Systems and methods for providing custom media content flipping

• US 9,544,526 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDOZA, JUNIOR O
• Application Number:
  US14/316,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20150026734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 725/56
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing enhanced channel flipping are disclosed. A user may selectively mark and unmark channels as temporary favorite channels. These channels may be dynamically added or removed from the channel changing or channel flipping sequence. Unauthorized channels and channels locked by parental controls may also be automatically removed from the channel flipping sequence. A plurality of custom channel flipping sequences may be maintained on the user equipment device. Users may access any of these custom channel flipping sequences in order to flip only through the channels associated with the custom sequence. Channels in the flipping sequence may also be pre-tuned in order to reduce delays associated with tuning.

Claims

1. A method for enhanced channel flipping on a user equipment device, the method comprising:

receiving a user request to tune from a first channel to a second channel in a channel flipping sequence, wherein the channel flipping sequence comprises an ordered list of a plurality of channels of media content;

receiving a user indication to mark the second channel as a temporary favorite channel;

in response to receiving the user indication to mark the second channel as a temporary favorite channel, adding, using control circuitry, the second channel to a temporary favorite channels list, wherein the temporary favorite channels list includes favorite channels and temporary favorite channels;

creating, using the control circuitry, a favorite channel flipping sequence, wherein the favorite channel flipping sequence comprises the channels identified in the temporary favorite channels list;

determining, based on the favorite channels list, whether a given channel is one of the favorite channels or one of the temporary favorite channels;

in response to determining that the given channel is one of the favorite channels, generating for display a first indicator that represents favorite channels;

in response to determining that the given channel is one of the temporary favorite channels, generating for display a second indicator, different from the first indicator, that represents temporary favorite channels;

in response to a plurality of identical commands from the user, sequentially tuning to each channel in the favorite channel flipping sequence without tuning to channels not in the favorite channel flipping sequence; and

automatically removing the second channel from the temporary favorite channels list.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising accessing a list of preexisting favorite channels stored on the user equipment device, wherein the favorite channel flipping sequence additionally comprises the preexisting favorite channels.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving user indication to delete a first preexisting favorite channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence; and

in response to receiving user indication to delete a first preexisting favorite channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence, deleting the first preexisting favorite channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user request to tune to a favorite channel; and

in response to receiving the user request to tune to a favorite channel, automatically tuning to a channel in the favorite channel flipping sequence.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising, in response to receiving the user request to tune to a favorite channel, automatically pre-tuning a third channel on a secondary tuner, wherein the third channel is another channel in the favorite channel flipping sequence.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing media guidance application data relating to the second channel; and

determining, from the accessed media guidance application data, an end time of a program currently being displayed on the second channel; and

wherein the automatically removing the second channel further comprises automatically removing the second channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence after the end time of the program.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user indication to unmark the second channel as a temporary favorite channel;

in response to receiving the user indication to unmark the second channel as a temporary favorite channel, removing the second channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence; and

displaying an unmarked icon.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating for display a list of channels;

generating for display a favorite column, where an indication in the favorite column next to the second channel indicates the second channel is in the favorite channel flipping sequence; and

generating for display a marked column, where an indication in the marked column next to the second channel indicates the second channel has been marked as a temporary favorite channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identical commands comprise one of channel up and channel down commands.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the user indication further comprises receiving a time period associated with the second channel, and wherein automatically removing the second channel further comprises automatically removing the second channel in response to determining the time period has expired.

11. A system for enhanced channel flipping on a user equipment device, the system comprising:

memory to store a channel flipping sequence, wherein the channel flipping sequence comprises an ordered list of a plurality of channels of media content; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive a user request to tune from a first channel to a second channel in a channel flipping sequence, wherein the channel flipping sequence comprises an ordered list of a plurality of channels of media content;

receive a user indication to mark the second channel as a temporary favorite channel;

in response to receiving the user indication to mark the second channel as a temporary favorite channel, add the second channel to a temporary favorite channels list, wherein the temporary favorite channels list includes favorite channels and temporary favorite channels;

create a favorite channel flipping sequence, wherein the favorite channel flipping sequence comprises the channels identified in the temporary favorite channels list;

determine, based on the favorite channels list, whether a given channel is one of the favorite channels or one of the temporary favorite channels;

in response to determining that the given channel is one of the favorite channels, generate for display a first indicator that represents favorite channels;

in response to determining that the given channel is one of the temporary favorite channels, generate for display a second indicator, different from the first indicator, that represents temporary favorite channels;

in response to a plurality of identical commands from the user, sequentially tune to each channel in the favorite channel flipping sequence without tuning to channels not in the favorite channel flipping sequence; and

automatically remove the second channel from the temporary favorite channels list.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to access a list of preexisting favorite channels stored on the user equipment device, wherein the favorite channel flipping sequence additionally comprises the preexisting favorite channels.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user request to tune to a favorite channel; and

in response to receiving the user request to tune to a favorite channel, automatically tune to a channel in the favorite channel flipping sequence.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receiving the user request to tune to a favorite channel, automatically pre-tune a third channel on a secondary tuner, wherein the third channel is another channel in the favorite channel flipping sequence.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive user indication to delete a first preexisting favorite channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence; and

in response to receiving user indication to delete a first preexisting favorite channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence, delete the first preexisting favorite channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

access media guidance application data relating to the second channel; and

determine, from the accessed media guidance application data, an end time of a program currently being displayed on the second channel; and

wherein the control circuitry configured to automatically remove the second channel is further configured to automatically remove the second channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence after the end time of the program.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive user indication to unmark the second channel as a temporary favorite channel;

in response to receiving the user indication to unmark the second channel as a temporary favorite channel, remove the second channel from the favorite channel flipping sequence; and

display an unmarked icon.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

generate for display a list of channels;

generate for display a favorite column, where an indication in the favorite column next to the second channel indicates the second channel is in the favorite channel flipping sequence; and

generate for display a marked column, where an indication in the marked column next to the second channel indicates the second channel has been marked as a temporary favorite channel.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of identical commands comprise one of channel up and channel down commands.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein control circuitry configured to receive the user indication is further configured to receive a time period associated with the second channel, and wherein the control circuitry configured to automatically remove the second channel is further configured to automatically remove the second channel in response to determining the time period has expired.