Meta channel based media system control technology
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a media system based on meta-channel information, the method comprising:
- storing, in electronic storage, meta-channel information defining multiple meta-channels that identify content entries and that indicate an order with which to experience the content entries, the multiple meta-channels including at least a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time or a recorded version of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over an Internet network, by a second content provider in response to user requests;
receiving a selection of the multi-source meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information;
accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected multi-source meta-channel;
mapping, based on the accessed meta-channel information, the selection of the multi-source meta-channel to the first content entry that relates to the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time or the recorded version of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time;
controlling a media system to render the first content based on the first content entry mapped to by the selected multi-source meta-channel;
detecting an end of the first content;
in response to detecting the end of the first content, identifying the second content entry as a next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel;
in response to identifying the second content entry as the next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel, automatically, without user intervention, controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry that relates to second content made available, over the Internet network, by the second content provider in response to user requests, wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry comprises;
controlling a media adapter, included in the media system, to request, from the second content provider, the second content made available, over the Internet network, by the second content provider in response to user requests,in response to the request, controlling the media adapter to receive, at the media adapter and from the second content provider, the second content, andcontrolling a display device, included in the media system, to render a display of the second content received by the media adapter; and
automatically, without human intervention, controlling the media system to render previously-recorded broadcast content defined by a subsequent content entry when a meta-channel that includes the subsequent content entry is selected, the previously-recorded broadcast content having been broadcast and recorded prior to a time at which the subsequent content entry defines the previously-recorded broadcast content to be experienced.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Meta-channels identify content entries and indicate an order with which to experience the content entries. The meta-channels may include a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests. A selection of a meta-channel is received and the selection of the meta-channel is mapped to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel. A media system is controlled to render content based on a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel.
36 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a media system based on meta-channel information, the method comprising:
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storing, in electronic storage, meta-channel information defining multiple meta-channels that identify content entries and that indicate an order with which to experience the content entries, the multiple meta-channels including at least a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time or a recorded version of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over an Internet network, by a second content provider in response to user requests; receiving a selection of the multi-source meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information; accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected multi-source meta-channel; mapping, based on the accessed meta-channel information, the selection of the multi-source meta-channel to the first content entry that relates to the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time or the recorded version of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time; controlling a media system to render the first content based on the first content entry mapped to by the selected multi-source meta-channel; detecting an end of the first content; in response to detecting the end of the first content, identifying the second content entry as a next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel; in response to identifying the second content entry as the next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel, automatically, without user intervention, controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry that relates to second content made available, over the Internet network, by the second content provider in response to user requests, wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry comprises; controlling a media adapter, included in the media system, to request, from the second content provider, the second content made available, over the Internet network, by the second content provider in response to user requests, in response to the request, controlling the media adapter to receive, at the media adapter and from the second content provider, the second content, and controlling a display device, included in the media system, to render a display of the second content received by the media adapter; and automatically, without human intervention, controlling the media system to render previously-recorded broadcast content defined by a subsequent content entry when a meta-channel that includes the subsequent content entry is selected, the previously-recorded broadcast content having been broadcast and recorded prior to a time at which the subsequent content entry defines the previously-recorded broadcast content to be experienced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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at least one electronic storage device configured to store meta-channel information defining multiple meta-channels that identify content entries and that indicate an order with which to experience the content entries, the multiple meta-channels including at least a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time or a recorded version of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over an Internet network, by a second content provider in response to user requests; and at least one processor configured to perform operations comprising; receiving a selection of the multi-source meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information; accessing, from the electronic storage device, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected multi-source meta-channel; mapping, based on the accessed meta-channel information, the selection of the multi-source meta-channel to the first content entry that relates to the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time or the recorded version of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time; controlling a media system to render the first content based on the first content entry mapped to by the selected multi-source meta-channel; detecting an end of the first content; in response to detecting the end of the first content, identifying the second content entry as a next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel; in response to identifying the second content entry as the next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel, automatically, without user intervention, controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry that relates to second content made available, over the Internet network, by the second content provider in response to user requests, wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry comprises; controlling a media adapter, included in the media system, to request, from the second content provider, the second content made available, over the Internet network, by the second content provider in response to user requests, in response to the request, controlling the media adapter to receive, at the media adapter and from the second content provider, the second content, and controlling a display device, included in the media system, to render a display of the second content received by the media adapter; and automatically, without human intervention, controlling the media system to render previously-recorded broadcast content defined by a subsequent content entry when a meta-channel that includes the subsequent content entry is selected, the previously-recorded broadcast content having been broadcast and recorded prior to a time at which the subsequent content entry defines the previously-recorded broadcast content to be experienced. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with at least one computer program comprising instructions that, when executed, operate to cause a computer to perform operations comprising:
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storing, in electronic storage, meta-channel information defining multiple meta-channels that identify content entries and that indicate an order with which to experience the content entries, the multiple meta-channels including at least a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time or a recorded version of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over an Internet network, by a second content provider in response to user requests; receiving a selection of the multi-source meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information; accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected multi-source meta-channel; mapping, based on the accessed meta-channel information, the selection of the multi-source meta-channel to the first content entry that relates to the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time or the recorded version of the first content broadcast by the first content provider at the specific time; controlling a media system to render the first content based on the first content entry mapped to by the selected multi-source meta-channel; detecting an end of the first content; in response to detecting the end of the first content, identifying the second content entry as a next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel; in response to identifying the second content entry as the next content entry defined by the multi-source meta-channel, automatically, without user intervention, controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry that relates to second content made available, over the Internet network, by the second content provider in response to user requests, wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the second content entry comprises; controlling a media adapter, included in the media system, to request, from the second content provider, the second content made available, over the Internet network, by the second content provider in response to user requests, in response to the request, controlling the media adapter to receive, at the media adapter and from the second content provider, the second content, and controlling a display device, included in the media system, to render a display of the second content received by the media adapter; and automatically, without human intervention, controlling the media system to render previously-recorded broadcast content defined by a subsequent content entry when a meta-channel that includes the subsequent content entry is selected, the previously-recorded broadcast content having been broadcast and recorded prior to a time at which the subsequent content entry defines the previously-recorded broadcast content to be experienced.
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Specification