Systems and methods for providing enhanced sports watching media guidance

• US 20080066111A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GuideWorks, LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael, Radloff, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 8,745,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• 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 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced sports-related media content access and display are provided. An intelligent tuning module for multi-tuner systems may designate one sporting event as a primary sporting event and another sporting event as a secondary sporting event. A primary tuner may tune the primary event whenever possible and a secondary tuner may tune the secondary event whenever possible. Sporting events may be assigned user profile scores and tuned away from in reverse priority order. An interactive scoreboard may also be displayed with various game status and alert icons. The interactive scoreboard may allow a viewer to quickly tune between high-interest sporting events. Sports-specific features, such as wagering and fantasy league support, are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for sports-related media content tuning in a multi-tuner system, the method comprising:

tuning to a first sporting event on a first television channel with a first tuner;

tuning to a second sporting event on a second television channel with a second tuner;

receiving an indication of a primary sporting event, wherein the primary sporting event is one of the first sporting event and the second sporting event;

receiving a user request to tune to a first media content that is not currently tuned by either the first tuner or the second tuner;

in response to receiving the user request, selecting a tuner other than the tuner tuned to the primary sporting event; and

tuning to the first media content with the selected tuner, whereby the first media content is tuned without tuning away from the primary sporting event.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising simultaneously displaying the first media content in a PIP window and the primary sporting event in full-screen in response to receiving the user request.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an indication of a primary sporting event comprises receiving the indication from a user at the multi-tuner system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an indication of a primary sporting event comprises receiving the indication from a cable headend or facility remote from the multi-tuner system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the primary sporting event comprises a sporting event with the most active viewers in a local geographic region.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the primary sporting event comprises a sporting event selected by an editor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-tuner system comprises at least three tuners, the method further comprising:

tuning to at least one additional sporting event on at least one additional tuner; and

receiving an indication of a secondary sporting event, wherein the secondary sporting event is one of the first sporting event, the second sporting event, and the at least one additional sporting event.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the secondary sporting event is other than the primary sporting event.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after tuning to the first media content, receiving a user request to tune to the primary sporting event;

determining if one of the first tuner and the second tuner is already tuned to the primary sporting event; and

in response to determining that one of the first tuner and the second tuner is already tuned to the primary sporting event, displaying the output of the tuner that is already tuned to the primary sporting event.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising buffering the output of at least one of the first tuner and the second tuner.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving a user request to replay at least a portion of the buffered output; and

in response to receiving the user request to replay, replaying the portion of the buffered output.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving a user request to replay at least a portion of the buffered output comprises receiving a user indication of a replay start point and a replay stop point.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the replay start point and the replay stop point are set using a nudge function from a user-selected pause point in the buffered output.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving a user request to replay at least a portion of the buffered output comprises:

displaying multiple replay speed options; and

receiving a user selection of one of the multiple replay speed options.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output; and

selecting the multiple replay speed options for display based on the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output, wherein different replay speed options are selected for different types of sporting events.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving a user request to replay at least a portion of the buffered output comprises:

displaying multiple replay time options; and

receiving a user selection of one of the multiple replay time options.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output; and

selecting the multiple replay time options for display based on the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output, wherein different replay time options are selected for different types of sporting events.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein replaying the portion of the buffered output comprises automatically replaying the portion of the buffered output more than one time.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein receiving a user request to replay at least a portion of the buffered output comprises pressing and holding a replay button, wherein the portion of the buffered output is replayed repeatedly until the replay button is released.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output, wherein replaying the portion of the buffered output comprises selecting a replay speed or a replay time based on the determined type of sporting event.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing media guidance application data including genre information about a plurality of channels;

determining, from the media guidance application data, the channels of the plurality of channels that are currently showing sporting events; and

in response to receiving a user request to change channels, tuning to the next channel currently showing a sporting event.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein tuning to the next channel currently showing a sporting event comprises tuning to the next channel currently showing a sporting event in the direction of a channel surf.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

determining, from the media guidance application data, the channels of the plurality of channels that are currently showing a particular type of sporting event, wherein the next channel currently showing a sporting event is the next channel currently showing a sporting event of the particular type.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the particular type of sporting event is selected from the group consisting of a basketball sporting event, a baseball sporting event, a football sporting event, a soccer sporting event, a tennis sporting event, a golfing sporting event, a boxing sporting event, and a hockey sporting event.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the particular type of sporting event is selected from the group consisting of a professional sporting event, an amateur sporting event, a sporting event of a particular division, and a sporting event of a particular tournament.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein determining the channels of the plurality of channels that are currently showing sporting events comprises building and storing a table of the channels that are currently showing sporting events.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising automatically updating the table on a periodic basis.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising automatically updating the table after new media guidance application data is received.

29. The method of claim 21 further comprising automatically scanning through the channels currently showing sporting events, wherein each channel is displayed for a predetermined amount of time.

30. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

determining which channels of the channels that are currently showing sporting events match user profile information, wherein tuning to the next channel currently showing a sporting event comprises tuning to the next channel currently showing a sporting event that matches the user profile information.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the user profile information comprises user favorites information.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the user profile information comprises information selected from the group consisting of a favorite sport, a favorite channel, a favorite team, a favorite league, a favorite player, a favorite coach, and a favorite venue.

33. The method of claim 21 further comprising displaying an interactive listing of the channels of the plurality of channels that are currently showing sporting events to the user.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising reordering the interactive listing by sport and displaying the reordered interactive listing to the user.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving a user selection of at least one channel in the interactive listing; and

invoking a media guidance application function in response to receiving the user selection of the at least one channel in the interactive listing.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the media guidance application function is selected from the group consisting of tuning to the selected channel, adding the channel to a favorites list, setting a reminder, scheduling a recording, and setting an alert.

37. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing user profile information comprising a plurality of user viewing preferences;

calculating, based at least in part on the user viewing preferences, a user profile score for each of the first sporting event and the second sporting event; and

assigning a priority to at least one of the first tuner and the second tuner, the priority based at least in part on the calculated user profile scores.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein calculating a user profile score for each of the first sporting event and the second sporting event comprises:

assigning a weight to each of the plurality of user viewing preferences;

ranking the first sporting event and the second event according to each of the plurality of user viewing preferences; and

summing a product of the rank and the weight for each of the plurality of user viewing preferences.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein selecting a tuner other than the tuner tuned to the primary sporting event comprises selecting the tuner with the lowest priority.

40. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

accessing user profile information comprising a plurality of user viewing preferences;

calculating, based at least in part on the user viewing preferences, a user profile score for each of the first sporting event, the second sporting event, and the at least one additional sporting event; and

assigning a priority to at least one of the first tuner, the second tuner, and the at least one additional tuner, the priority based at least in part on the calculated user profile scores.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein calculating a user profile score for each of the first sporting event, the second sporting event, and the at least one additional sporting event comprises:

assigning a weight to each of the plurality of user viewing preferences;

ranking the first sporting event, the second event, and the at least one additional sporting event according to each of the plurality of user viewing preferences; and

summing a product of the rank and the weight for each of the plurality of user viewing preferences.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein selecting a tuner other than the tuner tuned to the primary sporting event comprises selecting the tuner with the lowest priority.

43. A method for sports-related media content tuning in a multi-tuner system, the method comprising:

receiving a user request for media content;

determining the genre of the requested media content; and

in response to determining that the genre of the requested media content is a sports genre, automatically;

accessing user profile information comprising a plurality of user sports viewing preferences;

calculating, based at least in part on the user sports viewing preferences, a user profile score for the requested media content;

assigning a priority to the requested media content, the priority based at least in part on the calculated user profile score;

comparing the priority assigned to the requested media content to at least one other priority assigned to a previously requested media content;

selecting, based on the priority comparison, a tuner within the multi-tuner system; and

tuning the requested media content on the selected tuner.

44. A system for sports-related media content tuning, the system comprising:

at least a first tuner and a second tuner; and

control circuitry configured to;

tune to a first sporting event on a first television channel with the first tuner;

tune to a second sporting event on a second television channel with the second tuner;

receive an indication of a primary sporting event, wherein the primary sporting event is one of the first sporting event and the second sporting event;

receive a user request to tune to a first media content that is not currently tuned by either the first tuner or the second tuner;

in response to receiving the user request, select a tuner other than the tuner tuned to the primary sporting event; and

tune to the first media content with the selected tuner, whereby the first media content is tuned without tuning away from the primary sporting event.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

simultaneously display the first media content in a PIP window and the primary sporting event in full-screen in response to receiving the user request.

46. The system of claim 44 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive the indication of the primary sporting event from a local user.

47. The system of claim 44 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive the indication of the primary sporting event from a remote cable headend or facility.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the primary sporting event comprises a sporting event with the most active viewers in a local geographic region.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the primary sporting event comprises a sporting event selected by an editor.

50. The system of claim 44 wherein the system comprises at least one additional tuner, the control circuitry further configured to:

tune to at least one additional sporting event on the at least one additional tuner; and

receive an indication of a secondary sporting event, wherein the secondary sporting event is one of the first sporting event, the second sporting event, and the at least one additional sporting event.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the secondary sporting event is other than the primary sporting event.

52. The system of claim 44 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

after tuning to the first media content, receive a user request to tune to the primary sporting event;

determine if one of the first tuner and the second tuner is already tuned to the primary sporting event; and

in response to determining that one of the first tuner and the second tuner is already tuned to the primary sporting event, display the output of the tuner that is already tuned to the primary sporting event.

53. The system of claim 44 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to buffer the output of at least one of the first tuner and the second tuner.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user request to replay at least a portion of the buffered output; and

in response to receiving the user request to replay, replay the portion of the buffered output.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive a user indication of a reply start point and a reply stop point.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the reply start point and the reply stop point are set using a nudge function from a user-selected pause point in the buffered output.

57. The system of claim 54 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

display multiple replay speed options; and

receive a user selection of one of the multiple replay speed options.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output; and

select the multiple reply speed options for display based on the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output, wherein different replay speed options are selected for different types of sporting events.

59. The system of claim 54 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

display multiple replay time options; and

receive a user selection of one of the multiple replay time options.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output; and

select the multiple reply time options for display based on the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output, wherein different replay time options are selected for different types of sporting events.

61. The system of claim 54 wherein the control circuitry is configured to replay the portion of the buffered output more than one time.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the control circuitry is configured to replay at least a portion of the buffered output repeatedly while a user presses and holds a replay button.

63. The system of claim 54 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine the type of sporting event buffered in the portion of the buffered output, wherein the control circuitry is configured to replay the portion of the buffered output at a replay speed or for a replay time based on the determined type of sporting event.

64. The system of claim 44 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

access media guidance application data including genre information about a plurality of channels;

determine, from the media guidance application data, the channels of the plurality of channels that are currently showing sporting events; and

in response to receiving a user request to change channels, tune to the next channel currently showing a sporting event.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the control circuitry is configured to tune to the next channel currently showing a sporting event by tuning to the next channel currently showing a sporting event in the direction of a channel surf.

66. The system of claim 64 wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

determine, from the media guidance application data, the channels of the plurality of channels that are currently showing a particular type of sporting event, wherein the next channel currently showing a sporting event is the next channel currently showing a sporting event of the particular type.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the particular type of sporting event is selected from the group consisting of a basketball sporting event, a baseball sporting event, a football sporting event, a soccer sporting event, a tennis sporting event, a golfing sporting event, a boxing sporting event, and a hockey sporting event.

68. The system of claim 66 wherein the particular type of sporting event is selected from the group consisting of a professional sporting event, an amateur sporting event, a sporting event of a particular division, and a sporting event of a particular tournament.

69. The system of claim 64 wherein the control circuitry is configured to build and store a table of the channels that are currently showing sporting events.

72. The system of claim 64 wherein the control circuitry is configured to automatically scan through the channels currently showing sporting events, wherein each channel is displayed for a predetermined amount of time.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

determine which channels of the channels that are currently showing sporting events match user profile information and tune to the next channel currently showing a sporting event that matches the user profile information.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the user profile information comprises user favorites information.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the user profile information comprises information selected from the group consisting of a favorite sport, a favorite channel, a favorite team, a favorite league, a favorite player, a favorite coach, and a favorite venue.

76. The system of claim 64 wherein the control circuitry is configured to display an interactive listing of the channels of the plurality of channels that are currently showing sporting events to the user.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein the control circuitry is configured to reorder the interactive listing by sport and display the reordered interactive listing to the user.

78. The system of claim 76 wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

receive a user selection of at least one channel in the interactive listing; and

invoke a media guidance application function in response to receiving the user selection of the at least one channel in the interactive listing.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein the media guidance application function is selected from the group consisting of tuning to the selected channel, adding the channel to a favorites list, setting a reminder, scheduling a recording, and setting an alert.

80. The system of claim 44 wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

access user profile information comprising a plurality of user viewing preferences;

calculate, based at least in part on the user viewing preferences, a user profile score for each of the first sporting event and the second sporting event; and

assign a priority to at least one of the first tuner and the second tuner, the priority based at least in part on the calculated user profile scores.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

assign a weight to each of the plurality of user viewing preferences;

rank the first sporting event and the second event according to each of the plurality of user viewing preferences; and

sum a product of the rank and the weight for each of the plurality of user viewing preferences.

82. The system of claim 80 wherein the control circuitry is configured to select the tuner with the lowest priority.

83. The system of claim 50 wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

access user profile information comprising a plurality of user viewing preferences;

calculate, based at least in part on the user viewing preferences, a user profile score for each of the first sporting event, the second sporting event, and the at least one additional sporting event; and

assign a priority to at least one of the first tuner, the second tuner, and the at least one additional tuner, the priority based at least in part on the calculated user profile scores.

84. The system of claim 83 wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

assign a weight to each of the plurality of user viewing preferences;

rank the first sporting event, the second event, and the at least one additional sporting event according to each of the plurality of user viewing preferences; and

sum a product of the rank and the weight for each of the plurality of user viewing preferences.

85. The system of claim 83 wherein the control circuitry is configured to select the tuner with the lowest priority.

70. The system of 69 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically update the table on a periodic basis.

71. The system of 69 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically update the table after new media guidance application data is received.

86-127. -127. (canceled)