Apparatus and method for navigating through media content

• US 10,701,450 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Selvaraj, Vijay Anand
• Primary Examiner(s): Alcon, Fernando
• Application Number:
  US14/894,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,589 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739

Abstract

A method for navigating through media content is described. The method (600) includes receiving (610) a media content stream, generating (620) a plurality of images associated with the media content stream after it is received, retrieving (630) information for a future media content stream, and providing (650) the information for the future media content stream along with the plurality of images for display along with the media content stream. The apparatus (300) includes an input signal receiver (302) that receives a media content stream, a video processor (310) that generates a plurality of images associated with the media content stream after it is received, a controller (314) retrieving information for a future media content stream that is available after the media content stream is received, and a display interface (315) providing the information for the future media content stream along with the plurality of images associated with the media content stream for display along with the media content stream.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a media content stream;

storing media content associated with the media content stream;

generating a plurality of images associated with the media content stream after it is received, by extracting still video frames from the stored media content, the plurality of images arranged in a visual timeline in order to navigate in the media content stream;

retrieving information for a future media content stream that is available after the media content stream is received; and

providing, on a same display screen window, the information for the future media content stream along with the plurality of images for display along with the media content stream, the future media content positioned at the end of the visual timeline, wherein the plurality of images associated with the stored media content is selectable on the same display screen window for navigating to a time in the visual timeline in the stored media content and the information for the future media content stream is also selectable on the same display screen window for providing additional information for the future media content stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least of one of the plurality of images represents a point in time in the received media content stream.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information for the future media content stream is text information from a program guide.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information for the future media content stream is an image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content stream is received from at least one of a broadcast content service provider or an internet content service provider.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of images are at least one of a thumbnail, a poster, and a still video image from a portion of the media content stream.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of images are arranged in a visual timeline in order to navigate in the media content stream.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information for the future media content stream includes a visual element for the future media content and is positioned at the end of the visual timeline.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of images includes an indication of a time associated with at least one of the media content program and actual time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising navigating in the media content stream in response to a user input using the plurality of images.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein navigating in the media content stream includes providing the media content stream for display from a point in the media content stream that was previously received in response to selecting a thumbnail from the plurality of thumbnails.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein navigating in the media content stream includes providing the media content stream from a point in the media content stream that is ahead of the point in time for the media content stream currently being provided in response to selecting a thumbnail from the plurality of thumbnails.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein navigating in the media content stream includes providing a video clip for the media content stream starting from a point in time associated with a thumbnail in place of the thumbnail in response to hovering over the thumbnail.

14. An apparatus comprising:

an input signal receiver that receives a media content stream;

a storage device configured to store media content associated with the received media content stream;

a video processor coupled to the input signal receiver, the video processor generating a plurality of images associated with the media content stream after it is received, by extracting still video frames from the stored media content, the plurality of images arranged in a visual timeline in order to navigate in the media content stream;

a controller coupled to the video processor, the controller retrieving information for a future media content stream that is available after the media content stream is received; and

a display interface coupled to the video processor, the display interface providing, on a same display screen window, the information for the future media content stream along with the plurality of images associated with the media content stream for display along with the media content stream, the future media content positioned at the end of the visual timeline, wherein the plurality of images associated with the stored media content is selectable on the same display screen window for navigating to a time in the visual timeline in the stored media content and the information for the future media content stream is also selectable on the same display screen window for providing additional information for the future media content stream.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least of one of the plurality of images represents a point in time in the received media content stream.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the video processor further extracts a visual element from the media content stream.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of images are arranged in a visual timeline in order to navigate in the media content stream.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of images includes an indication of a time associated with at least one of the media content program and actual time.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a user interface coupled to controller, the user interface receiving a user input representing navigating in the media content stream using the plurality of images.

32. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information for the future media content stream is text information from a program guide.

33. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information for the future media content stream is an image.

34. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the media content stream is received from at least one of a broadcast content service provider or an internet content service provider.

35. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of images are at least one of a thumbnail, a poster, and a still video image from a portion of the media content stream.

36. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information for the future media content stream includes a visual element for the future media content.

37. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user interface further provides the media content stream for display from a point in the media content stream that was previously received in response to selecting a thumbnail from the plurality of thumbnails.

38. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user interface further provides the media content stream from a point in the media content stream that is ahead of the point in time for the media content stream currently being provided in response to selecting a thumbnail from the plurality of thumbnails.

39. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user interface further provides a video clip for the media content stream starting from a point in time associated with a thumbnail in place of the thumbnail in response to hovering over the thumbnail.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a means for receiving a media content stream;

a means for storing media content associated with the received media content stream;

a means for generating a plurality of images associated with the media content stream after it is received, by extracting still video frames from the stored media content;

a means for retrieving information for a future media content stream that is available after the media content stream is received; and

a means for providing the information, on a same display screen window, for the future media content stream along with the plurality of images for display along with the media content stream, wherein the plurality of images associated with the stored media content is selectable on the same display screen window for navigating to a time in the visual timeline in the stored media content and the information for the future media content stream is also selectable on the same display screen window for providing additional information for the future media content stream.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least of one of the plurality of images represents a point in time in the received media content stream.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the information for the future media content stream is text information from a program guide.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the information for the future media content stream is an image.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the media content stream is received from at least one of a broadcast content service provider or an internet content service provider.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plurality of images are at least one of a thumbnail, a poster, and a still video image from a portion of the media content stream.

26. The apparatus claim 20, wherein the information for the future media content stream includes a visual element for the future media content.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of images includes an indication of a time associated with at least one of the media content program and actual time.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for navigating in the media content stream in response to a user input using the plurality of images.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for navigating in the media content stream includes providing the media content stream for display from a point in the media content stream that was previously received in response to selecting a thumbnail from the plurality of thumbnails.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the means for navigating in the media content stream includes providing the media content stream from a point in the media content stream that is ahead of the point in time for the media content stream currently being provided in response to selecting a thumbnail from the plurality of thumbnails.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the means for navigating in the media content stream includes providing a video clip for the media content stream starting from a point in time associated with a thumbnail in place of the thumbnail in response to hovering over the thumbnail.