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Meta channel media system control and advertisement technology

  • US 8,726,310 B2
  • Filed: 02/05/2009
  • Issued: 05/13/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling a media system in handling advertisements, the method comprising:

  • receiving, from a user of a media system, a selection of a first meta-channel from among options including at least;

    the first meta-channel including first content entries assigned to the first meta-channel by a first channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the first channel service provider, the first content entries including at least a first content entry related to content provided by a first service provider and a second content entry related to content provided by a second service provider, anda second meta-channel including second content entries assigned to the second meta-channel by a second channel service provider and arranged to be presented in an order defined by the second channel service provider, the second content entries including at least a third content entry related to content provided by a third service provider and a fourth content entry related to content provided by a fourth service provider;

    based on the selection of the first meta-channel, determining that, according to the order defined by the first channel service provider, the first meta-channel defines the first content entry to be presented at a time of the selection of the first meta-channel;

    based on the determination that the first meta-channel defines the first content entry, controlling the media system to output the content provided by the first service provider;

    determining that, according to the order defined by the first channel service provider, the first meta-channel defines the second content entry to be presented at an end of the first content entry;

    based on the determination that the first meta-channel defines the second content entry to be presented at the end of the first content entry, controlling, at the end of the first content entry, the media system to transition from outputting the content provided by the first service provider to outputting the content provided by the second service provider;

    at a time when the first meta-channel is selected, detecting an advertisement;

    accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user;

    selecting the second meta-channel as a source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user;

    based on the selection of the second meta-channel and the detection of the advertisement;

    determining that, according to the order defined by the second channel service provider, the second meta-channel defines the third content entry to be presented at a time of the advertisement, andbased on the determination that the second meta-channel defines the third content entry to be presented at a time of the advertisement, controlling the media system to output the content provided by the third service provider,wherein accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences of the user comprises accessing, from electronic storage, advertisement preferences that include a content channel priority list; and

    wherein selecting the second meta-channel as a source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the accessed advertisement preferences of the user comprises;

    determining that the second meta-channel is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement,determining that the second meta-channel is a highest ranked channel within the content channel priority list that is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement, andselecting the second meta-channel as the source for secondary content to output during the advertisement based on the determination that the second meta-channel is the highest ranked channel within the content channel priority list that is providing non-advertisement programming at a time of the advertisement.

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