User-programmable channel store for video

• US 10,055,099 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Excalibur IP, LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Cafaro, Anthony, Schlacter, Paul Nathan, Stein, Bart Jacob, Stein, Robert Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ipakchi, Maryam M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramsey, Patrick R
• Application Number:
  US14/102,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20150074533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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 21/44222 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• 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 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image

Abstract

A system and method for providing a more relevant user viewing experience on a mobile device includes providing a video application providing access to a virtual video channel store with selectable tiles representing digital video content sources (channels). A user is able to select channels from the virtual channel store and interact with the selections within a graphical user interface that enhances the channel viewing experience.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing, on a touch screen of a mobile device, a screen portion of a graphical user interface, the screen portion displaying digital video content from at least one of one or more digital video content sources (channels);

providing, on the touch screen of the mobile device and adjacent the screen portion, a channel dock of the graphical user interface, the channel dock comprising;

navigational tools for manipulating the one or more digital video content sources (channels);

channel icons representing a selection of channels; and

an icon selectable for accessing a virtual channel store;

receiving, via the touch screen of the mobile device, user input comprising;

a selection of a first channel icon, in the channel dock, corresponding to a first channel; and

a selection of a second channel icon, in the channel dock, corresponding to a second channel;

wherein the first channel icon and the second channel icon are displayed in a first sequential order, in a first direction, relative to each other in the channel dock;

based upon the selection of the first channel icon and the selection of the second channel icon;

modifying the screen portion of the graphical user interface to display a grid view concurrently comprising;

a first row comprising two or more selectable tiles, corresponding to video content of the first channel, which are displayed along a first dimension of the graphical user interface, the first row occupying a first range of a second dimension of the graphical user interface; and

a second row comprising two or more selectable tiles, corresponding to video content of the second channel, which are displayed along the first dimension of the graphical user interface, the second row occupying a second range of the second dimension of the graphical user interface;

wherein the first row and the second row are displayed in the first sequential order, in a second direction, relative to each other in the second dimension of the graphical user interface, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to or the same as the second direction;

displaying, in the channel dock concurrently with the display of the first row and the second row in the grid view, a highlighted version of the first channel icon, a highlighted version of the second channel icon and a non-highlighted version of a third channel icon for which a selection was not received;

wherein at least one of the highlighted version of the first channel icon is displayed outside the first range of the second dimension or the highlighted version of the second channel icon is displayed outside the second range of the second dimension;

receiving, while the grid view is displayed and via the touch screen of the mobile device, user input comprising a dragging and dropping of at least one of the first channel icon or the second channel icon in the channel dock;

modifying the channel dock to display the channel icons re-ordered according to the dragging and dropping, wherein based upon the modifying the channel dock, the first channel icon and the second channel icon are displayed in a second sequential order, in the first direction, relative to each other in the channel dock, wherein the second sequential order is different than the first sequential order;

modifying the grid view to display the rows re-ordered according to the dragging and dropping, wherein based upon the modifying the grid view, the first row and the second row are displayed in the second sequential order, in the second direction, relative to each other;

receiving, via the touch screen of the mobile device, user input comprising a selection of the icon for accessing the virtual channel store;

presenting, on the touch screen of the mobile device, the virtual channel store as a grid of semi-transparent selectable channel tiles hovering over a screen of the mobile device and representing channels available in the virtual channel store, the grid comprising two or more columns of selectable channel tiles and two or more rows of selectable channel tiles,

the presenting comprising concurrently presenting for display, within the grid of semi-transparent selectable channel tiles hovering over the screen of the mobile device;

a first selectable channel tile, of the grid, concurrently presenting for display;

a branded icon identifying a third channel represented by the first selectable channel tile,

an information command icon,

a textual description of the third channel, and

a status icon indicating, via a first graphic, that the third channel is not selected for representation in the channel dock; and

a second selectable channel tile, of the grid, concurrently presenting for display;

a second branded icon identifying a fourth channel represented by the second selectable channel tile,

a second information command icon,

a second textual description of the fourth channel, and

a second status icon indicating, via a second graphic different than the first graphic, that the fourth channel is selected for representation in the channel dock;

responsive to receiving, via the touch screen of the mobile device, a command associated with the first selectable channel tile;

updating, on the touch screen of the mobile device, the channel dock to represent the third channel represented by the first selectable channel tile; and

updating, on the touch screen of the mobile device, the first selectable channel tile to present for display an updated status icon indicating, via the second graphic, that the third channel is selected for representation in the channel dock; and

responsive to receiving, via the touch screen of the mobile device, a second command associated with the second selectable channel tile;

updating, on the touch screen of the mobile device, the channel dock to not represent the fourth channel represented by the second selectable channel tile; and

updating, on the touch screen of the mobile device, the second selectable channel tile to present for display an updated second status icon indicating, via the first graphic, that the fourth channel is not selected for representation in the channel dock.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first direction is the same as the second direction.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising tracking one or more interactions with the channel dock.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising updating a user profile based upon the one or more interactions.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising providing content recommendations based upon the user profile.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the command comprises determining a gesture on the touch screen of the mobile device.

8. An information processing system, comprising:

a processor device; and

a memory operably coupled with the processor device, the memory having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising;

providing, on a touch screen of a device, a screen portion of a graphical user interface, the screen portion displaying digital video content from at least one of one or more digital video content sources (channels);

providing, on the touch screen of the device and adjacent the screen portion, a channel dock of the graphical user interface, the channel dock comprising;

navigational tools for manipulating the one or more digital video content sources (channels);

channel icons representing a selection of channels; and

an icon selectable for accessing a virtual channel store;

receiving, via the touch screen of the device, user input comprising;

a selection of a first channel icon, in the channel dock, corresponding to a first channel; and

a selection of a second channel icon, in the channel dock, corresponding to a second channel;

wherein the first channel icon and the second channel icon are displayed in a first sequential order, in a first direction, relative to each other in the channel dock;

based upon the selection of the first channel icon and the selection of the second channel icon;

modifying the screen portion of the graphical user interface to display a grid view concurrently comprising;

a first row comprising two or more selectable tiles, corresponding to video content of the first channel, which are displayed along a first dimension of the graphical user interface, the first row occupying a first range of a second dimension of the graphical user interface; and

a second row comprising two or more selectable tiles, corresponding to video content of the second channel, which are displayed along the first dimension of the graphical user interface, the second row occupying a second range of the second dimension of the graphical user interface;

wherein the first row and the second row are displayed in the first sequential order, in a second direction, relative to each other in the second dimension of the graphical user interface, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to or the same as the second direction;

displaying, in the channel dock concurrently with the display of the first row and the second row in the grid view, a highlighted version of the first channel icon, a highlighted version of the second channel icon and a non-highlighted version of a third channel icon for which a selection was not received;

wherein at least one of the highlighted version of the first channel icon is displayed outside the first range of the second dimension or the highlighted version of the second channel icon is displayed outside the second range of the second dimension;

receiving, while the grid view is displayed and via the touch screen of the device, user input comprising a dragging and dropping of at least one of the first channel icon or the second channel icon in the channel dock;

modifying the channel dock to display the channel icons re-ordered according to the dragging and dropping, wherein based upon the modifying the channel dock, the first channel icon and the second channel icon are displayed in a second sequential order, in the first direction, relative to each other in the channel dock, wherein the second sequential order is different than the first sequential order;

modifying the grid view to display the rows re-ordered according to the dragging and dropping, wherein based upon the modifying the grid view, the first row and the second row are displayed in the second sequential order, in the second direction, relative to each other;

receiving, via the touch screen of the device, user input comprising a selection of the icon for accessing the virtual channel store;

presenting, on the touch screen of the device, the virtual channel store as a grid of semi-transparent selectable channel tiles hovering over a screen of the device and representing channels available in the virtual channel store, the grid comprising two or more columns of selectable channel tiles and two or more rows of selectable channel tiles,

the presenting comprising concurrently presenting for display, within the grid of semi-transparent selectable channel tiles hovering over the screen of the device;

a first selectable channel tile, of the grid, concurrently presenting for display;

a branded icon identifying a third channel represented by the first selectable channel tile,

an information command icon,

a textual description of the third channel, and

a status icon indicating, via a first graphic, that the third channel is not selected for representation in the channel dock; and

a second selectable channel tile, of the grid, concurrently presenting for display;

a second branded icon identifying a fourth channel represented by the second selectable channel tile,

a second information command icon,

a second textual description of the fourth channel, and

a second status icon indicating, via a second graphic different than the first graphic, that the fourth channel is selected for representation in the channel dock;

responsive to receiving, via the touch screen of the device, a command associated with the first selectable channel tile;

updating, on the touch screen of the device, the channel dock to represent the third channel represented by the first selectable channel tile; and

updating, on the touch screen of the device, the first selectable channel tile to present for display an updated status icon indicating, via the second graphic, that the third channel is selected for representation in the channel dock; and

responsive to receiving, via the touch screen of the device, a second command associated with the second selectable channel tile;

updating, on the touch screen of the device, the channel dock to not represent the fourth channel represented by the second selectable channel tile; and

updating, on the touch screen of the device, the second selectable channel tile to present for display an updated second status icon indicating, via the first graphic, that the fourth channel is not selected for representation in the channel dock.

9. The information processing system of claim 8, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

10. The information processing system of claim 8, wherein the first direction is the same as the second direction.

11. The information processing system of claim 8, the method comprising tracking one or more interactions with the channel dock.

12. The information processing system of claim 11, the method comprising updating a user profile based upon the one or more interactions.

13. The information processing system of claim 12, the method comprising providing content recommendations based upon the user profile.

14. The information processing system of claim 8, wherein the receiving the command comprises determining a gesture on the touch screen of the device.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium with computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

providing, on a touch screen of a device, a screen portion of a graphical user interface, the screen portion displaying digital video content from at least one of one or more digital video content sources (channels);

providing, on the touch screen of the device and adjacent the screen portion, a channel dock of the graphical user interface, the channel dock comprising;

navigational tools for manipulating the one or more digital video content sources (channels);

channel icons representing a selection of channels; and

an icon selectable for accessing a virtual channel store;

receiving, via the touch screen of the device, user input comprising;

a selection of a first channel icon, in the channel dock, corresponding to a first channel; and

a selection of a second channel icon, in the channel dock, corresponding to a second channel;

wherein the first channel icon and the second channel icon are displayed in a first sequential order, in a first direction, relative to each other in the channel dock;

based upon the selection of the first channel icon and the selection of the second channel icon;

modifying the screen portion of the graphical user interface to display a grid view concurrently comprising;

a first row comprising two or more selectable tiles, corresponding to video content of the first channel, which are displayed along a first dimension of the graphical user interface, the first row occupying a first range of a second dimension of the graphical user interface; and

a second row comprising two or more selectable tiles, corresponding to video content of the second channel, which are displayed along the first dimension of the graphical user interface, the second row occupying a second range of the second dimension of the graphical user interface;

wherein the first row and the second row are displayed in the first sequential order, in a second direction, relative to each other in the second dimension of the graphical user interface, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to or the same as the second direction;

displaying, in the channel dock concurrently with the display of the first row and the second row in the grid view, a highlighted version of the first channel icon, a highlighted version of the second channel icon and a non-highlighted version of a third channel icon for which a selection was not received;

wherein at least one of the highlighted version of the first channel icon is displayed outside the first range of the second dimension or the highlighted version of the second channel icon is displayed outside the second range of the second dimension;

receiving, while the grid view is displayed and via the touch screen of the device, user input comprising a dragging and dropping of at least one of the first channel icon or the second channel icon in the channel dock;

modifying the channel dock to display the channel icons re-ordered according to the dragging and dropping, wherein based upon the modifying the channel dock, the first channel icon and the second channel icon are displayed in a second sequential order, in the first direction, relative to each other in the channel dock, wherein the second sequential order is different than the first sequential order;

modifying the grid view to display the rows re-ordered according to the dragging and dropping, wherein based upon the modifying the grid view, the first row and the second row are displayed in the second sequential order, in the second direction, relative to each other;

receiving, via the touch screen of the device, user input comprising a selection of the icon for accessing the virtual channel store;

presenting, on the touch screen of the device, the virtual channel store as a grid of semi-transparent selectable channel tiles hovering over a screen of the device and representing channels available in the virtual channel store, the grid comprising two or more columns of selectable channel tiles and two or more rows of selectable channel tiles,

the presenting comprising concurrently presenting for display, within the grid of semi-transparent selectable channel tiles hovering over the screen of the device;

a first selectable channel tile, of the grid, concurrently presenting for display;

a branded icon identifying a third channel represented by the first selectable channel tile,

an information command icon,

a textual description of the third channel, and

a status icon indicating, via a first graphic, that the third channel is not selected for representation in the channel dock; and

a second selectable channel tile, of the grid, concurrently presenting for display;

a second branded icon identifying a fourth channel represented by the second selectable channel tile,

a second information command icon,

a second textual description of the fourth channel, and

a second status icon indicating, via a second graphic different than the first graphic, that the fourth channel is selected for representation in the channel dock;

responsive to receiving, via the touch screen of the device, a command associated with the first selectable channel tile;

updating, on the touch screen of the device, the channel dock to represent the third channel represented by the first selectable channel tile; and

updating, on the touch screen of the device, the first selectable channel tile to present for display an updated status icon indicating, via the second graphic, that the third channel is selected for representation in the channel dock; and

responsive to receiving, via the touch screen of the device, a second command associated with the second selectable channel tile;

updating, on the touch screen of the device, the channel dock to not represent the fourth channel represented by the second selectable channel tile; and

updating, on the touch screen of the device, the second selectable channel tile to present for display an updated second status icon indicating, via the first graphic, that the fourth channel is not selected for representation in the channel dock.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first direction is the same as the second direction.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, the method comprising tracking one or more interactions with the channel dock.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, the method comprising updating a user profile based upon the one or more interactions.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, the method comprising providing content recommendations based upon the user profile.