APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VIDEO THUMBNAIL ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE

• US 20110321095A1
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EchoStar Broadcasting Corporation (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Yao, Kevin, McSchooler, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,621,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

Video thumbnail electronic program guide (EPG) systems and methods are operable to include a video thumbnail. An exemplary embodiment receives a media content stream at a media device; picks a plurality of still image video frames from the received media content stream, wherein each still image video frame has information that is sufficient to construct the still image video frame; generate a plurality of still image video frame thumbnails, wherein each of the still image video frame thumbnails correspond to one of the still image video frames; generate a video thumbnail from the plurality of still image video frame thumbnails; and incorporate the video thumbnail with at least one program descriptor and a channel identifier associated with the media content stream into the video thumbnail EPG.

Claims

1. A method of generating a video thumbnail electronic program guide (EPG), the method comprising:

receiving a media content stream at a media device;

picking a plurality of still image video frames from the received media content stream, wherein each still image video frame has information that is sufficient to construct the still image video frame;

generating a plurality of still image video frame thumbnails, wherein each of the still image video frame thumbnails correspond to one of the still image video frames;

generating a video thumbnail from the plurality of still image video frame thumbnails; and

incorporating the video thumbnail with at least one program descriptor and a channel identifier associated with the media content stream into the video thumbnail EPG.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the video thumbnail EPG to a display for presentation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the plurality of still image video frame thumbnails, wherein the video thumbnail is generated from the stored plurality of still image video frame thumbnails when incorporated into the video thumbnail EPG.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the video thumbnail; and

retrieving the video thumbnail when the video thumbnail is incorporated into the video thumbnail EPG.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content stream is received in a motion picture experts group (MPEG) standard, and wherein picking the plurality of still image video frames from the received media content stream comprises:

picking a plurality of MPEG intra-coded frames (I-frames) from the received media content stream, wherein the still image video frame thumbnails are generated from the MPEG I-frames.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein picking the plurality of still image video frames from the received media content stream comprises:

picking a predefined number of still image video frames from the received media content stream.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein picking the plurality of still image video frames from the received media content stream comprises:

picking the plurality of still image video frames from the received media content stream for a predefined duration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content stream, the plurality of still image video frame thumbnails and the video thumbnail are a first media content stream, a plurality of first still image video frame thumbnails and a first video thumbnail received at a first tuner, the method further comprising:

receiving a second media content stream at a second tuner;

picking a plurality of second still image video frames from the second received media content stream;

generating a plurality of second still image video frame thumbnails, wherein each of the second still image video frame thumbnails correspond to one of the second still image video frames;

generating a second video thumbnail from the plurality of second still image video frame thumbnails; and

incorporating the second video thumbnail into the video thumbnail EPG.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of still image video frame thumbnails and the video thumbnail are a plurality of first still image video frame thumbnails and a first video thumbnail, and wherein after a sufficient number of the plurality of first still image video frames have been picked from the received media content stream to generate the first video thumbnail, further comprising:

picking a plurality of second still image video frames from the received media content stream;

generating a plurality of second still image video frame thumbnails, wherein each of the second still image video frame thumbnails correspond to one of the second still image video frames;

generating a second video thumbnail from the plurality of second still image video frame thumbnails; and

incorporating the second video into the video thumbnail EPG, wherein the first video thumbnail is not incorporated into the video thumbnail EPG.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the video thumbnail EPG to a portable media device for presentation on a display of the portable media device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

picking a predefined number of still image video frames from the received media content stream.

12. A system for a thumbnail electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

a first tuner configured to receive a first one of a plurality of media content streams;

a second tuner configured to receive a second one of the plurality of media content streams; and

a processor system communicatively coupled to the first tuner and the second tuner, and configured to;

pick a plurality of first still image video frames from the received first media content stream, wherein each first still image video frame has information that is sufficient to construct the first still image video frame;

pick a plurality of second still image video frames from the received second media content stream, wherein each second still image video frame has information that is sufficient to construct the second still image video frame;

generate a plurality of first still image video frame thumbnails, wherein each of the first still image video frame thumbnails correspond to one of the first still image video frames;

generate a plurality of second still image video frame thumbnails, wherein each of the second still image video frame thumbnails correspond to one of the second still image video frames;

generate a first video thumbnail from the plurality of first still image video frame thumbnails;

generate a second video thumbnail from the plurality of second still image video frame thumbnails;

incorporate the first video thumbnail with at least one first program descriptor and a first channel identifier associated with the first media content stream into the video thumbnail EPG; and

incorporate the second video thumbnail with at least one second program descriptor and a second channel identifier associated with the second media content stream into the video thumbnail EPG.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store the first plurality of first still image video frame thumbnails and the plurality of second still image video frame thumbnails.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store the first video thumbnail and the second video thumbnail.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a portable media device interface configured to communicatively couple to a communication network,

wherein the video thumbnail EPG is configured to be communicated to a portable media device for presentation on a display of the portable media device.

16. A method for a video thumbnail electronic program guide (EPG), the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of media content streams at a media device;

picking a plurality of still image video frames from selected ones of the received media content streams, wherein each still image video frame has information that is sufficient to construct the still image video frame;

generating a plurality of still image video frame thumbnails associated with the selected media content streams, wherein each of the still image video frame thumbnails correspond to one of the still image video frames;

generating a video thumbnail associated with each of the selected media content streams from the plurality of still image video frame thumbnails; and

incorporating into the video thumbnail EPG selected ones of the video thumbnails with at least one corresponding program descriptor and a corresponding channel identifier associated with the selected media content stream.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected media content streams correspond to a list of favorite channels.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected media content streams correspond to a list of most viewed channels.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected media content streams correspond to a plurality of channels presented on the video thumbnail EPG.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selected media content streams further correspond to a plurality of adjacent channels that are adjacent to the plurality of channels presented on the video thumbnail EPG.