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;
receiving, from a remote control, a selection command that selects a particular channel number based on manipulation of the remote control by a user;
identifying, from among multiple remote controls that are each associated with a specific user, the remote control from which the selection command was received;
based on the identification of the remote control, determining an identity of a user associated with the remote control;
based on the determined identity of the user, mapping the particular channel number from the selection command to a selected meta-channel corresponding to the particular channel number for the user associated with the remote control, wherein the particular channel number is mapped for at least one user associated with another of the multiple remote controls;
accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel;
based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel, determining a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel; and
controlling a media system to render content based on the content entry,wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises;
sending, over a network using a first communication protocol, a control command for the remote control that is configured to locally control the media system;
receiving, at the remote control over the network, the control command; and
based on receiving the control command, sending, using the remote control and using a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content defined by the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel, andwherein the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel is a first content entry and the control command is a first control command, further comprising;
determining when the first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel ends and a second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel begins, the second content entry defining content that is provided by a content source that is different than a source of the content defined by the first content entry;
in response to a determination that first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel has ended and the second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel is beginning, sending, over the network using the first communication protocol, a second control command for the remote control, the second control command being a command to render content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry;
receiving, at the remote control over the network, the second control command; and
based on receiving the second control command, sending, using the remote control and using the second communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry.
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.
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Citations
20 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; receiving, from a remote control, a selection command that selects a particular channel number based on manipulation of the remote control by a user; identifying, from among multiple remote controls that are each associated with a specific user, the remote control from which the selection command was received; based on the identification of the remote control, determining an identity of a user associated with the remote control; based on the determined identity of the user, mapping the particular channel number from the selection command to a selected meta-channel corresponding to the particular channel number for the user associated with the remote control, wherein the particular channel number is mapped for at least one user associated with another of the multiple remote controls; accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel; based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel, determining a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel; and controlling a media system to render content based on the content entry, wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises; sending, over a network using a first communication protocol, a control command for the remote control that is configured to locally control the media system; receiving, at the remote control over the network, the control command; and based on receiving the control command, sending, using the remote control and using a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content defined by the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel, and wherein the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel is a first content entry and the control command is a first control command, further comprising; determining when the first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel ends and a second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel begins, the second content entry defining content that is provided by a content source that is different than a source of the content defined by the first content entry; in response to a determination that first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel has ended and the second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel is beginning, sending, over the network using the first communication protocol, a second control command for the remote control, the second control command being a command to render content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry; receiving, at the remote control over the network, the second control command; and based on receiving the second control command, sending, using the remote control and using the second communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14)
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8. 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; multiple remote controls; and at least one processor configured to perform operations comprising; receiving, from a remote control included in the multiple remote controls, a selection command that selects a particular channel number based on manipulation of the remote control by a user; identifying, from among the multiple remote controls that are each associated with a specific user, the remote control from which the selection command was received; based on the identification of the remote control, determining an identity of a user associated with the remote control; based on the determined identity of the user, mapping the particular channel number from the selection command to a selected meta-channel corresponding to the particular channel number for the user associated with the remote control, wherein the particular channel number is mapped for at least one user associated with another of the multiple remote controls; accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel; based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel, determining content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel; and controlling a media system to render content based on the content entry, wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises sending, over a network using a first communication protocol, a control command for the remote control that is configured to locally control the media system; wherein the remote control is configured to receive, at the remote control over the network, the control command and, based on receiving the control command, send, using a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content defined by the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel; wherein the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel is a first content entry and the control command is a first control command; wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform operations comprising; determining when the first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel ends and a second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel begins, the second content entry defining content that is provided by a content source that is different than a source of the content defined by the first content entry, and in response to a determination that first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel has ended and the second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel is beginning, sending, over the network using the first communication protocol, a second control command for the remote control, the second control command being a command to render content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry; and wherein the remote control is configured to receive, at the remote control over the network, the second control command and, based on receiving the second control command, send, using the second communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with at least one computer program comprising instructions that, when executed, operate to cause at least one processor 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; receiving, from a remote control, a selection command that selects a particular channel number based on manipulation of the remote control by a user; identifying, from among multiple remote controls that are each associated with a specific user, the remote control from which the selection command was received; based on the identification of the remote control, determining an identity of a user associated with the remote control; based on the determined identity of the user, mapping the particular channel number from the selection command to a selected meta-channel corresponding to the particular channel number for the user associated with the remote control, wherein the particular channel number is mapped for at least one user associated with another of the multiple remote controls; accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel; based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel, determining a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel; and controlling a media system to render content based on the content entry, wherein controlling the media system to render content based on the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel comprises; sending, over a network using a first communication protocol, a control command for the remote control that is configured to locally control the media system; receiving, at the remote control over the network, the control command; and based on receiving the control command, sending, using the remote control and using a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content defined by the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel, and wherein the content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel is a first content entry and the control command is a first control command, further comprising; determining when the first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel ends and a second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel begins, the second content entry defining content that is provided by a content source that is different than a source of the content defined by the first content entry; in response to a determination that first content entry defined by the selected meta-channel has ended and the second content entry defined by the selected meta-channel is beginning, sending, over the network using the first communication protocol, a second control command for the remote control, the second control command being a command to render content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry; receiving, at the remote control over the network, the second control command; and based on receiving the second control command, sending, using the remote control and using the second communication protocol, a signal to the media system that causes the media system to output content provided by the content source associated with the second content entry. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification