Method and apparatus for content selection in a home media environment

• US 8,332,892 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• 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: Rafey, Richter A., Le Van Gong, Hubert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG, JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/056,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,860 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725/82, 725/83, 725/86, 725/87, 725/119
• US Class Current: 725/49
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system for media content selection. In one embodiment, a home entertainment system for accessing content includes a processor for executing instructions adapted for: (i) receiving a request from a user input for selecting a content title; (ii) displaying formats of the content title, with one format stored in a home network and another stored external to the home network; (iii) receiving a request from the user input device to select one of the formats; and (iv) presenting the selected content in the selected format. The content can be a song in a digital format, for example. Selecting the content can include consideration of user preference information and using one or more of: a content manager, a device manager, a network controller, a purchase controller, a device supporter, a content directory, a connection manager, and a digital rights management (DRM) controller. The user input device can include, for example, a remote control device for a home entertainment system.

Claims

1. A method executed by a processor coupled to a display device and to a user input device, the method comprising:

displaying a list of titles of media content on the display device;

displaying a first indicator in association with each title in the list,

wherein the first indicator identifies at least one source for said each title in the list,

wherein the at least one source includes at least one of at least one internal source and at least one external source, and wherein the at least one external source is accessible through a wide area network;

displaying a second indicator in association with said each title in the list,

wherein the second indicator indicates that said each title in the list is available for selection and for purchase when the first indicator identifies the at least one external source,

wherein the second indicator indicates that said each title in the list is available for purchase at a designated site when said each title is not available locally relative to the processor;

receiving a request to access a particular title from the list of titles of the media content, wherein the request includes;

at least one of search priority and search parameters;

or a command to use predetermined settings for said at least one of search priority and search parameters;

searching for the particular title in accordance with said at least one of search priority and search parameters; and

displaying a third indicator in association with said each title in the list,

wherein the third indicator indicates at least one format of said each title in the list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

adjusting said at least one of search priority and search parameters when a default or alternate format of said each title is shown in said at least one format, and the default or alternate format is desired.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indicator indicates that said each title in the list is available for selection when said each title is available locally relative to the processor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one source identifies a portable media device coupled to the processor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one source identifies a storage unit coupled to the processor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one particular source of said at least one source identifies a remote device or site that is remote relative to the processor.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising

obtaining a particular title associated with said one particular source from the remote device or site using a network interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of titles of the media content and the associated at least one source were obtained as a result of searching locally relative to the processor.

9. A non-transitory tangible storage medium storing a computer program for accessing content from a plurality of content sources, the computer program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

display a list of titles of media content on a display device;

display a first indicator in association with each title in the list,

wherein the first indicator identifies at least one source for said each title in the list,

wherein the at least one source includes at least one of at least one internal source and at least one external source, and wherein the at least one external source is accessible through a wide area network, and

wherein the list of titles of the media content and the associated at least one source were obtained as a result of searching locally relative to the processor;

display a second indicator in association with said each title in the list,

wherein the second indicator indicates that said each title in the list is available for selection and for purchase when the first indicator identifies the at least one external source,

wherein the second indicator indicates that said each title in the list is available for purchase at a designated site when said each title is not available locally relative to the processor;

receive a request to access a particular title from the list of titles of the media content, wherein the request includes;

at least one of search priority and search parameters;

or a command to use predetermined settings for said at least one of search priority and search parameters;

search for the particular title in accordance with said at least one of search priority and search parameters; and

display a third indicator in association with said each title in the list,

wherein the third indicator indicates at least one format of said each title in the list.

10. The storage medium of claim 9, further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

adjust said at least one of search priority and search parameters when a default or alternate format of said each title is shown in said at least one format, and the default or alternate format is desired.

11. A non-transitory tangible storage device storing a computer program for accessing media content from a plurality of content sources, the computer program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

display a list of titles of the media content on a display device;

display a first indicator identifying at least one content source for each title in the list,

wherein at least one of said at least one content source identifies at least one device or site that stores said each title in the list;

(1) locally relative to the display device; and

(2) externally relative to the display device accessible through a wide area network;

display a second indicator indicating that said each title in the list is available for selection and for purchase when the first indicator identifies the at least one external source,

wherein the second indicator indicates that said each title in the list is available for purchase at a designated site when said each title is not available through a local network coupled to the display device;

receive a request to access a particular title from the list of titles of the media content, wherein the request includes at least one of search priority and search parameters;

search for the particular title in accordance with said at least one of search priority and search parameters; and

display a third indicator in association with said each title in the list, wherein the third indicator indicates at least one format of said each title in the list.

12. The storage device of claim 11, further comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

adjust said at least one of search priority and search parameters when a default or alternate format of said each title is shown in said at least one format, and the default or alternate format is desired.

13. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the second indicator indicates that said each title in the list is available for selection when said each title is available through a local network coupled to the display device.

14. The storage device of claim 13, wherein said at least one source identifies a portable media device coupled to the local network.

15. The storage device of claim 13, wherein said at least one source identifies a storage unit coupled to the local network.