Unified presentation of programming from different physical sources

• US 5,990,883 A
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McDowell, Sean, Byrne, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/848,537
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/326, 345/328, 345/330, 345/331, 345/332, 345/340, 345/342, 345/345, 345/346, 345/348, 345/350, 345/351, 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/200.33, 348/563-565, 348/553, 395/200.47, 455/2
• US Class Current: 715/721
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4662 characterized by learning algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system and method for selecting content from a plurality of different physical sources and from a variety of content sources that are available from the physical sources. In one example, physical sources comprise different signal sources or types, such as terrestrially broadcast signals and cable television signals. Content sources comprise different channels or network sources. The method includes a step of displaying an integrated listing of content entries for selection by a user, wherein each content entry is associated with both a content source and a physical source from which particular content is available. The system accepts a selection from the user of a single content entry, and in response renders the content source associated with the selected single content entry from the physical source that is also associated with the selected single content entry. The invention also includes steps of obtaining content data for a plurality of different content sources in a variety of data formats, and of translating the content data into an integrated database having a predefined schema.

Claims

1. A universal entertainment system comprising:

a video receiver that receives a plurality of content sources from a plurality of different physical signal sources, the content sources having corresponding content data;

an automated program guide that operates in conjunction with the video receiver to translate the content data to a predefined interface schema;

the automated program guide being configured to present an integrated listing of program entries that are available from the signal sources and their content sources in the predefined interface schema, wherein each program entry is associated with both a signal source and a content source that is available from said signal source;

wherein the automated program guide accepts a selection from the user of a single program entry and in response tunes the video receiver to the signal source associated with the selected single program entry and to the content source associated with the selected single program entry.

2. An entertainment system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the automated program guide identifies broadcast channels by channel indicators;

broadcast channels having the same channel indicators are available from different signal sources.

3. An entertainment system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the automated program guide identifies broadcast channels by channel numbers;

broadcast channels having the same channel numbers are available from different signal sources.

4. An entertainment system as recited in claim 1, wherein each signal source comprises a different physical receiving apparatus.

5. An entertainment system as recited in claim 1, wherein one signal source comprises an antenna and another signal source comprises a subscription television cable.

6. An entertainment system as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal sources comprise different subscription television cables.

7. A universal automated program guide that operates in conjunction with a rendering system that can receive and render content from a plurality of different physical sources and from a variety of content sources that are available from the physical sources, the automated program guide comprising:

logic hardware configured to receive content data corresponding to the different content sources, to format the content data in accordance with a predefined interface schema, and to display an integrated listing of content entries that are available from the physical sources and their content sources in the predefined interface schema;

wherein the content entries are associated with content sources and physical sources from which the content entries are available;

the logic hardware being configured to accept a selection from the user of a single content entry;

the logic hardware being further configured to instruct the rendering system to render the content source associated with the selected single content entry from the physical source that is also associated with the selected single content entry.

8. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein the content sources comprise broadcast channels.

9. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein at least some of the content sources comprise Internet content.

10. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein:

the automated program guide identifies content sources by channel numbers;

broadcast channels having the same channel numbers are available from different physical sources.

11. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one of the physical sources comprises the Internet.

12. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one of the physical sources comprises the Internet, and wherein at least some of the content sources comprise Internet content.

13. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein the physical sources comprise different transmission media.

14. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein the physical sources comprise different storage media.

15. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein the physical sources comprise different physical receiving apparatuses.

16. An automated program guide as recited in claim 7 wherein one physical source comprises an antenna and another physical source comprises a subscription television cable.

17. A universal entertainment system comprising:

a receiver that can receive content from a plurality of different physical sources and from a variety of content sources available from the physical sources, wherein the physical sources are identified by physical source identifiers and the content sources are identified by content source identifiers;

an automated program guide associated with the receiver that receives content data corresponding to the different content sources, formats the content data in accordance with a predefined interface schema, and presents an integrated listing of content entries for selection by a user in accordance with the predefined interface schema, wherein each content entry comprises a physical source identifier and a content source identifier from which particular content is available.

18. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17, wherein the automated program guide accepts a selection from the user of a single content entry and in response presents content from the physical source and content source identified by the selected source entry.

19. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein the content sources comprise broadcast channels.

20. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein the content sources comprise broadcast channels identified by channel numbers, and wherein broadcast channels having the same channel indicators are available from different physical sources.

21. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein the physical sources comprise different transmission media.

22. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein the physical sources comprise different storage media.

23. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein the physical sources comprise different physical receiving apparatuses.

24. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein at least some of the content sources comprise Internet content.

25. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein at least one of the physical sources comprises the Internet.

26. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein at least one of the physical sources comprises the Internet, and wherein at least some of the content sources comprise Internet content.

27. An entertainment system as recited in claim 17 wherein one physical source comprises an antenna and another physical source comprises a subscription television cable.

28. A method of selecting content from a plurality of different physical sources and from a variety of content sources that are available from the physical sources, comprising the following steps;

identifying content data corresponding to the variety of content sources;

formatting the content data in accordance with a predefined interface schema;

displaying an integrated listing of content entries for selection by a user in accordance with the predefined interface schema, wherein each content entry is associated with both a content source and a physical source from which particular content is available;

accepting a selection from the user of a single content entry;

in response to accepting a selection, rendering the content source associated with the selected single content entry from the physical source that is also associated with the selected single content entry.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the content sources comprise broadcast channels.

30. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the rendering step comprises a step of tuning the tuner to a selected broadcast channel.

31. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the content sources comprise broadcast channels identified by channel numbers, and wherein broadcast channels having the same channel indicators are available from different physical sources.

32. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein at least some of the content sources comprise Internet content.

33. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein at least one of the physical sources comprises the Internet.

34. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein at least one of the physical sources comprises the Internet, and wherein at least some of the content sources comprise Internet content.

35. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the physical sources comprise different transmission media.

36. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the physical sources comprise different storage media.

37. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the physical sources comprise different physical receiving apparatuses.

38. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

obtaining content data for a plurality of different content sources in a variety of data formats;

translating the content data into an integrated database having a predefined schema;

composing the integrated listing of content entries based upon the integrated database.

39. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for selecting content from a plurality of different physical sources and from a variety of content sources that are available from the physical sources, the instructions performing steps comprising:

identifying content data corresponding to the variety of content sources;

formatting the content data in accordance with a predefined interface schema;

displaying an integrated listing of content entries for selection by a user in accordance with the predefined interface schema, wherein each content entry is associated with both a content source and a physical source from which particular content is available;

accepting a selection from the user of a single content entry;

in response to accepting a selection, rendering the content source associated with the selected single content entry from the physical source that is also associated with the selected single content entry.

40. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 39, wherein the rendering step comprises a step of tuning the tuner to a selected broadcast channel.

41. A method as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

obtaining content data for a plurality of different content sources in a variety of data formats;

translating the content data into an integrated database having a predefined schema;

composing the integrated listing of content entries based upon the integrated database.