Population of customized channels

• US 9,805,033 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax, Steven
• Application Number:
  US14/216,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20140372464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• 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: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method includes associating a channel with a profile, where the channel is configured for use with a client device. The client device detects the channel as a new customized channel based on the profile. A new customized channel icon configured to represent the new customized channel is generated. The new customized channel icon is displayed on a screen via the client device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a client device including a processor implemented in hardware, the client device configured to detect a channel request through an input device distinct from the client device and communicatively coupled to the client device, wherein the channel request includes identification of a channel associated with video content of a third party content provider, wherein the third party content provider is one of a plurality of distinct third party content providers that provide video content via the channel accessible by the client device; and

a platform server communicatively coupled to the client device, comprising;

an authentication module configured to detect a login or authentication action, wherein the login or authentication action is associated with at least the client device and a user account, and wherein the user account includes an account profile that stores user settings and paid content subscription information for the user account; and

a match module configured to;

match the channel request and the account profile with an existing customized channel;

generate a new customized channel associated with the account profile when a match is not found; and

modify the customized channel according to at least the account profile to make at least the user settings and the paid content subscription information of the account profile available within the customized channel,

wherein the user settings and the paid content subscription information of the account profile are used to modify a presentation of the video content of the third party content provider within the customized channel and to prioritize the video content of the third party content provider within the customized channel.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a channel store module within the platform server configured to track the existing channel.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a channel store module within the platform server configured to track the new customized channel.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the match module is further configured to compare the channel request with the existing channel.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the video content of the third party content provider includes at least one of music, video, still pictures, and gaming applications.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user settings include at least payment information associated with the user account.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user settings include at least user viewing data, and wherein the user viewing data includes previously viewed content on the client device.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a search module within the platform module configured to receive the channel request, wherein the channel request includes a textual, visual, or audible search for the channel.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a recommendation module within the platform server configured to recommend video content within the customized channel based on at least the user settings and the paid content subscription information.

10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

detecting, by a client device including a processor implemented in hardware, a channel request through an input device distinct from the client device and communicatively coupled to the client device, wherein the channel request includes identification of a channel associated with video content of a third party content provider, wherein the third party content provider is one of a plurality of distinct third party content providers that provide video content via the channel accessible by the client device;

detecting a login or authentication action, wherein the login or authentication action is associated with at least the client device and a user account, and wherein the user account includes an account profile that stores user settings and paid content subscription information for the user account;

matching the channel request and the account profile with an existing customized channel;

generating a new customized channel associated with the account profile when a match is not found; and

modifying the customized channel according to at least the account profile to make at least the user settings and the paid content subscription information of the account profile available within the customized channel,

wherein the user settings and the paid content subscription information of the account profile are used to modify a presentation of the video content of the third party content provider within the customized channel and to prioritize the video content of the third party content provider within the customized channel.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising tracking the existing channel within a channel store.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising tracking the new customized channel within a channel store.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the matching further comprises comparing the channel request with the existing channel.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the video content of the third party content provider includes at least one of music, video, still pictures, and gaming applications.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the user settings include at least payment information associated with the user account.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the user settings include at least user viewing data, and wherein the user viewing data includes previously viewed content on the client device.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving the channel request at a server, wherein the channel request includes a textual, visual, or audible search for the channel.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising recommending video content within the customized channel based on at least the user settings and the paid content subscription information.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, causes the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:

detecting, by a client device, a channel request through an input device distinct from the client device and communicatively coupled to the client device, wherein the channel request includes identification of a channel associated with video content of a third party content provider, wherein the third party content provider is one of a plurality of distinct third party content providers that provide video content via the channel accessible by the client device;

detecting a login or authentication action, wherein the login or authentication action is associated with at least the client device and a user account, and wherein the user account includes an account profile that stores user settings and paid content subscription information for the user account;

matching the channel request and the account profile with an existing customized channel;

generating a new customized channel associated with the account profile when a match is not found; and

modifying the customized channel according to at least the account profile to make at least the user settings and the paid content subscription information of the account profile available within the customized channel,

wherein the user settings and the paid content subscription information of the account profile are used to modify a presentation of the video content of the third party content provider within the customized channel and to prioritize the video content of the third party content provider within the customized channel.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, the operations further comprising tracking the new customized channel within a channel store.