Systems and methods for using playlists

• US 9,118,868 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Radloff, Jon P., Knee, Robert A., Craner, Michael L., Berry, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/073,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20110170840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 386/291, 386/296, 386/297, 386/323, 386/353, 386/290, 386/262, 386/261
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically generating a playlist of series assets and systems and methods for grouping assets of a playlist in clusters are provided. In one embodiment, series assets may automatically be included into a playlist for that series. In another embodiment, an interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters based on one or more user selected parameters or may group assets in cluster based on automatically determined parameters. In yet another embodiment, the interactive media guidance application may group assets in clusters and display at least one identifier in connection with each cluster to indicate a basis for forming the cluster. The identifier may be a key word or catch phrase that succinctly identifies a trait or characteristic of assets in a particular cluster associated with the identifier.

Claims

1. A method for using an interactive media guidance application, comprising:

allowing a user to configure recording options for recording at least one asset;

in response to allowing the user to configure the recording options, prompting the user to configure a playlist designation option with control circuitry;

designating a playlist using the control circuitry according to the configured playlist designation option before recording the at least one asset according to the configured recording options, wherein the playlist comprises a predetermined order in which the at least one asset is played;

recording the at least one asset according to the configured recording options;

automatically including the at least one recorded asset in the designated playlist; and

in response to automatically including the at least one recorded asset in the designated playlist, arranging the assets in the designated playlist according to the predetermined order.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording options comprise series recording options.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein designating a playlist comprises designating a series playlist.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein designating a playlist comprises creating a playlist.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein designating a playlist comprises selecting an existing playlist.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the configured recording options comprise recording attributes and recording at least one asset comprises recording a set of assets, which assets have the recording attributes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated playlist includes a plurality of assets, the method further comprising:

playing back recorded assets included in the designated playlist.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

playing back the assets according to the predetermined order.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the designated playlist as a function of an availability of at least one of the assets in the designated playlist.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated playlist includes a plurality of assets, the method further comprising:

grouping the plurality of assets in clusters according to at least one parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one parameter is user selected.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one parameter is automatically selected as at least a function of the attributes of the plurality of assets.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least designating a playlist using the playlist designation option is performed remotely from where assets in the playlist are displayed.

14. A system comprising user equipment for implementing an interactive media guidance application, the user equipment operative to:

allow a user to configure recording options for recording at least one asset;

in response to allowing the user to configure the recording options, prompt the user to configure a playlist designation option;

designate a playlist according to the configured playlist designation option before recording the at least one asset according to the configured recording options, wherein the playlist comprises a predetermined order in which the at least one asset is played;

record the at least one asset according to configured recording options;

automatically include the at least one recorded asset in the designated playlist; and

in response to automatically including the at least one recorded asset in the designated playlist, arrange the assets in the designated playlist according to the predetermined order.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein recording options comprise series recording options.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein designating a playlist comprises designate a series playlist.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the user equipment is operative to create a new playlist for the designated playlist.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the user equipment is operative to select an existing playlist for the designated playlist.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the configured recording options comprise recording attributes and recording at least one asset comprises recording a set of assets, which assets have the recording attributes.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the designated playlist includes a plurality of assets, and the user equipment is operative to:

play back recorded assets included in the designated playlist.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the user equipment is operative to:

play back the assets according to the predetermined order.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the user equipment is further operative to update the designated playlist as a function of an availability of at least one of the assets in the designated playlist.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the designated playlist includes a plurality of assets, the user equipment operative to:

group the plurality of assets in clusters according to at least one parameter.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one parameter is user selected.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one parameter is automatically selected as at least a function of the attributes of the plurality of assets.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the user equipment is operative to receive a designated playlist from a source remote to the user equipment.