Broadcast content resume reminder
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- activating, by a television receiver, a timer in response to detection of a channel change event during a commercial break from a channel associated with particular programming to a different channel;
determining, by the television receiver, a duration for the timer, wherein the duration is determined based on at least one of a type of the particular programming or a geographic region of service of the channel associated with the particular programming;
outputting, by the television receiver for presentation by a display device, an interface in response to expiration of the timer that indicates an upcoming ending of the commercial break and continuation in broadcast of the particular programming; and
outputting, by the television receiver for presentation by the display device, the particular programming in response to user-selection of a particular icon within the interface.
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Abstract
A service configured to or for reminding a television viewer what or which particular programming they were watching prior to surfing other programming when a commercial break occurs during the particular programming. An option may be made available to the television viewer prior to the end of the commercial break that allows the television viewer to return to watching the particular programming, so that the television viewer does not unintentionally miss any content associated with the particular programming.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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activating, by a television receiver, a timer in response to detection of a channel change event during a commercial break from a channel associated with particular programming to a different channel; determining, by the television receiver, a duration for the timer, wherein the duration is determined based on at least one of a type of the particular programming or a geographic region of service of the channel associated with the particular programming; outputting, by the television receiver for presentation by a display device, an interface in response to expiration of the timer that indicates an upcoming ending of the commercial break and continuation in broadcast of the particular programming; and outputting, by the television receiver for presentation by the display device, the particular programming in response to user-selection of a particular icon within the interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13)
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9. A television receiver, comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more tuners; and a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; detect, during a commercial break in particular programming, a viewer-initiated channel change event from a channel associated with the particular programming to a different channel; count the number of channel changes within a predetermined period of time during the commercial break; compare the number of channel changes within the predetermined period of time to a channel change threshold; upon determining that the number of channel changes within the predetermined period of time exceeds the channel change threshold, determine that the viewer has entered a channel surf mode; and in response to determining that the viewer has entered the channel surf mode, output for presentation by a display device an interface that indicates an upcoming end to the commercial break and that provides an icon that when selected switches back to the channel associated with the particular programming. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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detecting, by a television receiver, during a commercial break in particular programming, a viewer-initiated channel change event from a channel associated with the particular programming to a different channel; counting, by the television receiver, the number of channel changes within a predetermined period of time during the commercial break; comparing, by the television receiver, the number of channel changes within the predetermined period of time to a channel change threshold; upon determining that the number of channel changes within the predetermined period of time exceeds the channel change threshold, determining, by the television receiver, that the viewer has entered a channel surf mode; and in response to determining that the viewer has entered the channel surf mode, outputting for presentation, by the television receiver and via a display device, an interface that indicates an upcoming end to the commercial break and that provides an icon that when selected switches back to the channel associated with the particular programming. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification