Media content menu navigation and customization

• US 20070124764A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Morris, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/290,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124764A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• 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 21/47202 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Media content menu navigation and customization is described. In an embodiment, media content is received at a television-based client device and displayed for viewing on a display device. A user-selectable menu input is received via a television-based remote control device and, in response, a content menu is displayed over the media content where the content menu includes a listing for a special event that is available for viewing for a limited period of time.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying media content for viewing; and

displaying a content menu over the media content, the content menu including a listing for promoted content that is available for viewing for a limited period of time.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising incorporating the listing for the promoted content into the content menu of regularly available media content.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the promoted content is a special event which can be selected for viewing during the limited period of time that the special event is available.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying a graphic as at least one of an image or text associated with the listing for the promoted content.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a user-selectable input to select the listing for the promoted content that is included in the content menu; and

displaying an updated content menu that includes selectable listings corresponding to the selected listing for the promoted content.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user-selectable input to select the listing for the promoted content that is included in the content menu; and

displaying a promotional image over the media content upon receiving the user-selectable input, the promotional image being associated with the listing for the promoted content.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising displaying a graphic as at least one of an image or text associated with the listing for the promoted content.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the graphic and the promotional image are brand identifiers corresponding to the promoted content, the brand identifiers displayed to promote the promoted content and encourage viewer selection of the promoted content.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a menu input via a television-based remote control device to initiate the display of the content menu.

10. A system, comprising:

a television-based client system configured to receive media content from a content provider and display the media content for viewing; and

a navigation application configured to initiate display of a content menu over the media content, the content menu including a listing for a special event that is available for viewing for a limited period of time.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the content provider is further configured to incorporate the listing for the special event into the content menu of regularly available media content, the content provider being further configured to deliver the special event for viewing when the listing for the special event is selected.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the television-based client system is further configured to receive a user-selectable input via a remote control device to'"'"'select the listing for the special event included in the content menu; and

the navigation application is further configured to initiate display of an updated content menu that includes selectable listings corresponding to the selected listing for the special event.

13. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the television-based client system is further configured to receive a user-selectable input via a remote control device to select the listing for the special event included in the content menu; and

the navigation application is further configured to initiate display of a promotional image over the media content when the user-selectable input is received, the promotional image being associated with the listing for the special event.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the navigation application is further configured to initiate display of a graphic as at least one of an image or text associated with the listing for the special event.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the graphic and the promotional image are brand identifiers corresponding to the special event, the brand identifiers being displayed to promote the special event.

16. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the television-based system device is further configured to receive a menu input via a television-based remote control device to initiate the display of the content menu.

17. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a television-based client system to:

receive media content and a content menu of regularly available media content from a content provider;

display the media content for viewing;

receive a user-selectable menu input via a television-based remote control device; and

display the content menu over the media content, the content menu including a listing for a special event that is available for viewing for a limited period of time.

18. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the television-based client system to:

receive a user-selectable input via a television-based remote control device to select the listing for the special event included in the content menu; and

display a promotional image over the media content when the user-selectable input is received, the promotional image being associated with the listing for the special event.

19. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 18, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the television-based client system to display a graphic as at least one of an image or text associated with the listing for the special event.

20. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 19, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the television-based client system to display the graphic and the promotional image as brand identifiers that promote the special event.