Systems and methods for providing channel groups in an interactive media guidance application

• US 20070157248A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/47
• 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The present invention relates an interactive media guidance application that provides channel groups. Channel groups may include media channels, such as television channels, radio stations, Internet web sites, etc. Channel groups may be organized around a common characteristic, by utilizing user profile information, and by human editorial selection (e.g., by a service provider or by a user). The guidance application provides information on the channel groups, including media listings, reminders, pending and completed recordings, purchased programs, and previously accessed programs for the channel group. The guidance application enables the user to focus a guidance application function on the channel group. In response to a user initiation to execute the function on the channel group, the function may be executed on all the media channels belonging to the channel group. Information on the channel group and access to functions that are executable on the channel group may be concentrated in a channel group portal screen of the guidance application.

Claims

1. A method for providing channel groups in an interactive media guidance application, the method comprising:

defining a channel group that includes a plurality of media channels, wherein the plurality of media channels is a subset of the media channels received by user equipment;

providing information on the channel group, wherein the information includes media listings for the plurality of media channels;

receiving a user command to initiate a function of the guidance application on the channel group; and

executing the function on the channel group in response to the user command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the function comprises executing the function on each of the plurality of media channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to initiate a function on one or more selected channel groups, and wherein executing the function comprises executing the function on the plurality of media channels belonging to the one or more selected channel groups.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining the channel group to include media listings that are not from the plurality of media channels.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising executing the function on the media listings that are not from the plurality of media channels in response to the user command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to set the channel group as a favorite channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises setting the plurality of media channels as favorite media channels.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to block access to the channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises blocking access to the plurality of media channels using a password.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to subscribe to the channel group, and executing the function comprises subscribing a user to at least some of the plurality of media channels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to set an alert for the channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises alerting a user when a condition is met for any of the plurality of media channels.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a channel group comprises receiving a list of the plurality of media channels.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving user modifications to the list.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving a list of the plurality of media channels comprises receiving a list of media channels that share at least one common characteristic.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing access to a media program in response to a user selection of a corresponding media listing.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises at least one of:

providing a list of the plurality of media channels, providing media listings for the channel group, providing a list of on-demand media programs for the channel group, providing a list of reminders for the channel group, providing a list of pending recordings for the channel group, providing a list of recorded programs for the channel group, providing a listing of purchased programs for the channel group, and providing a viewing history of previously accessed programs for the channel group.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a viewing history for the channel group comprises tracking a list of media programs accessed by a user through the channel group in a given time period.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises providing a preview for at least one of:

an on-demand media program from the channel group, a recorded media program from the channel group, a purchased media program from the channel group, and a previously accessed media program for the channel group.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing a preview comprises displaying a reduced scale video of a program.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a channel group portal screen that provides access to the information on the channel group and functions that are executable on the channel group.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing access to the information on the channel group comprises displaying on the portal screen at least one of:

a video clip promoting the channel group, a video clip promoting one of the plurality of media channels, a list of the plurality of media channels, promotional information on media programming accessible through the channel group, a live feed from one of the plurality of media channels, media listings for the channel group, and a list of the functions that are executable on the channel group.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein providing access to the information on the channel group comprises providing access on the portal screen to at least one of:

a viewing history of the channel group, a list of reminders for the channel group, a list of pending recordings for the channel group, a list of completed recordings for the channel group, a list of purchased programs for the channel group, and on-demand media listings for the channel group.

21. A method for providing channel groups in an interactive television program guide application, the method comprising:

defining a channel group that includes a plurality of television channels, wherein the plurality of television channels is a subset of the television channels received by user equipment;

providing information on the channel group, wherein the information includes program listings for the plurality of television channels;

receiving a user command to initiate a function of the program guide application on the channel group; and

executing the function on the plurality of television channels in response to the user command.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a list of favorite television channels.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to set the channel group as a favorite channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises adding the plurality of television channels to the list of favorite television channels.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to block access to the channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises blocking access to the plurality of television channels using a password.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to subscribe to the channel group, and executing the function comprises subscribing a user to at least some of the plurality of television channels.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises providing a list of on-demand programs available through the channel group.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises providing a reduced scale video preview of a television program corresponding to a displayed program listing.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises providing a reduced scale video of a live television broadcast from one of the plurality of television channels.

29. An interactive media guidance system for providing channel groups comprising:

an interactive media guidance application implemented at least partially on circuitry configured to;

define a channel group that includes a plurality of media channels, wherein the plurality of media channels is a subset of the media channels received by user equipment;

provide information on the channel group, wherein the information includes media listings for the plurality of media channels;

receive a user command to initiate a function of the guidance application on the channel group; and

execute the function on the channel group in response to the user command.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to execute the function is further configured to execute the function on each of the plurality of media channels.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured:

to receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to initiate a function on one or more selected channel groups; and

to execute the function is further configured to execute the function on the plurality of media channels belonging to the one or more selected channel groups.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry is further configured to define the channel group to include media listings that are not from the plurality of media channels.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the circuitry is further configured to execute the function on the media listings that are not from the plurality of media channels in response to the user command.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to:

receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to set the channel group as a favorite channel group; and

execute the function is further configured to set the plurality of media channels as favorite media channels.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to:

receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to block access to the channel group; and

execute the function is further configured to block access to the plurality of media channels using a password.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to:

receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to subscribe to the channel group;

execute the function is further configured to subscribe a user to at least some of the plurality of media channels.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to:

receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to set an alert for the channel group; and

execute the function is further configured to alert a user when a condition is met for any of the plurality of media channels.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to define a channel group is further configured to receive a list of the plurality of media channels.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive user modifications to the list.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the circuitry configured to receive a list of the plurality of media channels is further configured to receive a list of media channels that share at least one common characteristic.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry is further configured to provide access to a media program in response to a user selection of a corresponding media listing.

42. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide at least one of:

a list of the plurality of media channels, media listings for the channel group, a list of on-demand media programs for the channel group, a list of reminders for the channel group, a list of pending recordings for the channel group, a list of recorded programs for the channel group, a listing of purchased programs for the channel group, and a viewing history of previously accessed programs for the channel group.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the circuitry configured to provide a viewing history for the channel group is further configured to track a list of media programs accessed by a user through the channel group in a given time period.

44. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide a preview for at least one of:

an on-demand media program from the channel group, a recorded media program from the channel group, a purchased media program from the channel group, and a previously accessed media program for the channel group.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the circuitry configured to provide a preview is further configured to display a reduced scale video of a program.

46. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry is further configured to provide a channel group portal screen that provides access to the information on the channel group and functions that are executable on the channel group.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the circuitry configured to provide access to the information on the channel group is further configured to display on the portal screen at least one of:

a video clip promoting the channel group, a video clip promoting one of the plurality of media channels, a list of the plurality of media channels, promotional information on media programming accessible through the channel group, a live feed from one of the plurality of media channels, media listings for the channel group, and a list of the functions that are executable on the channel group.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the circuitry configured to provide access to the information on the channel group is further configured to provide access on the portal screen to at least one of:

a viewing history of the channel group, a list of reminders for the channel group, a list of pending recordings for the channel group, a list of completed recordings for the channel group, a list of purchased programs for the channel group, and on-demand media listings for the channel group.

49. An interactive media guidance system for providing channel groups comprising:

an interactive media guidance application implemented at least partially on circuitry configured to;

define a channel group that includes a plurality of television channels, wherein the plurality of television channels is a subset of the television channels received by user equipment;

provide information on the channel group, wherein the information includes program listings for the plurality of television channels;

receive a user command to initiate a function of the program guide application on the channel group; and

execute the function on the plurality of television channels in response to the user command.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry is further configured to provide a list of favorite television channels.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to:

receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to set the channel group as a favorite channel group; and

execute the function is further configured to add the plurality of television channels to the list of favorite television channels.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to:

receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to block access to the channel group; and

execute the function is further configured to block access to the plurality of television channels using a password.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to:

receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to subscribe to the channel group; and

execute the function is further configured to subscribe a user to at least some of the plurality of television channels.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide a list of on-demand programs available through the channel group.

55. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide a reduced scale video preview of a television program corresponding to a displayed program listing.

56. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide a reduced scale video of a live television broadcast from one of the plurality of television channels.