Media-on-demand catalog viewing preference system

• US 6,978,310 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triton US VP Acquisition, Co.
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jerding, Dean F., Banker, Robert O., Rodriguez, Arturo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/692,986
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 709225-226, 709/229, 709231-232, 709202-203, 348/14.03, 348/14.05, 348/14.07
• US Class Current: 709/231
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand

Abstract

The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable television services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes receiving user input and excluding one or more media titles from a media title list based on the user input.

Claims

1. A method for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable television services server device, said method comprising:

displaying a media title list that has at least one media title, each media title being displayed in a title area;

receiving user input identifying a media title in a title area and requesting that said title area containing said media title be removed from a media title list;

deleting said title area containing said media title from said media title list; and

providing the user with a list of deleted media titles.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said user input via a remote control device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying said media title by highlighting said media title in said title area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the media title identified by said user input is a video-on-demand media title.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said media title list is displayed via a television.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

restoring said title area containing said media title to said media title list.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information in client device memory identifying said media title as a deleted media title.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

excluding said title area containing said media title from a media title list that is presented to the user at a future time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said client device is a television set-top box.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said user input corresponds to the activation of only one button on a remote control device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting said user to provide input as to whether deletion of said media title is to be permanent.

12. A media services system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device, said system comprising:

memory having a media title list that includes at least one media title, each media title being displayed in a title area;

logic stored in said memory, said logic configured to cause a title area containing a media title identified by user input to be removed from a media title list; and

logic configured to cause said client device to prompt said user to provide input as to whether deletion of said media title is to be temporary or permanent.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said user input corresponds to the activation of one button on a remote control device.