Television viewer interface system

• US 9,113,219 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Look, Howard, Vallone, Robert, Brown, David Avraham, Bedard, Karen, Van Stam, Wijnand, McKendrick, Ain
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendmagegn, Girumsew
• Application Number:
  US13/544,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20120294592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 386/297, 386/E5.068
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. A highlight bar is responsive to the user'"'"'s commands and is used to indicate the current menu item that can be selected by the user. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. The background colors of each set of menus remains consistent throughout the user'"'"'s experience such that the user intuitively knows what menu area he is in through the color cues. The invention provides indicators that tell the user that more information is available in a particular direction for a menu item.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

determining that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

receiving input selecting a particular program in the first set of one or more programs;

responsive to the input, displaying a menu comprising;

a control for selecting to view the particular program immediately;

a control for selecting to delete the particular program immediately; and

a control for selecting to save the particular program until deleted by a user;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computer devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a second particular period of time, the second particular period of time being longer than the first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the second particular period of time, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator.

4. A method comprising:

presenting a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

determining that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

determining that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, is currently being recorded;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program is currently being recorded, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computer devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the listing of programs includes a program for which a user explicitly scheduled a recording and a program that was recorded based on preferences of a user rather than in response to the user explicitly scheduling a recording.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the programs are recorded from one or more of:

broadcast transmissions, cable transmissions, or satellite transmissions.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving input selecting a particular program in the first set of one or more programs;

responsive to the input, displaying a menu comprising a control for requesting to save the particular program longer;

receiving, via the control, a request to save the particular program longer;

removing the first indicator from the particular program.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that a third set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs or the second set of one or more programs, will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a second particular period of time, the second particular period of time being longer than the first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the third set, a third indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the second particular period of time, wherein the third indicator is different than the first indicator and the second indicator.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that a third set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs or the second set of one or more programs, will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the third set, a third indicator that the particular program will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion, wherein the third indicator is different than the first indicator and the second indicator.

10. A method comprising:

presenting a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

determining that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

wherein each first indicator for each particular program in the first set of one or more programs is a graphical warning indicator positioned within or adjacent to a particular control for selecting the particular program;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computer devices.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processes, cause performance of:

presenting a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

determining that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

receiving input selecting a particular program in the first set of one or more programs;

responsive to the input, displaying a menu comprising;

a control for selecting to view the particular program immediately;

a control for selecting to delete the particular program immediately; and

a control for selecting to save the particular program until deleted by a user.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processes, further cause:

determining that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a second particular period of time, the second particular period of time being longer than the first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the second particular period of time, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processes, further cause:

determining that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator.

14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processes, cause performance of:

presenting a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

determining that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

determining that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, is currently being recorded;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program is currently being recorded, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the listing of programs includes a program for which a user explicitly scheduled a recording and a program that was recorded based on preferences of a user rather than in response to the user explicitly scheduling a recording.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the programs are recorded from one or more of:

broadcast transmissions, cable transmissions, or satellite transmissions.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processes, further cause:

receiving input selecting a particular program in the first set of one or more programs;

responsive to the input, displaying a menu comprising a control for requesting to save the particular program longer;

receiving, via the control, a request to save the particular program longer;

removing the first indicator from the particular program.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processes, further cause:

determining that a third set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs or the second set of one or more programs, will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a second particular period of time, the second particular period of time being longer than the first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the third set, a third indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the second particular period of time, wherein the third indicator is different than the first indicator and the second indicator.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processes, further cause:

determining that a third set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs or the second set of one or more programs, will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the third set, a third indicator that the particular program will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion, wherein the third indicator is different than the first indicator and the second indicator.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of:

presenting a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

determining that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

presenting, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

wherein each first indicator for each particular program in the first set of one or more programs is a graphical warning indicator positioned within or adjacent to a particular control for selecting the particular program.

21. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a component configured to present a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

a component configured to determine that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

a component configured to present, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

a component configured to receive input selecting a particular program in the first set of one or more programs;

a component configured to, responsive to the input, display a menu comprising;

a control for selecting to view the particular program immediately;

a control for selecting to delete the particular program immediately; and

a control for selecting to save the particular program until deleted by a user.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a component configured to determine that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a second particular period of time, the second particular period of time being longer than the first particular period of time;

a component configured to present, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the second particular period of time, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a component configured to determine that that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion;

a component configured to present, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator.

24. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a component configured to present a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

a component configured to determine that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

a component configured to present, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

a component configured to determine that a second set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs, is currently being recorded;

a component configured to present, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the second set, a second indicator that the particular program is currently being recorded, wherein the second indicator is different than the first indicator.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the listing of programs includes a program for which a user explicitly scheduled a recording and a program that was recorded based on preferences of a user rather than in response to the user explicitly scheduling a recording.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the programs are recorded from one or more of:

broadcast transmissions, cable transmissions, or satellite transmissions.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

a component configured to receive input selecting a particular program in the first set of one or more programs;

a component configured to, responsive to the input, display a menu comprising a control for requesting to save the particular program longer;

a component configured to receive, via the control, a request to save the particular program longer;

a component configured to remove the first indicator from the particular program.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

a component configured to determine that a third set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs or the second set of one or more programs, will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a second particular period of time, the second particular period of time being longer than the first particular period of time;

a component configured to present, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the third set, a third indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the second particular period of time, wherein the third indicator is different than the first indicator and the second indicator.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

a component configured to determine that a third set of one or more programs, not in the first set of one or more programs or the second set of one or more programs, will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion;

a component configured to present, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the third set, a third indicator that the particular program will only be deleted from the one or more storage devices if a user manually requests deletion, wherein the third indicator is different than the first indicator and the second indicator.

30. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a component configured to present a menu comprising a listing of programs that have been recorded to one or more storage devices, in which each of the programs is selectable for viewing;

a component configured to determine that a first set of one or more programs will be deleted from the one or more storage devices within a first particular period of time;

a component configured to present, with each particular program in the listing of the programs that is also in the first set, a first indicator that the particular program will be deleted within the first particular period of time;

wherein each first indicator for each particular program in the first set of one or more programs is a graphical warning indicator positioned within or adjacent to a particular control for selecting the particular program.