Method and system for assigning a channel to data in a data stream

• US 9,351,048 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feldstein, David E., Shurgot, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/200,886
• Time in Patent Office: 2,826 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

A system and method for assigning channels includes a program guide module having program guide data associated with program channels and a content processing system receiving program feeds for the program channels and receiving data feeds. The content processing system compares event data from the data feed and identifies a first program channel by comparing the program guide data and the event data and associating the program channel with event data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving program guide data for program channels;

receiving program feeds for the program channels;

receiving event data in a data feed;

comparing the event data and the program guide data;

identifying a group of program channels from the program channels corresponding to the event data in response to comparing;

performing hierarchical sorting on the program channels to form a highest priority program channel;

associating the highest priority program channel from the group of program channels with the event data in response to identifying;

forming a user interface with the event data on a display of a tuned channel;

selecting at least a portion of the user interface; and

changing the tuned channel to the highest priority program channel or recording the highest priority program channel in response to selecting.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein performing hierarchical sorting comprises prioritizing high definition channels over standard definition channels.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein performing hierarchical sorting comprises prioritizing local channels over national channels.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein performing hierarchical sorting comprises prioritizing national channels over subscription packages.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein performing hierarchical sorting comprises prioritizing subscription packages over regional sports networks.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein identifying a group of program channels comprises identifying a broadcast program channel.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein identifying a group of program channels comprises identifying a satellite broadcast program channel.

8. A system comprising:

a program guide module having program guide data associated with program channels;

a content processing system receiving program feeds for the program channels and receiving data feeds, said content processing system comparing event data from the data feeds and identifying group of program channels from the program channels by comparing the program guide data and the event data, said content processing system performing a hierarchical sorting on the group of program channels to form a highest priority program channel, associating the highest priority program channel with event data;

a display associated with a user device displaying a user interface comprising the event data on a tuned channel; and

the user device changing the tuned channel to the highest priority program channel or recording the highest priority program channel in response to selecting.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the content processing system performs the hierarchical sorting by prioritizing local channels over national channels.

10. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the content processing system performs the hierarchical sorting by prioritizing national channels over subscription packages.

11. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the content processing system performs the hierarchical sorting by prioritizing subscription packages over regional sports networks.

12. A system as recited in claim 8 further comprising a selectable chip for changing the tuned channel to the highest priority program channel.

13. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the highest priority program channel comprises a broadcast program channel.