Dynamic interface method and system for displaying reduced-scale broadcasts

• US 6,918,132 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gargi, Ullas
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc K.
• Application Number:
  US09/882,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 725/41, 725/44, 725/45, 725/42, 725/46, 725/61, 725/40, 725/37, 725/43, 725/47, 348/563, 348/564, 348/569, 348/570, 348/732, 345/788, 345/789, 345/790, 345/791, 345/794, 345/796, 345/797, 345/667, 345/670, 345/629, 345/838
• US Class Current: 725/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/4545 Input to filtering algorithms, e.g. filtering a region of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

Selecting from currently available television programs or other commercial broadcasts is enabled by clustering the broadcasts on the basis of program categories and by simultaneously displaying video information from all of the broadcasts. The channels through which the commercial broadcasts are received are monitored in order to detect any changes in program categorization. Thus, the clustering of the broadcasts is dynamic with respect to the number of broadcasts in the different clusters. Each broadcast is displayed as a reduced-scale presentation that is based upon the video information specific to the broadcasts. In one embodiment, at least one of the clusters can be split into sub-clusters, such as splitting a movie cluster or a sports cluster on the basis of genres. Optionally, the different reduced-scale presentations are continuously updated, other than during commercial times.

Claims

1. An interface method for viewing and selecting among a variety of currently available commercial broadcasts comprising the steps of:

determining an association of each said commercial broadcast with a program category of a plurality of program categories; and

within a single viewing screen simultaneously presenting video broadcast information in reduced-scale presentations for each of said commercial broadcasts, including;

(1) generating reduced-scale presentations of each of said commercial broadcasts, including locally originating said reduced-scale presentations from full-scale video information for exclusive display on said viewing screen; and

(2) dynamically clustering said reduced-scale presentations in correspondence with said program categories, including simultaneously displaying a plurality of clusters of said reduced-scale presentations in which each said cluster includes said reduced-scale presentations for all of said commercial broadcasts associated with said program category that corresponds to said cluster;

thereby utilizing said viewing screen to display each said cluster as a totality of said commercial broadcasts that are currently available within said program category that corresponds to said cluster.

2. The interface method of claim 1 wherein said step of dynamically clustering includes varying a number of said reduced-scale presentations in said clusters as a function of changes in said commercial broadcasts.

3. The interface method of claim 2 wherein said commercial broadcasts are television broadcasts carried via television channels, said step of determining said association for each said commercial broadcast including monitoring reception of said television channels at a location of said viewing screen to detect tag information that is specific to current programs available via said television channels.

4. The interface method of claim 1 further comprising a step of enabling a user to initiate a genre-dividing mode in which at least one said cluster is split into separate sub-clusters on a basis of genres.

5. The interface method of claim 4 wherein said step of enabling said user includes providing cluster splitting into said sub-clusters on the basis of different sports and on the basis of different movie genres.

6. The interface method of claim 1 wherein said step of presenting said video broadcast information includes overlapping said reduced-scale presentations within at least one said cluster, said interface method further comprising steps of:

(1) enabling a user to select which said reduced-scale presentation in said at least one cluster has the appearance of being the foremost reduced-scale presentation; and

(2) enabling said user to select any said reduced-scale presentation in any said cluster for viewing in a full-screen mode of operation.

7. The interface method of claim 6 further comprising steps of:

maintaining historical information regarding user selections; and

arranging said clusters and arranging said reduced-scale presentations within said clusters as a function of said historical information.

8. The interface method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating said reduced-scale presentations includes displaying incoming television programs in real time, such that said reduced-scale presentations in each said cluster are miniaturized displays which are in constant synchronization with said television programs.

9. An interface method for viewing and selecting among a variety of television channels comprising the steps of:

receiving program transmissions at a particular site via said television channels, each said program transmission being defined by video signals currently available via a particular associated one of said television channels;

recurringly identifying a program category for each said television channel on a basis of a currently available program being broadcast via said television channels, said identifying occurring at said particular site;

originating reduced-scale presentations of each said currently available program from said video signals received via said television channels so as to enable viewing of said currently available programs, said reduced-scale presentations being a manipulation of said video signals that is original to said particular site;

displaying each said presentation on a single screen at said particular site, including grouping said presentations on a basis of said program categories, thereby simultaneously displaying a number of groups that corresponds to the number of program categories, with each well populated group having overlapping presentations;

enabling a viewer to remotely control browsing through said groups and browsing among said presentations within a specific group; and

enabling said viewer to select a particular said presentation for full-screen viewing of the program from which said particular presentation was originated, wherein each selection for said full-screen viewing is exclusive to said single screen.

10. The interface method of claim 9 further comprising a step of arranging said groups and said presentations within said groups as a function of historical information that is representative of prior selections by said viewer.

11. The interface method of claim 9 further comprising a step of enabling said viewer to selectively increase or decrease said number of groups by increasing or decreasing said number of program categories.

12. The interface method of claim 11 wherein said step of enabling increases includes providing cluster splitting according to genres and includes merging previously split clusters.

13. The interface method of claim 9 wherein said originating is a miniaturization of each said currently available program such that said displaying enables continuous viewing of said program transmissions but at a miniaturized level.

14. A system for viewing and selecting among a variety of currently available commercial broadcasts comprising:

a detector configured to identify each said commercial broadcast with a program category of a plurality of program categories;

a video processor connected to receive said commercial broadcasts and configured to output reduced-scale presentations of said commercial broadcasts, said reduced-scale presentations being continuously updated video broadcast information; and

a viewing screen cooperative with said detector and said video processor to simultaneously said reduced-scale presentations in clusters that have a one-to-one correspondence with said program categories, with all of said commercial broadcasts that are identified with one of said program categories being simultaneously displayed, said video processor and said viewing screen being operatively associated such that said reduced-scale presentations are available exclusively for said viewing screen.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said video processor is configured to continuously update said video broadcast information relevant to each said reduced-scale presentation, such that said reduced-scale presentations are ongoing displays of said commercial broadcasts in real time.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising memory connected to store historical information indicative of selections of said commercial broadcasts by a viewer, said memory being accessed by said video processor to control arrangement of said clusters and said reduced-scale presentations within said clusters as a function of said historical information.

17. An interface method for viewing and selecting among a variety of currently available commercial broadcasts comprising the steps of:

determining an association of each said commercial broadcast with a program category of a plurality of program categories; and

within a single viewing screen, simultaneously presenting video broadcast information in reduced-scale presentations for each of said commercial broadcasts, including;

(1) generating reduced-scale presentations of each of said commercial broadcasts, said reduced-scale presentations being based on said video broadcast information; and

(2) dynamically clustering said reduced-scale presentations in correspondence with said program categories, including simultaneously displaying a plurality of clusters of said reduced-scale presentations in which each said cluster includes said reduced-scale presentations for all of said commercial broadcasts associated with said program category that corresponds to said cluster;

thereby utilizing said viewing screen to display each said cluster as a totality of said commercial broadcasts that are currently available within said program category that corresponds to said cluster;

wherein said step of presenting said video broadcast information includes overlapping said reduced-scale presentations within at least one said cluster, said interface method further comprising steps of;

(a) enabling a user to select which said reduced-scale presentation in said at least one cluster has the appearance of being the foremost reduced-scale presentation;

(b) enabling said user to select any said reduced-scale presentation in any said cluster for viewing in a full-screen mode of operation; and

(c) cycling an arrangement of said overlapping reduced-scale presentations in said at least one cluster such that each said overlapping reduced-scale presentation is periodically said foremost reduced-scale presentation.

18. A system for viewing and selecting among a variety of currently available commercial broadcasts comprising:

a detector configured to identify each said commercial broadcast with a program category;

a video processor connected to receive said commercial broadcasts and configured to output reduced-scale presentations of said commercial broadcasts, said reduced-scale presentations being video broadcast information, said video processor being configured to continuously update said video broadcast information relevant to each said reduced-scale presentation;

a commercial filter enabled to detect commercials and to inhibit said continuous updating during commercial times; and

a viewing screen cooperative with said detector and said video processor to simultaneously display sain reduced-scale presentations in clusters that have a one-to-one correspondence with said program categories, with all of said commercial broadcasts that are identified with one of said program categories being simultaneously displayed.

19. An interface method for viewing and selecting among a variety of currently available commercial broadcasts comprising the steps of:

determining an association of each said commercial broadcast with a program category of a plurality of program categories; and

within a single viewing screen, simultaneously presenting video broadcast information in reduced-scale presentations for each of said commercial broadcasts, including;

(1) generating reduced-scale presentations of each of said commercial broadcasts, including locally originating said reduced-scale presentations from full-scale video information for exclusive display on said viewing screen; and

(2) dynamically clustering said reduced-scale presentations in correspondence with said program categories, including simultaneously displaying a plurality of clusters of said reduced-scale presentations in which each said cluster includes said reduced-scale presentations for all of said commercial broadcasts associated with said program category that corresponds to said cluster;

thereby utilizing said viewing screen to display each said cluster as a totality of said commercial broadcasts that are currently available within said program category that corresponds to said cluster;

wherein said step of generating said reduced-scale presentations includes;

(a) displaying incoming television programs in real time, such that said reduced-scale presentations in each said cluster are miniaturized displays which are in constant synchronization with said television programs; and

(b) filtering television commercials, such that said reduced-scale presentations are static during said television commercials.