Interactive program guide with preferred items list apparatus and method

• US 8,024,755 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bergeron, Michael A., Wibisono, Himgan, Golden, Dayan, McKay, Philip, Nishikawa, Yuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl; Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, JOSHUA D
• Application Number:
  US10/806,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,737 Days
• Field of Search: 725/47, 725/39, 725/46, 725/45, 725/52, 725/53, 725/60, 725/13, 725/14, 725/59, 725/44
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

While reviewing potential programs when using an interactive programming guide, a viewer can select to place information regarding specific programs in a list (in one embodiment, such entries are made on an automated basis). The viewer can then recall that list to make a final selection of a present program to view (or record). In some embodiments, this list can be automatically cleared in response to a predetermined trigger event.

Claims

1. A method of using an interactive program guide by at least one user on a given audio/visual device, comprising the steps of:

displaying an interactive program guide comprising at least one characterizing descriptor corresponding to a first one of a plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and at least another characterizing descriptor corresponding to a second one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs;

detecting preliminary selection of the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and moving an area of visual focus to the first one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs;

detecting that the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs is preliminarily selected for greater than a predetermined amount of time and adding information corresponding to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs to a list of preferred items of audio/visual content in response to the detection;

detecting a user selection of the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and adding information corresponding to the first one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs to the list of preferred items in response to the detection;

detecting preliminary selection of the second one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and moving the area of visual focus away from the first one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs;

detecting an action with respect to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs, which action does not comprise either selecting the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs or preliminarily selecting the second one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and displaying the list of preferred items in response to the detection; and

automatically purging the list of preferred items in response to a predetermined trigger, wherein the trigger is selected from a group of triggers comprising selection of the first one the plurality of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs for viewing, selection of the second one of the plurality of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs for viewing, the expiration of a predetermined period of time after selection of the first one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs for viewing, and the expiration of a predetermined period of time after selection of the second one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs for viewing, whereby a temporary tool for supporting a present browsing activity is provided, and whereby the viewer is relieved of memorization and corresponding cognitive loading.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characterizing descriptor and the at least another characterizing descriptor comprise at least one of:

a programming network identifier;

a broadcast starting time;

a description of audio/visual content as corresponds to audio/visual program; and

an audio/visual program media source.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting preliminary selection of the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs further comprises detecting at least a predetermined relationship between a present position of the at least one characterizing descriptor as corresponds to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and the area of visual focus.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising determining when the user selects the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs by detecting when the user asserts a selection action at a time when a characterizing descriptor as corresponds to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs occupies, at least in part, a same portion of a display as a predetermined area of visual focus.

5. A method of providing an interactive programming guide, comprising the steps of:

providing an updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content;

displaying an interactive program guide comprising at least one characterizing descriptor corresponding to a first one of a plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content and at least another characterizing descriptor corresponding to a second one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content;

providing an area of visual focus on the at least one characterizing descriptor;

in response to a first signal, adding information regarding the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content as corresponds to the at least one characterizing descriptor presently in the area of visual focus to the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content;

in response to a second signal that is different from the first signal, moving the area of visual focus to the at least another characterizing descriptor;

in response to a third signal that is different from both the first signal and the second signal, displaying the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content;

adding information corresponding to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content to the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content when the area of visual focus is on at least one characterizing descriptor as corresponds to the first one of the plurality of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for greater than a predetermined length of time; and

purging the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content in response to a predetermined trigger, wherein the trigger is selected from a group of triggers comprising selection of the first one the plurality of the discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for viewing, selection of the second one of the plurality of the discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for viewing, the expiration of a predetermined period of time after selection of the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for viewing, and the expiration of a predetermined period of time after selection of the second one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for viewing, whereby a temporary tool for supporting a present browsing activity is provided, and whereby the viewer is relieved of memorization and corresponding cognitive loading;

wherein the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content are embodied in a plurality of media.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the response to the third signal further comprises not displaying at least one or more other characterizing descriptors as correspond to one or more other items of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content that are not on the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving at least one of the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal from a remote control device.

8. A method of using an interactive program guide, comprising the steps of:

displaying an interactive program guide comprising at least one characterizing descriptor corresponding to a first one of a plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and at least another characterizing descriptor corresponding to a second one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs;

detecting preliminary selection of the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and moving an area of visual focus to the at least one characterizing descriptor corresponding to the first one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs;

detecting that the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs is preliminarily selected for greater than a predetermined amount of time and adding information corresponding to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs to a list of preferred items of audio/visual content in response to the detection;

detecting a user selection of the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and adding information corresponding to the preliminarily selected audio/visual program to the list of preferred items in response to the detection by detecting a user asserting a selection action at a time when the at least one characterizing descriptor corresponding to the first one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs occupies, at least in part, a same portion of a display as the area of visual focus and adding information corresponding to the preliminarily selected audio/visual program to the list of preferred items in response to the detection;

detecting preliminary selection of the second one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and moving the area of visual focus away from the first one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs;

detecting an action with respect to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs, which action does not comprise either selecting the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs or preliminarily selecting the second one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and displaying the list of preferred items in response to the detection; and

automatically purging the list of preferred items in response to a predetermined trigger, wherein the trigger is selected from a group of triggers comprising selection of the first one the plurality of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs for viewing, selection of the second one of the plurality of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs for viewing, the expiration of a predetermined period of time after selection of the first one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs for viewing, and the expiration of a predetermined period of time after selection of the second one of the discrete selectable audio/visual programs for viewing, whereby a temporary tool for supporting a present browsing activity is provided, and whereby the viewer is relieved of memorization and corresponding cognitive loading;

wherein the at least one characterizing descriptor and the at least another characterizing descriptor comprise at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a programming network identifier, a broadcast starting time, a description of audio/visual content as corresponds to the audio/visual program, and an audio/visual program media source, detecting preliminary selection of the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs further comprises detecting at least a predetermined relationship between a present position of the at least one characterizing descriptor as corresponds to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable audio/visual programs and the area of visual focus.

9. A method of providing an interactive programming guide, comprising:

providing an updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content;

displaying an interactive program guide comprising at least one characterizing descriptor corresponding to a first one of a plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content and at least another characterizing descriptor corresponding to a second one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content;

providing an area of visual focus on the at least one characterizing descriptor;

in response to a first signal, adding information regarding the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content as corresponds to the at least one characterizing descriptor presently in the area of visual focus to the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content;

in response to a second signal that is different from the first signal, moving the area of visual focus to the at least another characterizing descriptor;

in response to a third signal that is different from both the first signal and the second signal, displaying the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content;

adding information corresponding to the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content to the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content when the area of visual focus is on at least one characterizing descriptor as corresponds to the first one of the plurality of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for greater than a predetermined length of time; and

purging the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content in response to a predetermined trigger, wherein the trigger is selected from a group of triggers comprising selection of the first one the plurality of the discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for viewing, selection of the second one of the plurality of the discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for viewing, the expiration of a predetermined period of time after selection of the first one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for viewing, and the expiration of a predetermined period of time after selection of the second one of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content for viewing, whereby a temporary tool for supporting a present browsing activity is provided, and whereby the viewer is relieved of memorization and corresponding cognitive loading;

wherein the response to the third signal further comprises not displaying at least one or more other characterizing descriptors as correspond to one or more other items of the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content that are not on the updatable list of preferred items of audio/visual content, wherein the plurality of discrete selectable items of audio/visual content are embodied in a plurality of media.