ON-DEMAND SYSTEM INTERFACES AND FEATURES

• US 20090037961A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: WINTIBAUGH, TYSON L., ROY, CHRIS, BENNETT, ERIC J., SHANKS, DAVID ERIC, BERGMAN, ROBERT A., ITEN, TOMMI, BENOIT, SCOTT M., ARAI, JOY A., GREEN, DAVID P.
• Application Number:
  US11/832,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Broadband system interfaces and features are described. An example includes a user interface for use with a content delivery system including an on-demand service comprising at least one channel dedicated to an on-demand content provider, wherein the channel is accessible in a same manner as a broadcast channel of the content delivery system; and at least one homepage to be presented when a user navigates to the at least one channel, wherein the homepage includes a template of sections to provide a single-level user interface by altering the contents of at least one section in response to an input.

Claims

1. A user interface for use with a content delivery system including an on-demand service comprising:

at least one channel dedicated to an on-demand content provider, wherein the channel is accessible in a same manner as a broadcast channel of the content delivery system; and

at least one homepage to be presented when a user navigates to the at least one channel, wherein the homepage includes a template of sections to provide a single-level user interface by altering the contents of at least one section in response to an input.

2. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein the homepage provides access to on-demand content via interactive sections to be navigated by a user.

3. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a provider of the content delivery system provides the template of sections.

4. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein the content provider to which the channel is dedicated provides the content of at least one section.

5. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template of sections is periodically updated.

6. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a user may navigate to and select a section to activate a feature or to navigate within the user interface.

7. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template includes video of a currently tuned channel or recorded content currently being played back.

8. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template includes at least one menu.

9. A user interface as defined in claim 8, wherein menu items are selected to present a list of on-demand programs.

10. A user interface as defined in claim 8, wherein the menu includes at least one category.

11. A user interface as defined in claim 8, wherein the menu includes a category comprising newly available content.

12. A user interface as defined in claim 8, wherein the menu includes a category comprising recommended content.

13. A user interface as defined in claim 8, wherein the menu includes a category comprising content that will available soon.

14. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template includes a sortable list of on-demand content.

15. A user interface as defined in claim 14, further comprising a triple-click function to sort the list.

16. A user interface as defined in claim 14, wherein the list includes a rating for a program.

17. A user interface as defined in claim 14, wherein the list includes a purchase price for a program.

18. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template includes an advertisement.

19. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template includes a source indicator.

20. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template includes information regarding on-demand content or a content provider.

21. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template presents a trailer associated with on-demand content.

22. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template includes information regarding a queue.

23. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section of the template includes at least one indicator to implement a one-touch function.

24. A user interface as defined in claim 23, wherein the at least one indicator includes a color indication to correspond to a colored button on an input device.

25. A user interface as defined in claim 24, wherein one touch of the colored button on the input device activates an operation corresponding to the at least one indicator.

26. A user interface as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one label for a section, wherein the label includes information regarding the content of the section.

27. A user interface as defined in claim 26, wherein the label may be navigated to and selected to activate a feature or to navigate within the user interface.

28. A user interface as defined in claim 26, wherein the label indicates a program status or availability of a download.

29. A user interface as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one homepage dedicated to a provider of the content delivery system.

30. A user interface as defined in claim 29, wherein the homepage dedicated to the provider of the content delivery system includes at least one advertisement.

31. A user interface as defined in claim 29, wherein the at least one advertisement is selected based on a rating or recommendation.

32. A user interface as defined in claim 29, wherein the at least one advertisement is selected based on a bidding system.

33. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section is selected to add a program to a queue.

34. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section is selected to present a trailer.

35. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section is selected to present an information screen.

36. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section is selected to download a program.

37. A user interface as defined in claim 1, wherein a section is selected to purchase a program.

38. A user interface for use with a content delivery system including an on-demand service comprising:

at least one channel dedicated to an on-demand content provider, wherein the channel is accessible in a same manner as a broadcast channel of the content delivery system;

at least one homepage to be presented when a user navigates to the at least one channel;

a template to provide a single-level interface; and

a plurality of screens implementing the template to facilitate an interaction with on-demand content.

39. A user interface as defined in claim 38, wherein the homepage provides access to on-demand content via interactive sections to be navigated by a user.

40. A user interface as defined in claim 38, further comprising a download queue to manage downloading of on-demand content.

41. A user interface as defined in claim 39, wherein a user restricts downloading to a scheduled download session.

42. A user interface as defined in claim 39, wherein a user may prioritize a download queue entry via an input device.

43. A user interface as defined in claim 39, wherein the plurality of screens includes a queue screen to allow a user to manage the download queue.

44. A user interface as defined in claim 43, further comprising a download progress bar to indicate when a program currently being downloading may be presented without a delay for further download.

45. A user interface as defined in claim 43, wherein the queue screen includes video of a currently tuned channel or recorded content currently being played back.

46. A user interface as defined in claim 43, wherein the queue screen includes information associated with a currently highlighted program.

47. A user interface as defined in claim 43, wherein the queue screen includes at least one indicator to implement a one-touch operation.

48. A user interface as defined in claim 38, wherein the plurality of screens includes a trailer screen to present a trailer associated with on-demand content.

49. A user interface as defined in claim 48, wherein the user interface pauses a currently tuned channel or recorded content currently being viewed when the trailer screen is presented.

50. A user interface as defined in claim 38, wherein the plurality of screens includes a program information screen.

51. A user interface as defined in claim 50, wherein the information screen includes at least one on-screen button to activate a feature associated with the program.

52. A user interface as defined in claim 50, wherein the information screen includes an indication of the availability of the program for download.

53. A user interface as defined in claim 38, wherein the plurality of screens includes a program list screen.

54. A user interface as defined in claim 53, wherein the program list screen includes a sortable program list.

55. A user interface as defined in claim 53, further comprising a triple-click function to sort the program list.

56. A user interface as defined in claim 53, wherein the program list includes a rating for a program.

57. A user interface as defined in claim 53, wherein the program list includes a purchase price for a program.

58. A method of facilitating an interaction with a content delivery system including an on-demand service comprising:

providing a single-level user interface via a template of at least one section;

dedicating at least one channel to a content provider;

receiving content to be placed in the at least one section from the content provider;

altering the at least one section in response to user selections.

59. A method as defined in claim 58, further comprising presenting a homepage when a user navigates to the at least one channel, wherein the homepage provides access to on-demand content via interactive sections to be navigated by a user.

60. A method as defined in claim 58, further comprising dedicating at least one channel to a provider of the content delivery system.

61. A method as defined in claim 58, further comprising scheduling at least one download of on-demand content.

63. A method as defined in claim 59, further comprising allowing the user to restrict downloading to a scheduled download session.

64. A method as defined in claim 59, further comprising a download progress bar to be presented on the queue screen.

65. A method as defined in claim 64, wherein the download progress bar indicates when a program may be presented without delay for further downloading.

62. A method of managing downloads in an on-demand system comprising:

providing a download queue;

presenting a queue screen via a user interface; and

allowing a user to manipulate the queue via an input device.