Preview mode for content
First Claim
1. A method of presenting media content of a media title obtained from a content source, the content comprising a plurality of content items which are accessible by an interactive menu structure, the method comprising:
- presenting content, via a display, to a user in a preview presentation mode in which a portion of each of a set of the content items available for presentation relating to a target of a branch of the menu structure is automatically presented to the user for all possible links of a corresponding branch before moving onto a next branch of the menu structure in a sequence of the content items relating to links of the menu structure without requiring the user to manually navigate various paths'"'"'of the menu structure while in the preview presentation mode, wherein the target comprises (i) a content item and (ii) another menu with a further set of links, wherein the sequence further comprises a navigation path that the preview presentation mode follows through all navigational branches of multiple levels of the menu structure for automatically exploring the menu structure one branch at a time, wherein the preview presentation mode further comprises (a) indicating a context of (a)(i) the content item and (a)(ii) the another menu that is about to be presented to the user when displaying a selection menu of links by highlighting a menu link which is about to be followed before following the corresponding menu link, and (b) displaying simultaneously with preview of a content item (b)(i) information about the content item currently being previewed and (b)(ii) a corresponding position of the content item currently being previewed within a tree-diagram of the menu structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Media content obtained from a content source (11) comprises a plurality of content items (31) which are accessible by an interactive menu structure (60, 65). A preview presentation mode automatically presents a portion of each of a set of the content items (31) to the user in a sequence which represents a navigation path through multiple levels of the menu structure. This shows a user a preview of content items available for presentation without requiring the user to manually navigate various branches of the menu structure. The menu structure can be explored automatically, or a script (33) can specify which items are to be presented. The script (33) can be supplied by the content source (11) or can be obtained from a separate source. During the preview presentation mode information about the current item, or the current position within the menu structure, can be displayed.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of presenting media content of a media title obtained from a content source, the content comprising a plurality of content items which are accessible by an interactive menu structure, the method comprising:
presenting content, via a display, to a user in a preview presentation mode in which a portion of each of a set of the content items available for presentation relating to a target of a branch of the menu structure is automatically presented to the user for all possible links of a corresponding branch before moving onto a next branch of the menu structure in a sequence of the content items relating to links of the menu structure without requiring the user to manually navigate various paths'"'"'of the menu structure while in the preview presentation mode, wherein the target comprises (i) a content item and (ii) another menu with a further set of links, wherein the sequence further comprises a navigation path that the preview presentation mode follows through all navigational branches of multiple levels of the menu structure for automatically exploring the menu structure one branch at a time, wherein the preview presentation mode further comprises (a) indicating a context of (a)(i) the content item and (a)(ii) the another menu that is about to be presented to the user when displaying a selection menu of links by highlighting a menu link which is about to be followed before following the corresponding menu link, and (b) displaying simultaneously with preview of a content item (b)(i) information about the content item currently being previewed and (b)(ii) a corresponding position of the content item currently being previewed within a tree-diagram of the menu structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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20. A network server for delivering content to client devices comprising:
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a store of media content of a media title, the media content of the media title comprising content items which are arranged in an interactive menu structure; and
,a controller which is operable to; receive a signal from the client device indicating that the server should enter a preview presentation mode; and
,automatically present, via a display, a portion of each of a set of the content items available for presentation relating to a target of a branch of the menu structure to the user for all possible links of a corresponding branch before moving onto a next branch of the menu structure in a sequence of the content items relating to links of the menu structure without requiring the user to manually navigate various paths of the menu structure while in the preview presentation mode, wherein the target comprises (i) a content item and (ii) another menu with a further set of links, wherein the sequence further comprises a navigation path that the preview presentation mode follows through all navigational branches of multiple levels of the menu structure for automatically exploring the menu structure one branch at a time, wherein the preview presentation mode further comprises (a) indicating a context of (a)(i) the content item and (a)(ii) the another menu that is about to be presented to the user when displaying a selection menu of links by highlighting a menu link which is about to be followed before following the corresponding menu link, and (b) displaying simultaneously with preview of a content item (b)(i) information about the content item currently being previewed and (b)(ii) a corresponding position of the content item currently being previewed within a tree-diagram of the menu structure.
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- 22. A non-transitory record carrier embodied with a plurality of media content items of a media title and navigation data defining an interactive menu structure by which the content items of the media title are accessible, the record carrier further embodied with script data for execution by a processor of a media player for causing the media player to perform in a preview presentation mode, wherein the script data specifies to the media player a set of the content items that should be shown, via a display, during the preview presentation mode in which a portion of each of a set of the content items available for presentation relating to a target of a branch of the menu structure is automatically presented to the user for all possible links of a corresponding branch before moving onto a next branch of the menu structure in a sequence of the content items relating to links of the menu structure without requiring the user to manually navigate various paths of the menu structure while in the preview presentation mode, wherein the target comprises (i) a content item and (ii) another menu with a further set of links, wherein the sequence further comprises a navigation path that the preview presentation mode follows through all navigational branches of multiple levels of the menu structure for automatically exploring the menu structure one branch at a time, wherein the preview presentation mode further comprises (a) indicating a context of (a)(i) the content item and (a)(ii) the another menu that is about to be presented to the user when displaying a selection menu of links by highlighting a menu link which is about to be followed before following the corresponding menu link, and (b) displaying simultaneously with preview of a content item (b)(i) information about the content item currently being previewed and (b)(ii) a corresponding position of the content item currently being previewed within a tree-diagram of the menu structure.
Specification