META CHANNEL BASED MEDIA SYSTEM CONTROL TECHNOLGY

• US 20100199312A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PurpleComm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PurpleComm Incorporated
• Inventors: Sheu, William H., Chang, Jack H., Tuan, Sherman
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Meta-channels identify content entries and indicate an order with which to experience the content entries. The meta-channels may include a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests. A selection of a meta-channel is received and the selection of the meta-channel is mapped to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel. A media system is controlled to render content based on a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a media system based on meta-channel information, the method comprising:

storing, in electronic storage, meta-channel information defining multiple meta-channels that identify content entries and that indicate an order with which to experience the content entries, the multiple meta-channels including at least a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests;

receiving a selection of a meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information;

accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel;

mapping the selection of the meta-channel to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel; and

controlling a media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the selected meta-channel is the multi-source meta-channel;

mapping the selection of the meta-channel to the content entry defined by the selected meta-channel comprises mapping the selection of the multi-source meta-channel to the first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time; and

controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises controlling a receiver, included in the media system, to receive the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time and controlling a display device, included in the media system, to render a display of the first content received by the receiver.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

detecting an end of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time;

in response to detecting the end of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time, identifying the second content entry as the next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel; and

in response to identifying the second content entry as the next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel, automatically, without user intervention, controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry that relates to second content made available, over the network, by the second content provider in response to user requests.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein automatically, without user intervention, controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry that relates to second content made available, over the network, by the second content provider in response to user requests comprises:

controlling a media adapter, included in the media system, to request, from the second content provider, the second content made available, over the network, by the second content provider in response to user requests;

in response to the request, controlling the media adapter to receive, at the media adapter and from the second content provider, the second content; and

controlling the display device, included in the media system, to render a display of the second content received by the media adapter.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the multi-source meta-channel comprises a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to television video broadcast on a particular television channel over a television network by a television content provider at the specific time and a second content entry that relates to Internet video served, over the Internet, by a remote server in response to user requests;

controlling the receiver, included in the media system, to receive the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time comprises tuning the receiver to the particular television channel;

controlling the media adapter, included in the media system, to request, from the second content provider, the second content made available, over the network, by the second content provider in response to user requests comprises controlling the media adapter to request, from the remote server over the Internet, the Internet video served by the remote server; and

controlling the media adapter to receive, at the media adapter and from the second content provider, the second content comprises controlling the media adapter to download, from the remote server over the Internet, the Internet video and decode the downloaded Internet video.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

receiving the selection of the meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information comprises receiving user input to switch from a first meta-channel included the multiple meta-channels to a second meta-channel included the multiple meta-channels; and

controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises;

identifying a first source of content, included in the media system, that relates to a first content entry currently defined by the first meta-channel;

identifying a second source of content, included in the media system, that relates to a second content entry currently defined by the second meta-channel;

determining whether the first source of content differs from the second source of content; and

in response to determining that the first source of content differs from the second source of content;

controlling an output device, included in the media system, to change an input source setting of the output device from a first setting configured to render content from the first source to a second setting configured to render content from the second source, and

controlling the second source to provide the content that relates to the second content entry currently defined by the second meta-channel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel further comprises:

in response to determining that the first source of content does not differ from the second source of content;

controlling the output device to maintain an input source setting of the output device, and

controlling the first source to provide the content that relates to the second content entry currently defined by the second meta-channel.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

identifying the first source of content that relates to the first content entry currently defined by the first meta-channel comprises identifying a television receiver configured to receive broadcast television programming from multiple providers over multiple channels and output a first video signal corresponding to television programming being broadcast over a particular channel based on user selection of the particular channel;

identifying the second source of content that relates to the second content entry currently defined by the second meta-channel comprises identifying an Internet digital media adapter configured to request, over the Internet, Internet video content from a remote video server serving the Internet video content, download, over the Internet from the remote video server, the Internet video content, and output a second video signal corresponding to the Internet video content downloaded from the remote video server;

controlling the output device to change the input source setting of the output device from the first setting configured to render content from the first source to the second setting configured to render content from the second source comprises controlling the output device to change the input source setting of the output device from a first setting configured to render content from the first video signal output from the receiver to a second setting configured to render content from the second video signal output from the Internet digital media adapter, and

controlling the second source to provide the content that relates to the second content entry currently defined by the second meta-channel comprises controlling the Internet digital media adapter to provide, using the second video signal, an Internet video that relates to the second content entry currently defined by the second meta-channel.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that a subsequent content entry relates to broadcast content that is being broadcast prior to a time at which the subsequent content entry defines the broadcast content to be experienced;

in response to the determination that the subsequent content entry relates to broadcast content that is being broadcast prior to the time at which the subsequent content entry defines the broadcast content to be experienced, controlling the media system to record the broadcast content when being broadcast; and

automatically, without human intervention, controlling the media system, at the time at which the subsequent content entry defines the broadcast content to be experienced, to render the recorded content when a meta-channel that includes the subsequent content entry is selected.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the selected meta-channel includes a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider over a first broadcast channel at a first time and a second content entry that relates to second content broadcast by a second content provider over a second broadcast channel at a second time, the second content entry immediately following the first content entry in the selected meta-channel;

mapping the selection of the meta-channel to the content entry defined by the selected meta-channel comprises mapping the selection of the meta-channel to the first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by the first content provider at the first time; and

controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises controlling a receiver, included in the media system, to receive the first content broadcast by the first content provider over the first broadcast channel and output, to a display device, the first content broadcast by the first content provider over the first broadcast channel.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detecting that the selected meta-channel remains selected at the second time; and

in response to detecting that the selected meta-channel remains selected at the second time, automatically, without user intervention, controlling the receiver to change from the first broadcast channel to the second broadcast channel, receive the second content broadcast by the second content provider over the second broadcast channel, and output, to the display device, the second content broadcast by the second content provider over the second broadcast channel.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

receiving the selection of the meta-channel comprises receiving the selection of the meta-channel from a particular user; and

mapping the selection of the meta-channel to the content entry defined by the selected meta-channel based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel comprises;

determining that the content entry defined by the selected meta-channel is a dynamically configurable content entry that maps to multiple possible content entries;

accessing preferences of the particular user; and

selecting, from among the multiple possible content entries, a single content entry for the dynamically configurable content entry based on the accessed preferences of the particular user.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

receiving the selection of the meta-channel comprises receiving a selection of a dynamically configurable meta-channel from a particular user; and

mapping the selection of the meta-channel to the content entry defined by the selected meta-channel based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel comprises;

determining that the dynamically configurable meta-channel defines at least two content entries for which the order of the at least two content entries is dynamically configurable;

accessing preferences of the particular user;

determining an order of the at least two content entries based on the accessed preferences of the particular user;

based on the determined order, selecting, from among the at least two content entries, a single content entry for the dynamically configurable meta-channel that corresponds to a time when the selection was received.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

using the determined order to define when the at least two content entries that were not selected are to be experienced; and

controlling the media system to render content based on the at least two content entries that were not selected at a subsequent time defined using the determined order.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected meta-channel includes a content interrupt that defines a content-related event that, when detected, triggers substitution of content corresponding to the content-related event for content currently being rendered by the media system, further comprising:

during rendering of content defined by the selected meta-channel, detecting the content-related event defined by the content interrupt;

in response to detecting the content-related event, identifying content corresponding to the content-related event;

controlling the media system to change from rendering the content defined by the selected meta-channel to rendering the content corresponding to the content-related event;

detecting completion of the content corresponding to the content-related event; and

controlling the media system to resume rendering content defined by the selected meta-channel.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein detecting the content-related event defined by the content interrupt comprises detecting that an Internet video of a particular type defined by the content interrupt has been published on the Internet.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein detecting the content-related event defined by the content interrupt comprises detecting occurrence of a particular event, defined by the content interrupt, in broadcast content other than content currently defined by the selected meta-channel.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises causing a remote control to send, to a source device, a first signal that controls the source device to receive and provide the content to an output device and causing the remote control to send, to the output device, a second signal that controls the output device to input and render the content provided by the source device.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises:

sending, over a network using a first communication protocol, a control command for a remote control that is configured to locally control the media system;

receiving, at the remote control over the network, the control command; and

based on receiving the control command, sending, using the remote control and using a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content defined by the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel is a first content entry and the control command is a first control command, further comprising:

determining when the first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel ends and a second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel begins, the second content entry defining content that is provided by a content source that is different than a source of the content defined by the first content entry;

in response to a determination that first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel has ended and the second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel is beginning, sending, over the network using the first communication protocol, a second control command for the remote control, the second control command being a command to render content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry;

receiving, at the remote control over the network, the second control command; and

based on receiving the second control command, sending, using the remote control and using the second communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, from a remote control, a selection command that selects a particular channel number based on manipulation of the remote control by a user;

identifying, from among multiple remote controls that are each associated with a specific user, the remote control from which the selection command was received;

based on the identification of the remote control, determining an identity of a user associated with the remote control; and

based on the determined identity of the user, mapping the particular channel number from the selection command to a meta-channel corresponding to the particular channel number for the user associated with the remote control, wherein the particular channel number is mapped to a different channel for at least one user associated with another of the multiple remote controls.

22. A system comprising:

at least one electronic storage device configured to store meta-channel information defining multiple meta-channels that identify content entries and that indicate an order with which to experience the content entries, the multiple meta-channels including at least a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests; and

at least one processor configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving a selection of a meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information;

accessing, from the electronic storage device, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel;

mapping the selection of the meta-channel to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel; and

controlling a media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

a meta-channel server system; and

a remote control that is configured to locally control the media system,

wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel is performed by the meta-channel server system and the remote control,

the meta-channel server system is configured to send, over a network using a first communication protocol, a control command for the remote control, and

the remote control is configured to receive, over the network, the control command and, based on receiving the control command, send, using a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content defined by the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein:

the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel is a first content entry and the control command is a first control command,

the meta-channel server system is configured to determine when the first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel ends and a second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel begins, the second content entry defining content that is provided by a content source that is different than a source of the content defined by the first content entry, and, in response to a determination that first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel has ended and the second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel is beginning, send, over the network using the first communication protocol, a second control command for the remote control, the second control command being a command to render content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry, and

the remote control is configured to receive, over the network, the second control command and, based on receiving the second control command, send, using the second communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry.

25. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

a meta-channel server system; and

multiple remote controls that are each configured to locally control the media system and that are each associated with a specific user,

wherein the meta-channel server system is configured to receive, from a remote control, a selection command that selects a particular channel number based on manipulation of the remote control by a user, identify, from among the multiple remote controls, the remote control from which the selection command was received, based on the identification of the remote control, determine an identity of a user associated with the remote control, and, based on the determined identity of the user, map the particular channel number from the selection command to a meta-channel corresponding to the particular channel number for the user associated with the remote control, wherein the particular channel number is mapped to a different channel for at least one user associated with another of the multiple remote controls.

26. At least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with at least one computer program comprising instructions that, when executed, operate to cause a computer to perform operations comprising:

storing, in electronic storage, meta-channel information defining multiple meta-channels that identify content entries and that indicate an order with which to experience the content entries, the multiple meta-channels including at least a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests;

receiving a selection of a meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information;

accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel;

mapping the selection of the meta-channel to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel; and

controlling a media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel.