Method and apparatus for recurring content searches and viewing window notification

• US 8,938,755 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Inventors: Goodwin, Mark, Marksworth, Thomas C., Criswell, Jonathan Colorado
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, AN V
• Application Number:
  US13/431,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20130262619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/219, 709/226.231, 725/25, 725/47, 725/53, 725/58, 725/88, 725/90, 725/93, 725/38, 725/39, 725/41, 725/26
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles

Abstract

A method for updating existing content includes detecting the existing content, identifying a collection of content related to the existing content and storing a representation of the collection of content within a platform server. The collection of content is updated with newly available content. The representation of the collection of content and a representation of the newly available content is transmitted.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a server, comprising:

receiving a query for on-demand streaming content from a client device, wherein the query for on-demand streaming content solicits content from multiple content providers;

storing the query;

executing the query as an initial search to generate first search results;

executing the query as an updated search to generate second search results;

preparing an interface with a discovery timeline with indicia of the first search results and indicia of the second search results, wherein the interface further comprises additional content categories including a subscribed content category, a content available for purchase category, and a content available for free category, wherein the additional content categories include a viewing window category indicating content expiring soon, available content and content coming soon, wherein the viewing window includes an alert option to request an alert when content is available, and wherein content instances from the first search results and the second search results are represented in the additional content categories; and

supplying the interface to the client device for display, wherein the interface includes recommended content related to the first search results and the second search results.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the on-demand streaming content is one of a video stream, an audio stream and a game application.