DYNAMIC ADJUSTMENT OF ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE DISPLAYS BASED ON VIEWER PREFERENCES FOR MINIMIZING NAVIGATION IN VOD PROGRAM SELECTION
First Claim
1. A method of common addressing of video content on the Internet and corresponding on-demand TV program content on a TV services platform of a digital TV service provider, which is of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened and pre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV service subscribers upon request using their TV remote control units to control set-top boxes connected to their TV display equipment, comprising:
- (a) enabling converting and uploading of video content from a video content provider on the Internet into a formatted on-demand TV program to be uploaded to the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, wherein the on-demand TV program is to be uploaded with associated metadata for specifying position of its title in a hierarchically categorized ordering of categories and subcategories of an electronic program guide for the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, said metadata being structured as a string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters which represent the position of the title of the to-be-uploaded TV program in the hierarchically categorized ordering of the electronic program guide; and
(b) enabling the video content corresponding to the to-be-uploaded on-demand TV program to be accessible on the Internet at a URL address containing the same string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters representing the position of the title of the to-be-uploaded TV program on the electronic program guide, so that the video content is accessible at the URL address on the Internet in a common addressing scheme with the corresponding on-demand TV program accessible on the electronic program guide of the TV services platform of the digital TV service provider.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Items of video content offered for viewing on a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a digital TV service provider are each assigned a respective title and hierarchical address corresponding to hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories within which the title for the video content is to be categorized. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. The EPG dynamically adjust its display listings of each level of categories, subcategories, and titles in order to minimize the number of remote control keypresses needed for a viewer to navigate to a title of interest. In one basic form, the EPG display is reordered by listing more frequently visited categories or subcategories first, and other less frequently visited categories or subcategories lower on the listing or out-of-sight on another page of the display.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of common addressing of video content on the Internet and corresponding on-demand TV program content on a TV services platform of a digital TV service provider, which is of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened and pre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV service subscribers upon request using their TV remote control units to control set-top boxes connected to their TV display equipment, comprising:
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(a) enabling converting and uploading of video content from a video content provider on the Internet into a formatted on-demand TV program to be uploaded to the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, wherein the on-demand TV program is to be uploaded with associated metadata for specifying position of its title in a hierarchically categorized ordering of categories and subcategories of an electronic program guide for the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, said metadata being structured as a string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters which represent the position of the title of the to-be-uploaded TV program in the hierarchically categorized ordering of the electronic program guide; and (b) enabling the video content corresponding to the to-be-uploaded on-demand TV program to be accessible on the Internet at a URL address containing the same string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters representing the position of the title of the to-be-uploaded TV program on the electronic program guide, so that the video content is accessible at the URL address on the Internet in a common addressing scheme with the corresponding on-demand TV program accessible on the electronic program guide of the TV services platform of the digital TV service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of common addressing of video content on the Internet and corresponding on-demand TV program content on a TV services platform of a digital TV service provider, which is of the type employing a closed system of pre-screened and pre-programmed video content selectable for viewing by TV service subscribers upon request using their TV remote control units to control set-top boxes connected to their TV display equipment, comprising:
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(a) enabling receipt of converted and uploaded video content from a video content provider on the Internet into a formatted on-demand TV program uploaded to the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, wherein the on-demand TV program is associated with metadata for specifying position of its title in a hierarchically categorized ordering of categories and subcategories of an electronic program guide for the TV services platform of the digital TV services provider, said metadata being structured as a string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters which represent the position of the title of the uploaded TV program in the hierarchically categorized ordering of the electronic program guide; and (b) saving a bookmark address requested by a TV service subscriber corresponding to the position of the title for the on-demand TV program on the electronic program guide and using it by containing the same string of category and subcategory terms separated by delimiters in a URL address for video content on the Internet in a common addressing scheme with the on-demand TV program on the electronic program guide. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification