Interactive media guide with media guidance interface

• US 7,895,624 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TV Guide Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Reichardt, M. Scott, Walker, Todd A., Herrington, W. Benjamin, Hedges, L. Joe, Ellis, Michael D., Berezowski, David M., Thomas, William L., Knee, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shang; Annan Q
• Application Number:
  US09/829,806
• Time in Patent Office: 3,605 Days
• Field of Search: 725 39- 61, 709217-231
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing guidance to users for finding media are described. Such systems and methods may be provided in interactive media guides such as program guides, web browsers, or other suitable interactive media guides.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a user of an interactive media guidance application at least partially implemented on user equipment using the user equipment to access media provided by media sources with the interactive media guidance application, the method comprising:

providing media group options and media sub-group options associated with the media group options, wherein the media group options and at least some of the media sub-group options indicate media available to the user without indicating the content of the media, without indicating the title of the media, and without indicating the source of the media;

providing with the interactive media guidance application media indicators in response to the user selecting one of the media sub-group options, wherein;

the media indicators are associated with the selected media sub-group option,

the media indicators identify media provided by at least one of the media sources, and

the media indicators include a first media indicator for scheduled media and a second media indicator for unscheduled media, wherein the unscheduled media includes media that is not provided at a scheduled time and is available for viewing at a time selected by the user; and

performing an action associated with a media indicator in response to the user selecting the media indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises providing media that is identified by the selected media indicator in response to the user selecting the media indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating the number of presently available media that are associated with a media group option.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the media group options are defined by the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user-defined media group options comprise media indicators that meet user-defined criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user-defined criteria is a user-defined search.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media group options comprise at least one of a recent favorites media group option, an old favorites media group option, a recommendations media group option, a browsing media group option, a special interest media group option, a categories media group option, or a preview scan media group option.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing media indicators that are editorially recommended in response to the user selecting the recommendations media group option.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing promotional media indicators in response to the user selecting the recommendations media group option.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein media indicators are associated with the browsing media group option and are presented in response to the user selecting the browsing media group option, the method further comprising:

displaying in a video window video content corresponding to the selected media indicator associated with the browsing media group option in response to the user selecting one of the media indicators associated with the browsing media group option.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the video content is currently available media content.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the video content is a video clip.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the video content is a video trailer.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying media sub-group options associated with the categories media group option in response to the user selecting the categories media group option; and

displaying the media indicators in response to the user selecting one of the media sub-group options, wherein the media indicators are associated with the selected media sub-group option.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

indicating the number of media indicators that are associated with each of the media sub-group options.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the media sub-group options comprise a sports sub-group option, a popular shows sub-group option, a premiers sub-group option, and a group sub-group option.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying media indicators in response to the user selecting the preview scan media group option, wherein the media indicators are associated with the preview scan media group option; and

displaying in a video window video content corresponding to a selected media indicator in response to the user selecting one of the media indicators associated with the preview scan media group option.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein performing an action comprises obtaining media from a local file server, a remote file server, a pre-recorded videotape, a television station or an audio station.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein each media sub-group option indicates the number of available media indicators that are associated with each media sub-group option.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the media sub-group options are displayed according to user preferences.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the media sub-group options are displayed according to criteria defined by a remote service.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the media sub-group options are created dynamically.

23. An interactive media guide system for allowing a user to access media provided by media sources, the system comprising:

means for providing media group options and media sub-group options associated with at least some of the media group options, wherein the media group options and the media sub-group options indicate media available to the user without indicating the content of the media, without indicating the title of the media, and without indicating the source of the media;

means for providing a plurality media indicators in response to the user selecting one of the media sub-group options, wherein;

the media indicators are associated with the selected media sub-group option,

the media indicators identify media provided by at least one of the media sources, and

the media indicators include first media indicator for scheduled media and a second media indicator for unscheduled media, and wherein the unscheduled media includes media that is not provided at a scheduled time and is available for viewing at a time selected by the user; and

means for performing an action associated with a media indicator in response to the user selecting the media indicator.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the action comprises providing media that is identified by the selected media indicator in response to the user selecting the media indicator.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising indicating the number of presently available media that are associated with a media group option.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the media group options are defined by the user.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the user-defined media group options comprise media indicators that meet user-defined criteria.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the user-defined criteria is a user-defined search.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the media group options comprise at least one of a recent favorites media group option, an old favorites media group option, a recommendations media group option, a browsing media group option, a special interest media group option, a categories media group option, or a preview scan media group option.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for providing media indicators that are editorially recommended in response to the user selecting the recommendations media group option.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for providing promotional media indicators in response to the user selecting the recommendations media group option.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein media indicators are associated with the browsing media group option and are presented in response to the user selecting the browsing media group option, the system further comprising:

means for displaying in a video window video content corresponding to the selected media indicator associated with the browsing media group option in response to the user selecting one of the media indicators associated with the browsing media group option.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the video content is currently available media content.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the video content is a video clip.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the video content is a video trailer.

36. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for displaying media sub-group options associated with the categories media group option in response to the user selecting the categories media group option; and

means for displaying the media indicators in response to the user selecting one of the media sub-group options, wherein the media indicators are associated with the selected media sub-group option.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

means for indicating the number of media indicators that are associated with each of the media sub-group options.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the media sub-group options comprise a sports sub-group option, a popular shows sub-group option, a premiers sub-group option, and a group sub-group option.

39. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for displaying media indicators in response to the user selecting the preview scan media group option, wherein the media indicators are associated with the preview scan media group option; and

means for displaying in a video window video content corresponding to a selected media indicator in response to the user selecting one of the media indicators associated with the preview scan media group option.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein performing an action comprises obtaining media from a local file server, a remote file server, a pre-recorded videotape, a television station or an audio station.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein each media sub-group option indicates the number of available media indicators that are associated with each media sub-group option.

42. The system of claim 23, wherein the media sub-group options are displayed according to user preferences.

43. The system of claim 23, wherein the media sub-group options are displayed according to criteria defined by a remote service.

44. The system of claim 23, wherein the media sub-group options are created dynamically.

45. An interactive media guide system for allowing a user to access media provided by media sources, the system comprising:

user equipment on which the interactive media guide is at least partially implemented, wherein the user equipment is configured to;

provide media group options and media sub-group options associated with at least some of the media group options, wherein the media group options and the media sub-group options indicate media available to the user without indicating the content of the media, without indicating the title of the media, and without indicating the source of the media;

provide media indicators in response to the user selecting one of the media sub-group options, wherein;

the media indicators are associated with the selected media sub-group option,

the media indicators identify media provided by at least one of the media sources, and

the media indicators a first media indicator for scheduled media and a second media indicator for unscheduled media, wherein the unscheduled media includes media that is not provided at a scheduled time and is available for viewing at a time selected by the user; and

perform an action associated with a media indicator in response to the user selecting the media indicator.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the action comprises providing media that is identified by the selected media indicator in response to the user selecting the media indicator.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the user equipment is further configured to indicate the number of presently available media that are associated with a media group option.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the media group options are defined by the user.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the user-defined media group options comprise media indicators that meet user-defined criteria.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the user-defined criteria is a user-defined search.

51. The system of claim 45, wherein the media group options comprise at least one of a recent favorites media group option, an old favorites media group option, a recommendations media group option, a browsing media group option, a special interest media group option, a categories media group option, or a preview scan media group option.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the user equipment is further configured to provide media indicators that are editorially recommended in response to the user selecting the recommendations media group option.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the user equipment is further configured to provide promotional media indicators in response to the user selecting the recommendations media group option.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein media indicators are associated with the browsing media group option and are presented in response to the user selecting the browsing media group option, and wherein the user equipment is further configured display in a video window video content corresponding to the selected media indicator associated with the browsing media group option in response to the user selecting one of the media indicators associated with the browsing media group option.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the video content is currently available media content.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the video content is a video clip.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the video content is a video trailer.

58. The system of claim 51, wherein the user equipment is further configured to display media sub-group options associated with the categories media group option in response to the user selecting the categories media group option, and wherein the user equipment is further configured to display the media indicators in response to the user selecting one of the media sub-group options, wherein the media indicators are associated with the selected media sub-group option.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the user equipment is further configured to indicate the number of media indicators that are associated with each of the media sub-group options.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the media sub-group options comprise a sports sub-group option, a popular shows sub-group option, a premiers sub-group option, and a group sub-group option.

61. The system of claim 51, wherein the user equipment is further configured to display media indicators in response to the user selecting the preview scan media group option, wherein the media indicators are associated with the preview scan media group option, and wherein the user equipment is further configured to display in a video window video content corresponding to a selected media indicator in response to the user selecting one of the media indicators associated with the preview scan media group option.

62. The system of claim 45, wherein performing an action comprises obtaining media from a local file server, a remote file server, a pre-recorded videotape, a television station or an audio station.

63. The system of claim 45, wherein each media sub-group option indicates the number of available media indicators that are associated with each media sub-group option.

64. The system of claim 45, wherein the media sub-group options are displayed according to user preferences.

65. The system of claim 45, wherein the media sub-group options are displayed according to criteria defined by a remote service.

66. The system of claim 45, wherein the media sub-group options are created dynamically.

67. A computer readable storage medium for allowing a user of an interactive media guide to access media provided by media sources, having machine program logic recorded thereon for:

providing media group options and media sub-group options associated with the media group options, wherein the media group options and at least some of the media sub-group options indicate media available to the user without indicating the content of the media, without indicating the title of the media, and without indicating the source of the media;

providing media indicators in response to the user selecting one of the media sub-group options, wherein;

the media indicators are associated with the selected media sub-group option,

the media indicators identify media provided by at least one of the media sources, and

the media indicators include a first media indicator for scheduled media and a second media indicator for unscheduled media, wherein the unscheduled media includes media that is not provided at a scheduled time and is available for viewing at a time selected by the user; and

performing an action associated with a media indicator in response to the user selecting the media indicator.

68. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein the action comprises providing media that is identified by the selected media indicator in response to the user selecting the media indicator.

69. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

indicating the number of presently available media that are associated with a media group option.

70. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein the media group options are defined by the user.

71. The computer readable storage medium of claim 70, wherein the user-defined media group options comprise media indicators that meet user-defined criteria.

72. The computer readable storage medium of claim 71, wherein the user-defined criteria is a user-defined search.

73. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein the media group options comprise at least one of a recent favorites media group option, an old favorites media group option, a recommendations media group option, a browsing media group option, a special interest media group option, a categories media group option, or a preview scan media group option.

74. The computer readable storage medium of claim 73, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

providing media indicators that are editorially recommended in response to the user selecting the recommendations media group option.

75. The computer readable storage medium of claim 73, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

providing promotional media indicators in response to the user selecting the recommendations media group option.

76. The computer readable storage medium of claim 73, wherein media indicators are associated with the browsing media group option and are presented in response to the user selecting the browsing media group option, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying in a video window video content corresponding to the selected media indicator associated with the browsing media group option in response to the user selecting one of the media indicators associated with the browsing media group option.

77. The computer readable storage medium of claim 76, wherein the video content is currently available media content.

78. The computer readable storage medium of claim 76, wherein the video content is a video clip.

79. The computer readable storage medium of claim 76, wherein the video content is a video trailer.

80. The computer readable storage medium of claim 73, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying media sub-group options associated with the categories media group option in response to the user selecting the categories media group option; and

displaying the media indicators in response to the user selecting one of the media sub-group options, wherein the media indicators are associated with the selected media sub-group option.

81. The computer readable storage medium of claim 80, further comprising indicating the number of media indicators that are associated with each of the media sub-group options.

82. The computer readable storage medium of claim 80, wherein the media sub-group options comprise a sports sub-group option, a popular shows sub-group option, a premiers sub-group option, and a group sub-group option.

83. The computer readable storage medium of claim 73, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying media indicators in response to the user selecting the preview scan media group option, wherein the media indicators are associated with the preview scan media group option; and

displaying in a video window video content corresponding to a selected media indicator in response to the user selecting one of the media indicators associated with the preview scan media group option.

84. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein performing an action comprises obtaining media from a local file server, a remote file server, a pre-recorded videotape, a television station or an audio station.

85. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein each media sub-group option indicates the number of available media indicators that are associated with each media sub-group option.

86. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein the media sub-group options are displayed according to user preferences.

87. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein the media sub-group options are displayed according to criteria defined by a remote service.

88. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein the media sub-group options are created dynamically.