SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DISPLAYING CONTENT

• US 20150074721A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: FISHMAN, Alex, CHELLIN, Isaac, FONG, Jonathan, CHAI, Crx
• Granted Patent: US 10,080,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

A device for enabling content selection is configured to display one or more sub-categories of content included within a category of content. The one or more sub-categories of content may be displayed using stack structures. The stack structures may include a plurality of icons representing available content. The stack structures may enable thumbnail browsing of content available from a plurality of diverse sources. The device may enable a user to cycle through sub-category types.

Claims

1. A method of enabling content selection, the method comprising:

displaying one or more sub-categories of content included within a category of content, wherein displaying one or more sub-categories of content includes displaying icons representing items of content included within each of the one or more sub-categories of content in a stack structure, wherein the one or more sub-categories of content are associated with a sub-category type; and

enabling a user to change a sub-category type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling a user to change a sub-category type includes enabling a user to progress through a sub-category type cycle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein enabling a user to progress through a sub-category type cycle includes enabling a user to progress through a sub-category type cycle by successive executions of a particular user input.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a category of content includes on-air television content and a sub-category type cycle includes at least two of availability time, network, title, and popularity.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a category of content includes on demand content and a sub-category type cycle includes at least two of genre, title, release date, and popularity.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein a sub-category cycle is based on one or more of:

consumption, behavior, and environment.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising enabling a user to set a sub-category type cycle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein categories of content include one or more of on-air television content, on demand content, user multimedia content, and user applications.

9. A device for enabling content selection comprising one or more processors configured to:

display one or more sub-categories of content included within a category of content, wherein displaying one or more sub-categories of content includes displaying icons representing items of content included within each of the one or more sub-categories of content in a stack structure, wherein the one or more sub-categories of content are associated with a sub-category type; and

enable a user to change a sub-category type.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein enabling a user to change a sub-category type includes enabling a user to progress through a sub-category type cycle

11. The device of claim 10, wherein enabling a user to progress through a sub-category type cycle includes enabling a user to progress through a sub-category type cycle by successive executions of a particular user input.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein a category of content includes on-air television content and a sub-category type cycle includes at least two of availability time, network, title, and popularity.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein a category of content includes on demand content and a sub-category type cycle includes at least two of genre, title, release date, and popularity.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein a sub-category cycle is based on one or more of:

consumption, behavior, and environment.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to enable a user to set a sub-category type cycle.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein categories of content include one or more of on-air television content, on demand content, user multimedia content, and user applications.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that upon execution cause one or more processors of a device to:

display one or more sub-categories of content included within a category of content, wherein displaying one or more sub-categories of content includes displaying icons representing items of content included within each of the one or more sub-categories of content in a stack structure, wherein the one or more sub-categories of content are associated with a sub-category type; and

enable a user to change a sub-category type.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions enabling a user to progress through a sub-category type cycle by successive executions of a particular user input.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein a category of content includes on-air television content and a sub-category type cycle includes at least two of availability time, network, title, and popularity.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions enabling a user to set a sub-category type cycle.