Providing a Customized User Interface

• US 20090094643A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zeldis, Andrew, Patil, Anant, Pickelsimer, Lisa A., Werner, David, Fabricant, Robert, Musick, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a user interface. First, a first input may be received and a currently displayed programming content may be shrunken. Next, the shrunken programming content may be displayed. Then, in response to the received first input and concurrent with the shrunken programming content, a media guide comprising at least three display elements may be displayed. At least one of the three display elements may be customized for a user. Each one of the three display elements may include a first content element, a second content element, a third content element, a fourth content element, or a fifth content element. The first content element may display available programming channels. The second content element may display programs available on the available programming channels. The third content element may display description information. The fourth content element may display actions that can be taken.

Claims

1. A method for providing a customized user interface, the method comprising:

displaying a media guide comprising at least three display elements, at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for a user and wherein each one of the at least three display elements respectively includes one of the following;

a first content element configured to display a plurality of available programming channels;

a second content element configured to display a plurality of programs available on one of the plurality of available programming channels;

a third content element configured to display description information corresponding to one of the plurality of programs;

a fourth content element configured to display a plurality of actions that can be taken with respect to the one of the plurality of programs; and

a fifth content element configured to display one of the following;

an advertisement and information relative to one of the plurality of actions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide in response to a received first input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide in response to a received first input, the first input being received in response to a user selecting a menu element from a displayed menu.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein a one of the at least three display elements includes the first content element configured to display the plurality of available programming channels wherein a selected one of the plurality of available programming channels corresponds to programming content currently displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein a one of the at least three display elements includes the second content element configured to display the plurality of programs available during a predetermined time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein a one of the at least three display elements includes the third content element configured to display the description information corresponding to currently selected programming content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein a one of the at least three display elements includes the fourth content element configured to display the plurality of actions comprising at least two of the following:

a watch now action, a record action, see full details action, a search action, an add to my picks action, a send an invitation action, and a rate program action.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein a one of the at least three display elements includes the fifth content element configured to display one of the following:

the advertisement corresponding to a currently displayed programming content, the advertisement corresponding to a currently displayed programming content description and the information relative to the one of the plurality of actions selected in the fourth content element, the information providing instructions on performing the one of the plurality of actions selected in the fourth content element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein the at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for the user is identified as being associated with the user based upon a subscriber identifier.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein the at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for the user is identified as being associated with the user based upon a subscriber identifier and a user identifier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein the at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for the user is identified as being associated with the user based upon a subscriber identifier and a user identifier, the subscriber identifier comprising a media access control (MAC) address of a device serving a display device on which the media guide is displayed.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling changes in parental control functions based upon a subscriber identifier and a user identifier, the subscriber identifier comprising a media access control (MAC) address of a device serving a display device on which the media guide is displayed.

13. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing a user interface, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving a first input;

shrinking, in response to the received first input, a currently displayed programming content;

displaying the shrunken programming content;

displaying concurrent with the shrunken programming content, a media guide comprising at least three display elements, at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for a user and wherein each one of the at least three display elements respectively includes one of the following;

a first content element configured to display a plurality of available programming channels;

a second content element configured to display a plurality of programs available on one of the plurality of available programming channels;

a third content element configured to display description information corresponding to one of the plurality of programs;

a fourth content element configured to display a plurality of actions that can be taken with respect to the one of the plurality of programs; and

a fifth content element configured to display one of the following;

an advertisement and information relative to one of the plurality of actions.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein the at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for the user is identified as being associated with the user based upon a subscriber identifier.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein the at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for the user is identified as being associated with the user based upon a subscriber identifier and a user identifier.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein the at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for the user is identified as being associated with the user based upon a subscriber identifier and a user identifier, the subscriber identifier comprising a media access control (MAC) address of a device serving a display device on which the media guide is displayed.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising enabling changes in parental control functions based upon a subscriber identifier and a user identifier, the subscriber identifier comprising a media access control (MAC) address of a device serving a display device on which the media guide is displayed.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a second input; and

in response to receiving the second input, re-displaying at least a portion of the media guide wherein a one of the at least three display elements respectively includes a different one of the following;

the first content element;

the second content element;

the third content element;

the fourth content element; and

the fifth content element.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein displaying the media guide comprises displaying the media guide wherein a one of the at least three display elements includes the first content element configured to display the plurality of available programming channels wherein a selected one of the plurality of available programming channels corresponds to programming content currently displayed.

20. A system for providing a user interface, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

display a media guide comprising at least three display elements, at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for a user wherein displaying the media guide comprising the at least three display elements, the at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for the user further comprises displaying the media guide wherein the at least one of the at least three display elements being customized for the user is identified as being associated with the user based upon a subscriber identifier and a user identifier, the subscriber identifier comprising a media access control (MAC) address of a device serving a display device on which the media guide is displayed and wherein each one of the at least three display elements respectively includes one of the following;

a first content element configured to display a plurality of available programming channels;

a second content element configured to display a plurality of programs available on one of the plurality of available programming channels;

a third content element configured to display description information corresponding to one of the plurality of programs;

a fourth content element configured to display a plurality of actions that can be taken with respect to the one of the plurality of programs; and

a fifth content element configured to display one of the following;

an advertisement and information relative to one of the plurality of actions.