Managing favorite channels

• US 20040040039A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bernier, Nicklas P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A system is described that provides for scrolling among favorite channels with a remote control device, preferably through user interaction with channel keys. Some embodiments also provide for enhanced management of favorite channels.

Claims

1. A method for scrolling through favorite channels with a remote control device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first keypress indication associated with commencing a display favorites mode; and

responsive to receiving the first keypress indication, commencing the display favorites mode in which a user is enabled to scroll among favorite channels in both channel number directions.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of receiving a second keypress indication, similar to the first keypress indication, and responsively exiting from the display favorites mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of receiving the first keypress indication and the second keypress indication are responsive to the user activating a favorites button located on a remote control device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving a first keypress indication and a second keypress indication are responsive to the user activating a display favorites button located on a remote control device.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of, responsive to commencing the display favorites mode, presenting favorites symbols in proximity to the favorite channels presented in an interactive program guide screen.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the favorite channels presented in the interactive program guide screen is highlighted.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of, responsive to commencing the display favorites mode, presenting a favorites symbol in proximity to a media content instance presentation screen associated with the favorite channel that is tuned to and displayed in response to commencing the display favorites mode.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of scrolling to a next higher numbered favorite channel in response to receiving a channel up keypress indication.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of scrolling to a next lower numbered favorite channel in response to receiving a channel down keypress indication.

10. The method of claim 1, further including the step of providing a user interface screen when more than one favorites category exists, wherein a message in the user interface screen prompts the user to select a favorites category before commencing the display favorites mode, wherein responsive to the selection, the display favorites mode commences.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of receiving an alphanumeric keypress indication a defined threshold duration after receiving the first keypress indication, wherein the alphanumeric keypress indication is associated with a favorites category.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein responsive to receiving the first keypress indication and the alphanumeric keypress indication, the display favorites mode that commences is associated with the favorites category.

13. A method for scrolling through favorite channels with a remote control device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first keypress indication associated with commencing a display favorites mode;

responsive to receiving the first keypress indication, commencing the display favorites mode in which a user is enabled to scroll among favorite channels in both channel number directions, further including the steps of scrolling to a next higher numbered favorite channel in response to receiving a channel up keypress indication, further including the steps of scrolling to a next lower numbered favorite channel in response to receiving a channel down keypress indication; and

responsive to commencing the display favorites mode, presenting favorites symbols in proximity to the favorite channels presented in an interactive program guide screen.

14. A method for adding and deleting favorite channels, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first keypress indication associated with adding a favorite channel to a favorite channel list that is transparent to a user; and

responsive to the first keypress indication, adding the favorite channel to the favorite channel list.

15. The method of claim 14, further including the steps of deleting the favorite channel by receiving a second keypress indication associated with deleting the favorite channel from the favorite channel list, wherein the favorite channel list is transparent to the user.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of presenting a user interface screen that includes a message that advises a user that a keypress corresponding to the second keypress indication will result in the deletion of a favorite channel, wherein the user interface further provides the user with options that include at least one of continuing to proceed with the deletion, disregarding the last keypress, adding to another favorites channel category, and deleting from another favorites channel category.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second keypress indication results from a user activating a favorites button for a sustained duration.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second keypress indication results from a user activating an add/delete favorites button.

19. The method of claim 15, further including the step of presenting the favorite channel as a highlighted entry in an interactive program guide screen corresponding to a time of receiving the second keypress indication and to a time of deleting the favorite channel from the favorite channel list.

20. The method of claim 15, further including the step of presenting a media content instance presentation on a screen display associated with the favorite channel corresponding to a time of receiving the second keypress indication and to a time of deleting the favorite channel from the favorite channel list.

21. The method of claim 14, further including the step of presenting the favorite channel as a highlighted entry in an interactive program guide screen corresponding to a time of receiving the first keypress indication and to a time of adding the favorite channel to the favorite channel list.

22. The method of claim 14, further including the step of presenting a media content instance presentation on a screen display associated with the favorite channel corresponding to a time of receiving the first keypress indication and to a time of adding the favorite channel to the favorite channel list.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the first keypress indication results from a user activating a favorites button for a sustained duration.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the first keypress indication results from a user activating an add/delete favorites button.

25. The method of claim 14, further including the step of receiving an alphanumeric keypress indication a defined threshold duration after receiving the first keypress indication, wherein the alphanumeric keypress indication is associated with a favorites category.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein responsive to receiving the first keypress indication and the alphanumeric keypress indication, the channel list the favorite channel is added to is associated with the favorites category.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the steps of receiving and adding occur while in a display favorites mode.

28. The method of claim 14, further including the step of presenting feedback to the user when a favorite channel is successfully added to the favorite channel list.

29. The method of claim 14, further including the step of providing a user interface screen when more than one favorites category exists and the first keypress indication is not followed after a defined threshold an alphanumeric keypress indication associated with a favorites channel category, wherein the user interface screen instructs the user to select a favorites category.

30. A method for adding and deleting favorite channels, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first keypress indication associated with adding a favorite channel to a favorite channel list that is transparent to a user;

responsive to the first keypress indication, adding the favorite channel to the favorite channel list; and

presenting the favorite channel as a highlighted entry in an interactive program guide screen corresponding to a time of receiving the first keypress indication and to a time of adding the favorite channel to the favorite channel list.

31. A system for scrolling through favorite channels with a remote control device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

processor configured with the logic to receive a first keypress indication associated with commencing a display favorites mode in which a user is enabled to scroll among favorite channels in both channel number directions.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a second keypress indication, similar to the first keypress indication, and responsively exit from the display favorites mode.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive the first keypress indication and the second keypress indication responsive to the user activating a favorites button located on a remote control device.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive the first keypress indication and the second keypress indication responsive to the user activating a display favorites button located on a remote control device.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to commencing the display favorites mode, present favorites symbols in proximity to the favorite channels presented in an interactive program guide screen.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to highlight one of the favorite channels presented in the interactive program guide screen.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to commencing the display favorites mode, present a favorites symbol in proximity to a media content instance presentation screen associated with the favorite channel that is tuned to and displayed in response to commencing the display favorites mode.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scroll to a next higher numbered favorite channel in response to receiving a channel up keypress indication.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scroll to a next lower numbered favorite channel in response to receiving a channel down keypress indication.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a user interface screen when more than one favorites category exists, wherein a message in the user interface screen prompts the user to select a favorites category before commencing the display favorites mode, wherein responsive to the selection, the display favorites mode commences.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive an alphanumeric keypress indication a defined threshold duration after receiving the first keypress indication, wherein the alphanumeric keypress indication is associated with a favorites category.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the first keypress indication and the alphanumeric keypress indication, to associate the display favorites mode that commences with the favorites category.

43. A system for scrolling through favorites display channels with a remote control device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to receive a first keypress indication associated with commencing a display favorites mode, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the first keypress indication, commence the display favorites mode in which a user is enabled to scroll among favorite channels in both channel number directions, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scroll to a next higher numbered favorite channel in response to receiving a channel up keypress indication, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scroll to a next lower numbered favorite channel in response to receiving a channel down keypress indication, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to commencing the display favorites mode, present favorites symbols in proximity to the favorite channels presented in an interactive program guide screen.

44. A system for adding and deleting favorite channels, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to receive a first keypress indication associated with adding a favorite channel to a favorite channel list that is transparent to a user, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to the first keypress indication, add the favorite channel to the favorite channel list.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to delete the favorite channel by receiving a second keypress indication associated with deleting the favorite channel from the favorite channel list, wherein the favorite channel list is transparent to the user.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to present a user interface screen that includes a message that advises a user that a keypress corresponding to the second keypress indication will result in the deletion of a favorite channel, wherein the user interface further provides the user with options that include at least one of continuing to proceed with the deletion, disregarding the last keypress, adding to another favorite channel category, and deleting from another favorite channel category.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the second keypress indication results from a user activating a favorites button for a sustained duration.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the second keypress indication results from a user activating an add/delete favorites button.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to present the favorite channel as a highlighted entry in an interactive program guide screen corresponding to a time of receiving the second keypress indication and to a time of deleting the favorite channel from the favorite channel list.

50. The system of claim 45, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to present a media content instance presentation on a screen display associated with the favorite channel corresponding to a time of receiving the second keypress indication and to a time of deleting the favorite channel from the favorite channel list.

51. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to present the favorite channel as a highlighted entry in an interactive program guide screen corresponding to a time of receiving the first keypress indication and to a time of adding the favorite channel to the favorite channel list.

52. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to present a media content instance presentation on a screen display associated with the favorite channel corresponding to a time of receiving the first keypress indication and to a time of adding the favorite channel to the favorite channel list.

53. The system of claim 44, wherein the first keypress indication results from a user activating a favorites button for a sustained duration.

54. The system of claim 44, wherein the first keypress indication results from a user activating an add/delete favorites button.

55. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive an alphanumeric keypress indication a defined threshold duration after receiving the first keypress indication, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to associate the alphanumeric keypress indication with a favorites category.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the first keypress indication and the alphanumeric keypress indication, add the favorite channel to the favorite channel list associated with the favorites category.

57. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive the first keypress indication and add to and delete from the favorite channel list while in a display favorites mode.

58. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to present feedback to the user when a favorite channel is successfully added to the favorite channel list.

59. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a user interface screen when more than one favorites category exists and the first keypress indication is not followed after a defined threshold an alphanumeric keypress indication associated with a favorites channel category, wherein the user interface screen instructs the user to select a favorites category.

60. A system for adding favorites channels, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to receive a first keypress indication associated with adding a favorite channel to a favorite channel list that is transparent to a user, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to the first keypress indication, add the favorite channel to the favorite channel list, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to present the favorite channel as a highlighted entry in an interactive program guide screen corresponding to a time of receiving the first keypress indication and to a time of adding the favorite channel to the favorite channel list.

61. A remote control device comprising:

a first button associated with adding and deleting favorite channels;

a second button associated with viewing favorite channels; and

a processor configured with logic to add a favorite channel to a favorite channel list responsive to receiving a keypress to the first button, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to delete a favorite channel from a favorite channel list responsive to receiving a keypress to the first button, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to view favorite channels in at least one of an interactive program guide screen and a media content instance presentation screen responsive to receiving a keypress to the second button.