capable of displaying on the display device at least one indicia that allows access to the at least one of the video assets grouped into the at least one customized metadata category.

3. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the display application is capable of generating one or more customized indicia for the on-screen remote control based on prior viewing history of the user.

4. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the display application is capable of displaying on the display device at least one indicia that allows the user to control one or more playing characteristics of the one or more video assets.

5. The receiver device of claim 4, wherein the playing characteristics of the one or more video assets capable of being controlled by the user by selecting the at least one indicia include play, pause, stop, rewind, forward, and record.

6. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the display application is capable of displaying on the display device at least one numerical value indicia.

7. The receiver device of claim 6, wherein the at least one numerical value indicia comprises at least one of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

8. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the display application is capable of displaying on the display device one or more indicia to identify one or more users.

9. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the display application being capable of displaying on the display device at least one customized indicia based on at least one input from the user.

10. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different video asset sources comprise VOD, PVR, contemporaneous broadcast video, or future broadcast video.

11. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the receiver device is a cable set-top box.

12. A method for assisting a user to control one or more a video assets, the method comprising:

transmitting the one or more video assets from a plurality of different video asset sources to the user in response to the user'"'"'s request; and

generating an image of an on-screen remote control on a display device to allow the user to control the one or more video assets displayed on the display device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

attaching metadata to at least one of the video assets available from the plurality of different video asset sources, the at least one of the video assets being grouped into at least one customized metadata category; and

transmitting for display on the display device at least one indicia that allows access to the at least one of the video assets grouped into the at least one customized metadata category.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating one or more customized indicia for the on-screen remote control based on prior viewing history of the user.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting for display on the display device at least one indicia that allows the user to control one or more playing characteristics of the one or more video assets.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one indicia transmitted for display include play, pause, stop, rewind, forward, and record.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting for display on the display device at least one numerical value indicia.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one numerical value indicia comprises at least one of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting for display on the display device one or more indicia to identify one or more users.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying on the display device at least one customized indicia based on at least one input from the user.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of different video asset sources comprises VOD, PVR, contemporaneous broadcast video, or future broadcast video.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiver device is a cable set-top box.

23. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

transmit one or more video assets from a plurality of different video asset sources to a user in response to a user'"'"'s request; and

generate an image of an on-screen remote control on a display device to allow the user to control the one or more video assets displayed on the display device.

24. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

receive one or more video assets from a plurality of different video asset sources; and

generate an image of an on-screen remote control for display on a display device to allow a user to control the one or more video assets displayed on the display device.