Automatically Preparing Streaming Video Programming Guides

• US 20110265125A1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oleg B. Rashkovskiy
• Original Assignee: Oleg B. Rashkovskiy
• Inventors: Rashkovskiy, Oleg B.
• Application Number:
  US13/171,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20110265125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/60
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A programming guide for streaming video files may be automatically compiled in response to a user request. The user may provide keywords for categories of streaming video files that are of interest. A graphical user interface is automatically developed which splits responsive streaming video files into categories requested by the user. Each streaming video file may be represented in a user selected fashion. For example, the streaming videos may be represented by a representative frame, title or other information. The user can then click on any of the streaming video files, broken down into the appropriate categories, to begin viewing a streaming video file of interest.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selecting streaming video files from a plurality of web sites based on a text search;

based at least in part on the text search, automatically providing a graphical user interface including selectable elements representing the selected streaming video files;

providing information with each of the selectable elements to allow a user to determine whether to play the corresponding streaming video file; and

in response to a user selection of one of the selectable elements, playing the video file corresponding to the selected element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information includes providing descriptive information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing descriptive information includes providing a title and a length of the video file.

4. The method of claim 1, including accessing said video file over the Internet in response to a user selection of said video file.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a graphical user interface for the user to input a keyword.

6. A computer storage medium storing instructions to:

select streaming video files from a plurality of web sites based on a text search;

based at least in part on the text search, automatically provide a graphical user interface including selectable elements representing the selected streaming video files;

provide information with each of the selectable elements to allow a user to determine whether to play the corresponding streaming video file; and

in response to a user selection of one of the selectable elements, playing the video file corresponding to the selected element.

7. The computer accessible medium of claim 6, wherein the provided information is descriptive information.

8. The computer accessible medium of claim 7, wherein the descriptive information includes a title and a length of the video file.

9. The computer accessible medium of claim 6, further comprising instructions to provide a graphical user interface for the user to input the selected category and the keyword.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage coupled to said processor, said storage storing instructions that enable the processor to;

select streaming video files from a plurality of web sites based on a text search;

based at least in part on the text search, provide a graphical user interface including selectable elements representing the selected streaming video files;

provide information with each of the selectable elements to allow a user to determine whether to play the corresponding streaming video file; and

in response to a user selection of one of the selectable elements, play the video file corresponding to the selected element.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said representations include a selectable thumbnail.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said instructions enable the processor to provide descriptive information with the thumbnail to allow a user to determine whether to play the corresponding streaming video file.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a television display to display the graphical user interface, to display the representations of said selected streaming video files, and to display the playing video file.