SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING BOOKMARKING DATA

• US 20160100226A1
• Filed: 10/05/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Shah, Yash Suresh, Sadler, Robert Lee, Lobo, Nereus Osric Edwin, Georges, Yohann Andre Francois
• Granted Patent: US 11,051,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream

Abstract

The various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to devices, systems and methods for providing media content. Per one embodiment, a method includes receiving bookmarking data at a client device from a data processing and aggregating server, the bookmarking data referencing a specific point in a media content item that is playable from the client device; providing a first output signal based on the bookmarking data from the client device to a display device, the output signal causing the display device to display at least one bookmark that includes at least a user-selectable portion and a descriptive portion; receiving an input signal at the client device from a user input device, the input signal indicating a user selection of a bookmark displayed by the display device; and providing a second output signal from the client device to the display device responsive to the input signal, the second output signal causing the display device to display a media content item from a specific point specified by the bookmarking data.

Claims

1. A method of providing media content, comprising:

receiving bookmarking data at a client device from a data processing and aggregating server, the bookmarking data referencing a specific point in a media content item that is playable from the client device;

providing a first output signal based on the bookmarking data from the client device to a display device, the first output signal causing the display device to display at least one bookmark that includes at least one user-selectable portion and at least one descriptive portion;

receiving an input signal at the client device from a user input device, the input signal indicating a user selection of a bookmark displayed by the display device; and

providing a second output signal from the client device to the display device responsive to the input signal, the second output signal causing the display device to display a media content item from a specific point specified by the bookmarking data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first output signal causes the display device to display a list of selectable bookmarks;

wherein the list of selectable bookmarks includes a title and an indication of a length for each of the bookmarks.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second output signal causes the display device to additionally display the selected bookmark over a current playback position in a progress bar;

wherein the selected bookmark includes the title and length for the selected bookmark.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first output signal causes the display device to display a list of bookmarks;

wherein the list of bookmarks includes a title and start and stop times for each of the bookmarks.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second output signal causes the display device to additionally display the selected bookmark over a current playback position in a progress bar;

wherein the selected bookmark includes the title and start and stop times for the selected bookmark.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first output signal causes the display device to display a list of bookmarks;

wherein the list includes a title and a category of indicators for each of the bookmarks.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second output signal causes the display device to additionally display the selected bookmark over a current playback position in a progress bar;

wherein the selected bookmark includes the title and category for the selected bookmark.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first output signal causes the display device to display a popup overlay on a grid of DVR items;

wherein the popup overlay includes a button that when selected causes a second overlay to be displayed, the second overlay having one or more selectable bookmarks.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selectable bookmarks of the second overlay are arranged in a single column.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the selectable bookmarks of the second overlay are arranged in two adjacent columns.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first output signal causes the display device to display a menu of bookmarks alongside a video output;

wherein each bookmark in the menu includes a list of descriptors for the bookmark.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second output signal causes the display device to additionally display the selected bookmark over a current playback position in a progress bar;

wherein the selected bookmark includes the list of descriptors for the bookmark.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content item is a commercial having a beginning and an end and the second output signal causes the media content item to skip to the beginning of the commercial.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content item is a commercial having a beginning and an end and the second output signal causes the media content item to skip to the end of the commercial.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second output signal is provided responsive to user input.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second output signal is automatically provided responsive to a commercial skipping setting.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the bookmarking data specifies a location of age restricted content within the media content item.

18. A method of processing a request for bookmarking data, comprising:

receiving a request for bookmark data from a client device;

requesting information from one or more data sources to fulfill the request for bookmark data;

receiving one or more replies from the data sources responsive to the request for information;

processing the one or more responses received from the one or more sources to generate the bookmark data; and

transmitting the bookmark data to the client device responsive to the request.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining if all data needed for fulfilling the request has been received from the data sources; and

repeating the operations of determining and requesting information until all information needed for generating the requested bookmark has been received.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

prior to the operation of requesting information from one or more data sources, determining what information is needed to fulfill the request for bookmark data.