System and method for providing a list of video-on-demand programs

• US 9,973,817 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Knee, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tilahun, Alazar
• Application Number:
  US12/827,186
• Time in Patent Office: 2,876 Days
• Field of Search: 725 38- 61, 725 87-104
• 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 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/472 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 21/4755 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

A list of video-on-demand (VOD) programs based on viewer selections is provided. VOD programs may be marked with a mark indicating the level of viewer interest. In one embodiment, a list of VOD programs may be displayed that includes or excludes programs having a particular mark, or sorts programs based on the marks. In another embodiment, a list of VOD programs may be displayed based on availability times. In yet another embodiment, after a viewer has played back a VOD program, a list of related VOD programs may be automatically displayed.

Claims

1. A method for providing a list of video-on-demand programs to a viewer, the method comprising:

receiving a viewer request to initiate playback of a video;

requesting the viewer-requested video from a video-on-demand server;

receiving a video stream corresponding to the viewer-requested video from the video-on-demand server;

generating a display of the video stream for the viewer;

determining that playback of the viewer-requested video has reached a particular play position;

determining at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video;

determining, based on a profile of the viewer, a level of interest associated with each identifier of a plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs;

determining a subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs based on the determined level of interest associated with each identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

automatically, independently of receiving a viewer request, generating for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs in response to determining that the playback of the viewer-requested video has reached the particular play position, wherein each of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of identifiers is simultaneously displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs to be displayed in video-on-demand program order.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewer request is a first viewer request, the viewer-requested video is a first video, the video stream is a first video stream, and further comprising:

receiving a second viewer request to initiate playback of a second video from the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs;

requesting the second video from the video-on-demand server;

receiving a second video stream corresponding to the second video from the video-on-demand server; and

generating a display of the second video stream.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewer request is a first viewer request, and further comprising receiving a second viewer request to mark at least one program of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs with one of a first mark indicative of a program of interest to the viewer and a second mark indicative of a program not of interest to the viewer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video based on the viewer-requested video.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video is responsive to the playback of the viewer-requested video reaching the particular play position.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video comprises receiving a viewer selection of the viewer-requested video from a first plurality of videos; and

the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video comprises a second plurality of videos different from the first plurality of videos.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular play position is specified relative to an end of the viewer-requested video.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the particular play position is independent of at least one of duration and an identity of the viewer-requested video.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular play position comprises an end of the viewer-requested video.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically generating for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs comprises generating for display the subset of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs without receiving a viewer request for programs related to the viewer-requested video.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs are automatically generated for display without receiving a request from the viewer further to the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs are automatically generated for display independently of any input received from the viewer further to the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that playback of the viewer-requested video has reached a particular play position is performed while the viewer-requested video is being played back.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs comprises:

comparing the level of interest associated with each identifier of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs with a pre-defined level of interest.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs comprises a plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs that are related to the viewer requested video.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one identifier comprises determining at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video and that includes at least one identifier with which the viewer has previously interacted.

18. A system for providing a list of video-on-demand programs to a viewer, the system comprising:

processing circuitry operative to;

receive a viewer request to initiate playback of a video;

request the viewer-requested video from a video-on-demand server;

receive a video stream corresponding to the viewer-requested video from the video-on-demand server;

generate a display of the video stream for the viewer;

determine that playback of the viewer-requested video has reached a particular play position;

determine at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video;

determining, based on a profile of the viewer, a level of interest associated with each identifier of a plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs;

determining a subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs based on the determined level of interest associated with each identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

automatically, independently of receiving a viewer request, generating for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs in response to determine that the playback of the viewer-requested video has reached the particular play position, wherein each of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of identifiers is simultaneously displayed.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is operative to cause the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs to be displayed in video-on-demand program order.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the viewer request is a first viewer request, the viewer-requested video is a first video, the video stream is a first video stream, and wherein the processing circuitry is further operative to:

receive a second viewer request to initiate playback of a second video from the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs related to the first video;

request the second video from the video-on-demand server;

receive a second video stream corresponding to the second video from the video-on-demand server; and

generate a display of the second video stream.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the viewer request is a first viewer request, and wherein the processing circuitry is further operative to receive a second viewer request to mark at least one program of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs with one of a first mark indicative of a program of interest to the viewer and a second mark indicative of a program not of interest to the viewer.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to select the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video based on the viewer-requested video.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video responsive to the playback of the viewer-requested video reaching the particular play position.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the processing circuitry is operative to receive the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video by being further operative to receive a viewer selection of the viewer-requested video from a first plurality of videos; and

the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video comprises a second plurality of videos different from the first plurality of videos.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the particular play position is specified relative to an end of the viewer-requested video.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the particular play position is independent of at least one of duration and an identity of the viewer-requested video.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the particular play position comprises an end of the viewer-requested video.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is operative to automatically generate for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs by being operative to generate for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs without receiving a viewer request for programs related to the viewer-requested video.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs are automatically generated for display without receiving a request from the viewer further to the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs are automatically generated for display independently of any input received from the viewer further to the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is configured to perform the determination that playback of the viewer-requested video has reached a particular play position while the viewer-requested video is being played back.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is operative, when determining the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs, to:

compare the level of interest associated with each identifier of the second plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs with a pre-defined level of interest.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs comprises a plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs that are related to the viewer requested video.

34. The system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry, when determining the at least one identifier, is operative to determine at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video and that includes at least one identifier with which the viewer has previously interacted.