SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AN OPEN AND COLLABORATIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION

• US 20110078736A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, William L.
• Application Number:
  US12/571,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20110078736A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

Systems and methods for an open and collaborative media guidance application are provided. Users may join a distribution list to receive and/or provide modifications to media asset description information. A user may provide a modification to the media asset description information provided that he/she has sufficient authorization. The modification may be transmitted to a central server. The central server may filter the modification for improper information. The central server may update the media asset description information based on the received modification. The central server may transmit the modification or the updated media asset description information to media equipment devices associated with a distribution list. The media equipment devices may receive the modifications and process the modification based on local settings to update the locally stored media asset description information.

Claims

1. A method for providing a collaborative media guidance application, comprising:

storing media asset description information in a memory;

transmitting to a first media equipment device, the stored media asset description information for display on the first media equipment device, the first media equipment device being associated with a first user;

receiving from the first media equipment device a modification to the media asset description information;

updating the media asset description information stored in the memory based at least in part on the received modification; and

providing the updated media asset description information from the memory to each of a plurality of media equipment devices that are associated with a first distribution list.

2. The method in claim 1 further comprising:

providing an opt-in option to a second user of a second media equipment device of the plurality of media equipment devices to become part of the first distribution list; and

receiving user input from the second user requesting for the second user to become part of the first distribution list.

3. The method in claim 2 wherein providing an opt-in option comprises providing an option allowing selection of media asset description update types to be provided to the second user, wherein the media asset description update types comprise at least one of:

program metadata update, program description data update, title update, cast member update, director information update and program summary update.

4. The method in claim 1 further comprising:

providing an opt-out option to a second user of a second media equipment device of the plurality of media equipment devices to be excluded from the first distribution list; and

receiving user input from the second user equipment requesting for the second user to be excluded from the first distribution list.

5. The method in claim 4, wherein providing an opt-out option comprises providing an option allowing selection of media asset description update types which to not be provided to the second user, wherein the media asset description update types comprise at least one of:

program metadata update, program description data update, title update, cast member update, director information update and program summary update.

6. The method in claim 1, wherein the media asset description information includes at least one of a description of content of the media asset, user reviews, user provided commentary, summary of the media asset, title of the media asset, cast member information of the media asset and director information of the media asset.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the media asset description information is stored in the memory of a television distribution facility.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first distribution list corresponds to a category of media assets.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the modification from the first media equipment device comprises filtering the modification to prevent an improper change from being included in the update to the media asset description information.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving indication from a second user of a second media equipment device associated with the first distribution list to join a second distribution list;

providing updates to the media asset description information received from any media equipment device associated with the second distribution list to the second media equipment device.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the media asset description information with the first media equipment device, wherein the media asset description information includes a plurality of fields;

determining a modification authorization level associated with the first user;

displaying an edit option associated with the fields of the media asset description information based on the authorization level of the first user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the edit options based on the authorization level comprises:

determining which fields of the media asset description information the first user is authorized to modify; and

wherein the edit option allows the first user to only modify fields which the first user is authorized to modify.

13. A system for providing a collaborative media guidance application, comprising:

a processor configured to;

store media asset description information in a memory;

transmit to a first media equipment device, the stored media asset description information for display on the first media equipment device, the first media equipment device being associated with a first user;

receive from the first media equipment device a modification to the media asset description information;

update the media asset description information stored in the memory based at least in part on the received modification; and

provide the updated media asset description information from the memory to each of a plurality of media equipment devices that are associated with a first distribution list.

14. The system in claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide an opt-in option to a second user of a second media equipment device of the plurality of media equipment devices to become part of the first distribution list; and

receive user input from the second user requesting for the second user to become part of the first distribution list.

15. The system in claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide an option allowing selection of media asset description update types to be provided to the second user, wherein the media asset description update types comprise at least one of;

program metadata update, program description data update, title update, cast member update, director information update and program summary update.

16. The system in claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide an opt-out option to a second user of a second media equipment device of the plurality of media equipment devices to be excluded from the first distribution list; and

receive user input from the second user equipment requesting for the second user to be excluded from the first distribution list.

17. The system in claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide an option allowing selection of media asset description update types which to not be provided to the second user, wherein the media asset description update types comprise at least one of;

program metadata update, program description data update, title update, cast member update, director information update and program summary update.

18. The system in claim 13, wherein the media asset description information includes at least one of a description of content of the media asset, user reviews, user provided commentary, summary of the media asset, title of the media asset, cast member information of the media asset and director information of the media asset.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the media asset description information is stored in the memory of a television distribution facility.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the first distribution list corresponds to a category of media assets.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to filter the modification to prevent an improper change from being included in the update to the media asset description information.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive indication from a second user of a second media equipment device associated with the first distribution list to join a second distribution list;

provide updates to the media asset description information received from any media equipment device associated with the second distribution list to the second media equipment device.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

display the media asset description information with the first media equipment device, wherein the media asset description information includes a plurality of fields;

determine a modification authorization level associated with the first user;

display an edit option associated with the fields of the media asset description information based on the authorization level of the first user.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine which fields of the media asset description information the first user is authorized to modify; and

wherein the edit option allows the first user to only modify fields which the first user is authorized to modify.

25-36. -36. (canceled)