Method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences

• US 8,966,534 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Christopher D., Shah-Nazaroff, Anthony A., Moore, Kenneth Alan, Hackson, David N., Somlo, Jean M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHNURR, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US14/018,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20140075480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 725/37, 725/38, 725/44, 725/45, 725/46, 725/49
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a list of favorite channels at an entertainment system comprising:

receiving a user request for selecting a list at the entertainment system;

searching by the entertainment system a plurality of user-definable lists that are stored at the entertainment system in response to receiving the user request, the lists identifying a plurality of favorite channels from among a service provider'"'"'s available channels and other content sources;

displaying a descriptor to the user, the descriptor identifying one or more of the lists;

receiving a selection of a displayed descriptor from the user at the entertainment system;

displaying the selected list to the user after receiving the selection of the displayed descriptor;

receiving an activation of a dedicated channel surfing button on a remote control from a user; and

navigating through the favorite channels of the selected list in response to activation of the dedicated channel surfing button by the entertainment system by tuning to subsequent channels in the list.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a descriptor identifying one or more of the lists to the user comprises displaying a descriptor identifying a list associated with the identity of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to modify the selected list.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying prompts to add and remove favorite channels from the selected list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the favorite channels comprise digital cable channels.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the favorite channels comprise satellite television channels.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the favorite channels comprise digital broadcast channels.

8. An entertainment system comprising:

a display;

a remote control; and

a set-top box, the set-top box to;

receive a user request for selecting a list at the entertainment system;

search by the entertainment system a plurality of user-definable lists that are stored at the entertainment system in response to receiving the user request, the lists identifying a plurality of favorite channels from among a service provider'"'"'s available channels and other content sources;

display a descriptor to the user, the descriptor identifying one or more of the lists;

receive a selection of a displayed descriptor from the user at the entertainment system;

display the selected list to the user after receiving the selection of the displayed descriptor;

receive an activation of a dedicated channel surfing button on a remote control from a user; and

navigate through the favorite channels of the selected list in response to activation of the dedicated channel surfing button by the entertainment system by tuning to subsequent channels in the list.

9. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the set-top box to display a descriptor identifying one or more of the lists to the user comprises the set-top box to display a descriptor identifying a list associated with the identity of the user.

10. The entertainment system of claim 8, further comprising the set-top box to receive a request to modify the selected list.

11. The entertainment system of claim 10, further comprising the set-top box to display prompts to add and remove favorite channels from the selected list.

12. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the favorite channels comprise digital cable channels.

13. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the favorite channels comprise satellite television channels.

14. The entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the favorite channels comprise digital broadcast channels.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a user request for selecting a list at the entertainment system;

searching by the entertainment system a plurality of user-definable lists that are stored at the entertainment system in response to receiving the user request, the lists identifying a plurality of favorite channels from among a service provider'"'"'s available channels and other content sources;

displaying a descriptor to the user, the descriptor identifying one or more of the lists;

receiving a selection of a displayed descriptor from the user at the entertainment system;

displaying the selected list to the user after receiving the selection of the displayed descriptor;

receiving an activation of a dedicated channel surfing button on a remote control from a user; and

navigating through the favorite channels of the selected list in response to activation of the dedicated channel surfing button by the entertainment system by tuning to subsequent channels in the list.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions for displaying a descriptor identifying one or more of the lists to the user comprise instructions for displaying a descriptor identifying a list associated with the identity of the user.

17. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising receiving a request to modify the selected list.

18. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising displaying prompts to add and remove favorite channels from the selected list.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the favorite channels comprise digital cable channels.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the favorite channels comprise satellite television channels.