Content viewing session

• US 20080263591A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: de Heer, David L.
• Application Number:
  US11/788,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20080263591A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26233 involving content or additional data duration or size, e.g. length of a movie, size of an executable file
• 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 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Techniques are described to provide a content viewing session. In an implementation, an input is received that selects a length of a viewing session for content to be output at the client. The viewing session having the selected length is populated using a plurality of content that is likely to be of interest to a user of the client.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an input selecting a length of a viewing session for content to be output at a client; and

generating the viewing session having the selected length using a plurality of content that is likely to be of interest to a user of the client.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the receiving is performed before the generating.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the input is receivable via a graphical user interface output via the client.

4. A method as described in claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface provides a plurality of options, each of which corresponds to a different respective said length.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the generating includes:

locating a template having a plurality of references to different types of content;

finding particular items of content having the different types based on the references; and

providing references to locations of the found particular items of content.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein at least one of the found particular items of content is obtainable from storage local to the client.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of content includes one or more advertisements and one or more television programs.

8. A method comprising:

exposing a template of a viewing session for content to be output at a client; and

populating the template using a plurality of content automatically and without user intervention in response to an input that selects the template.

9. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the exposing is performed such that a plurality of said templates is concurrently exposed in a single user interface.

10. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the exposing is performed such that the template is exposed through navigation to a particular one of a plurality of channels.

11. A method as described in claim 10, wherein two or more said channels are each assigned a respective said template.

12. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the populating includes placement of one or more advertisements with one or more other said content that is not advertisements.

13. A method as described in claim 12, wherein the one or more advertisements are selected from a plurality of said advertisements based on an affinity identified with the one or more other said content that is not advertisements.

14. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the populating is performed such that one or more said content are selected that is likely to be of interest to the user.

15. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that are executable to locate content referenced in a template that specifies a viewing session that was populated automatically based on user preferences, wherein the content is located based at least in part on cost.

16. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 15, wherein the content is located based at least in part on cost by determining whether the content is currently available without additional cost, and if not, locating the content in a video-on-demand (VOD) system.

17. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 15, wherein one or more of said content is stored locally on a client that accesses the computer-readable media.

18. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 15, wherein one or more of said content is available remotely over a network connection from a head end.

19. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 15, wherein the content includes advertisements and television programs.

20. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 15, wherein the instructions are further executable to cause output of the content.