ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH TAGGING

• US 20130097637A1
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SeaChange International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SeaChange International Incorporated
• Inventors: Dahl, Daniel G., Etheredge, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• 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 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie

Abstract

Described are computerized methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for providing electronic program guide services. The method includes storing an active media object list identifying media objects in an active state, receiving one or more tag requests identifying one or more programs, and updating a tag list to identify the one or more programs identified by the one or more tag requests. Each of the one or more programs are associated with one or more media objects. The method also includes generating a user navigation list comprising source identifiers of a plurality of selected media objects and a plurality of titles associated with each of the plurality of selected media objects. The plurality of selected media objects are each associated with at least one of the one or more programs identified in the tag list and included in the active media object list.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for an electronic program guide, the method comprising:

storing, on a computer-readable storage device, an active media object list identifying media objects in an active state, the media objects in an active state being defined by those media objects currently accessible by a user via one or more broadcast channels, one or more local media object storage devices, one or more remote media object storage devices, or any combination thereof;

receiving, at an electronic program guide (EPG) device, one or more tag requests identifying one or more programs, each of the one or more programs being associated with one or more media objects;

updating, by the EPG device, a tag list stored on the computer-readable storage device to identify the one or more programs identified by the one or more tag requests;

receiving, at the EPG device, a guide information request for tagged media objects that are in an active state;

generating, by the EPG device, a user navigation list comprising source identifiers of a plurality of selected media objects and a plurality of titles associated with each of the plurality of selected media objects, the plurality of selected media objects each being associated with at least one of the one or more programs identified in the tag list and being included in the active media object list; and

transmitting the user navigation list to a display device for displaying one or more pairs of the plurality of source identifiers and titles.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the EPG device, an access request identifying one of the plurality of source identifiers; and

causing the media object associated with the one of the plurality of source identifiers to be transmitted to the display device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media objects in an active state comprises live broadcasts of audio/video content, previously recorded audio/video content, or any combination thereof.

4. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device, the computer program product including instructions being operable to cause data processing apparatus to:

store, on a computer-readable storage device, an active media object list identifying media objects in an active state, the media objects in an active state being defined by those media objects currently accessible by a user via one or more broadcast channels, one or more local media object storage devices, one or more remote media object storage devices, or any combination thereof;

receive one or more tag requests identifying one or more programs, each of the one or more programs being associated with one or more media objects;

update a tag list stored on the computer-readable storage device to identify the one or more programs identified by the one or more tag requests;

receive a guide information request for tagged media objects that are in an active state;

generate a user navigation list comprising source identifiers of a plurality of selected media objects and a plurality of titles associated with each of the plurality of selected media objects, the plurality of selected media objects each being associated with at least one of the one or more programs identified in the tag list and being included in the active media object list; and

transmit the user navigation list to a display device for displaying one or more pairs of the plurality of source identifiers and titles.

5. A data processing apparatus for providing an electronic program guide, the data processing apparatus comprising:

means for storing, on a computer-readable storage device, an active media object list identifying media objects in an active state, the media objects in an active state being defined by those media objects currently accessible by a user via one or more broadcast channels, one or more local media object storage devices, one or more remote media object storage devices, or any combination thereof;

means for receiving one or more tag requests identifying one or more programs, each of the one or more programs being associated with one or more media objects;

means for updating a tag list stored on the computer-readable storage device to identify the one or more programs identified by the one or more tag requests;

means for receiving a guide information request for tagged media objects that are in an active state;

means for generating a user navigation list comprising source identifiers of a plurality of selected media objects and a plurality of titles associated with each of the plurality of selected media objects, the plurality of selected media objects each being associated with at least one of the one or more programs identified in the tag list and being included in the active media object list; and

means for transmitting the user navigation list to a display device for displaying one or more pairs of the plurality of source identifiers and titles.