Systems and methods for generating shadows for a media guidance application based on content

• US 9,729,927 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Nichols, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAIG, SAHAR A
• Application Number:
  US14/528,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20160127762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 725 39, 725 40
• 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 21/45452 applied to an object-based stream, e.g. MPEG-4 streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• 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 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating shadows for a media guidance application are provided. A display of a media asset is generated that includes a media object with a shadow at an object shadow position. Object shadow information is stored corresponding to the shadow of the object and the object shadow position. In response to receiving a user request to access a media guidance application, a media guidance application display corresponding to the user request is selected. A guide shadow is generated based on the stored object shadow information and the media guidance application display. The guide shadow is combined with the media guidance application display for display to the user.

Claims

1. A method for generating shadows for a media guidance application, the method comprising:

generating a display of a media asset that includes a media object with a shadow at an object shadow position;

storing object shadow information corresponding to the shadow of the object and the object shadow position; and

in response to receiving a user request to access a media guidance application;

selecting a media guidance application display corresponding to the user request;

determining, based on the stored object shadow information, an angle corresponding to the stored object shadow position;

computing, based on the stored object shadow information, a shadow size ratio based on a ratio of a size of the object shadow and a size of the media object;

identifying a shape of the media guidance application display;

generating a guide shadow based on the determined angle, the computed shadow size ratio, the stored object shadow information and the shape of the media guidance application display; and

combining the guide shadow with the media guidance application display for display to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a change in a position of the shadow of the media object; and

updating the stored object shadow information including the object shadow position to reflect the detected change in position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the media guidance application display comprises:

identifying a media guidance function corresponding to the user request; and

retrieving one of a plurality of media guidance application displays that corresponds to the identified function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the media guidance application display comprises a plurality of media listings.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a simultaneous display of the media object with the shadow and the combined guide shadow with the media guidance application display, wherein the guide shadow appears at a same angle as the shadow of the media object.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising dynamically adjusting the guide shadow based on changes in the shadow of the object as playback of the media asset progresses.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media asset is a video and the media object is a character or landscape in the video.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving the stored object shadow information in response to receiving the user request.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving information from a source of the media asset that identifies a position of the shadow of the object at a later play position than a current play position in the media asset, wherein the guide shadow combined with the media guidance application display is presented at the later play position.

10. A system for generating shadows for a media guidance application, the system comprising:

storage circuitry configured to store object shadow information corresponding to a shadow of a media object and object shadow position; and

control circuitry configured to;

generate a display of a media asset that includes the media object with the shadow at the object shadow position; and

in response to receiving a user request to access a media guidance application;

select a media guidance application display corresponding to the user request;

determine, based on the stored object shadow information, an angle corresponding to the stored object shadow position;

compute, based on the stored object shadow information, a shadow size ratio based on a ratio of a size of the object shadow and a size of the media object;

identify a shape of the media guidance application display;

generate a guide shadow based on the determined angle, the computed shadow size ratio, the stored object shadow information and the shape of the media guidance application display; and

combine the guide shadow with the media guidance application display for display to the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

detect a change in a position of the shadow of the media object; and

update the stored object shadow information including the object shadow position to reflect the detected change in position.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to select the media guidance application display by:

identifying a media guidance function corresponding to the user request; and

retrieving one of a plurality of media guidance application displays that corresponds to the identified function.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the media guidance application display comprises a plurality of media listings.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate a simultaneous display of the media object with the shadow and the combined guide shadow with the media guidance application display, wherein the guide shadow appears at a same angle as the shadow of the media object.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to dynamically adjust the guide shadow based on changes in the shadow of the object as playback of the media asset progresses.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the media asset is a video and the media object is a character or landscape in the video.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to retrieve the stored object shadow information in response to receiving the user request.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive information from a source of the media asset that identifies a position of the shadow of the object at a later play position than a current play position in the media asset, wherein the guide shadow combined with the media guidance application display is presented at the later play position.