Systems and methods for providing media guidance planners

• US 20080059884A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GuideWorks, LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael, Craner, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,281,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/721
• 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: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing media planners for planning a user'"'"'s media content viewing activities are provided. The media planner may include an interactive grid of content with scheduled viewing, recording, or reminders set within a user-selectable time window. The media planner may prioritize content within the planner grid and automatically resolve conflicts when the number of available tuners within the user equipment device has been exceeded. Programs matching a user'"'"'s viewing interests may also be automatically recorded in the user'"'"'s absence. Coming-soon announcements may be received for programming outside the current program schedule window. Conditional media guidance application functions may be scheduled based on preliminary availability and attribute data associated with a coming-soon asset.

Claims

1. A method for executing a conditional media guidance application function on a media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, the method comprising:

receiving program schedule data, wherein the program schedule data is associated with media content available within a current program schedule window;

receiving anticipated availability information for a media content selection available outside the current program schedule window;

displaying an interactive element for the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, wherein the interactive element comprises at least some of the received anticipated availability information;

scheduling a conditional media guidance application function relating to the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, the conditional media guidance application function conditioned on at least one attribute of the media content selection;

determining when the media content selection enters the current program schedule window;

confirming the value of the at least one attribute after the media content selection has entered the current program schedule window; and

in response to confirming the value of the at least one attribute, executing the conditional media guidance application function.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining when the media content selection enters the current program schedule window comprises accessing a plurality of unique program identifiers associated with media content in the current program schedule window.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining when the at least one media content selection enters the current program schedule window further comprises comparing a unique program identifier associated with the media content selection to the plurality of unique program identifiers.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window comprises a broadcast media content selection, and the anticipated availability information comprises an anticipated broadcast date.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window comprises an on-demand media content selection, and the anticipated availability information comprises an anticipated release date.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive element is selected from the group consisting of an interactive advertisement and an interactive listing.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying an indication of the reliability of the anticipated availability information in the displayed interactive element.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the indication of the reliability of the anticipated availability information comprises an icon.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the conditional media guidance application function is selected from the group consisting of scheduling a recording of the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, recording the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, setting a reminder for the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, tuning the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, displaying the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, and ordering the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one attribute is selected from the group consisting of a user rating, a network popularity, an MPAA rating, a television rating, a broadcast date, a broadcast time, a release date, a release time, an actor, a cast member, a director, an access price, and a format type.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window comprises a sporting event or a sporting tournament, and the at least one attribute is selected from the group consisting of a team appearing in the sporting event or the sporting tournament and an athlete appearing in the sporting event or the sporting tournament.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving updated anticipated availability information; and

automatically updating the displayed anticipated availability information in the interactive element in response to receiving the updated anticipated availability information.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises a complex logic expression including the at least one attribute of the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at least one content control flag associated with the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window;

saving the at least one content control flag; and

enforcing at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection, wherein the copyright restriction is defined, at least in part, by the at least one content control flag.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein enforcing at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection comprises prohibiting copying of the media content selection.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein enforcing at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection comprises prohibiting recording of the media content selection.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein enforcing at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection comprises prohibiting editing of the media content selection.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein enforcing at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection comprises prohibiting retransmission of the media content selection.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving anticipated availability information for a media content selection available outside the current program schedule window comprises receiving anticipated availability information for a media content package comprising at least two media content selections.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising scheduling a first conditional media guidance application function relating to a first media content selection in the media content package and scheduling a second conditional media guidance application function relating to a second media content selection in the media content package, wherein the first and second conditional media guidance application functions are different functions.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving anticipated availability information for a media content selection available outside the current program schedule window comprises receiving an estimated availability date.

22. A system for executing a conditional media guidance application function on a media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, the system comprising:

memory to store program schedule data;

a display device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive the program schedule data, wherein the program schedule data is associated with media content available within a current program schedule window;

receive anticipated availability information for a media content selection available outside the current program schedule window;

display, on the display device, an interactive element for the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, wherein the interactive element comprises at least some of the received anticipated availability information;

schedule a conditional media guidance application function relating to the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, the conditional media guidance application function conditioned on at least one attribute of the media content selection;

determine when the media content selection enters the current program schedule window;

confirm the value of the at least one attribute after the media content selection has entered the current program schedule window; and

in response to confirming the value of the at least one attribute, execute the conditional media guidance application function.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine when the media content selection enters the current program schedule window by accessing a plurality of unique program identifiers associated with media content in the current program schedule window.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine when the at least one media content selection enters the current program schedule window further by comparing a unique program identifier associated with the media content selection to the plurality of unique program identifiers.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window comprises a broadcast media content selection, and the anticipated availability information comprises an anticipated broadcast date.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window comprises an on-demand media content selection, and the anticipated availability information comprises an anticipated release date.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the interactive element is selected from the group consisting of an interactive advertisement and an interactive listing.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display an indication of the reliability of the anticipated availability information in the displayed interactive element.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the indication of the reliability of the anticipated availability information comprises an icon.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the conditional media guidance application function is selected from the group consisting of scheduling a recording of the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, recording the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, setting a reminder for the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, tuning the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, displaying the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window, and ordering the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein the at least one attribute is selected from the group consisting of a user rating, a network popularity, an MPAA rating, a television rating, a broadcast date, a broadcast time, a release date, a release time, an actor, a cast member, a director, an access price, and a format type.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window comprises a sporting event or a sporting tournament, and the at least one attribute is selected from the group consisting of a team appearing in the sporting event or the sporting tournament and an athlete appearing in the sporting event or the sporting tournament.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive updated anticipated availability information; and

automatically update the displayed anticipated availability information in the interactive element in response to receiving the updated anticipated availability information.

34. The method of claim 22 wherein the condition comprises a complex logic expression including the at least one attribute of the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window.

35. The system of claim 22 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive at least one content control flag associated with the media content selection available outside the current program schedule window;

save the at least one content control flag; and

enforce at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection, wherein the copyright restriction is defined, at least in part, by the at least one content control flag.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the control circuitry is configured to enforce at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection by prohibiting copying of the media content selection.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the control circuitry is configured to enforce at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection by prohibiting recording of the media content selection.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein the control circuitry is configured to enforce at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection by prohibiting editing of the media content selection.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein the control circuitry is configured to enforce at least one copyright restriction on the media content selection by prohibiting retransmission of the media content selection.

40. The system of claim 22 wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive anticipated availability information for a media content package comprising at least two media content selections.

41. The system of claim 40 further wherein the control circuitry is further configured to schedule a first conditional media guidance application function relating to a first media content selection in the media content package and schedule a second conditional media guidance application function relating to a second media content selection in the media content package, wherein the first and second conditional media guidance application functions are different functions.

42. The system of claim 22 wherein the received anticipated availability information comprises an estimated availability date.