Media selection
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- displaying a user interface having a category selection tool for selecting a particular category from a plurality of categories;
receiving a user selection of a category of said plurality of categories, wherein said selected category includes a plurality of channels;
displaying a channel selection spectrum divided into a plurality of discrete intervals, each discrete interval of said plurality of discrete intervals representing a channel;
displaying a subset of discrete intervals of said plurality of discrete intervals corresponding to said plurality of channels of said selected category, wherein a channel selection mechanism enables a user to navigate through said subset of discrete intervals to browse said plurality of channels of said selected category;
receiving a user selection of a channel of said plurality of channels of said selected category; and
playing media content corresponding to a selected channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various technologies for selecting media (e.g., television media) are described. A media selection method displays a tool for selecting a category, such as a television genre, to a user. Upon receiving a user selection, the selected category having a number of channels is visually illustrated on a channel selection spectrum (e.g., a circular arc channel selection spectrum). For example, if the selected category is sports, then a number of channels corresponding to sports channels are highlighted on the channel selection spectrum. Moreover, in one example, the channel selection spectrum works in conjunction with a touchscreen device. Thus, a user can navigate with his or her finger to quickly select and browse the available channels. Also, optionally, non-highlighted channels are automatically bypassed to assist user navigation. Additionally, upon receiving user selection of a channel, in one example, the media content corresponding to the selected channel is played.
60 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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displaying a user interface having a category selection tool for selecting a particular category from a plurality of categories; receiving a user selection of a category of said plurality of categories, wherein said selected category includes a plurality of channels; displaying a channel selection spectrum divided into a plurality of discrete intervals, each discrete interval of said plurality of discrete intervals representing a channel; displaying a subset of discrete intervals of said plurality of discrete intervals corresponding to said plurality of channels of said selected category, wherein a channel selection mechanism enables a user to navigate through said subset of discrete intervals to browse said plurality of channels of said selected category; receiving a user selection of a channel of said plurality of channels of said selected category; and playing media content corresponding to a selected channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:
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displaying a selection mechanism for selecting a television genre of a plurality of television genres; receiving a user selection for a television genre of said plurality of television genres, wherein said television genre includes a plurality of channels; displaying a circular channel selection interface, wherein a channel spectrum occupies a portion of said circular channel selection interface, wherein said channel spectrum is divided into a number discrete sections, wherein at least one discrete section of said number of discrete sections correspond to a channel of said plurality of channels of said selected television genre, wherein said circular channel selection interface is configured to allow a user to easily navigate through said plurality of channels of said channel spectrum via radial motion based input; displaying a first channel of said selected television genre; receiving radial motion based input from a user; and in response to said radial motion based input, automatically transitioning to and displaying a second channel of said selected television genre. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An interface, comprising:
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a circular arc multimedia asset selection spectrum having a plurality of discrete intervals, wherein each discrete interval of said plurality of discrete intervals corresponds to a multimedia asset of a plurality of multimedia assets, wherein said circular arc multimedia asset selection spectrum is configured to receive radial motion based selection from a user, and wherein each multimedia asset of said plurality of multimedia assets are classifiable into a category of a plurality of categories; and a category selection component for selecting a category of said plurality of categories, wherein if a category of said plurality of categories is selected, then one or more discrete intervals corresponding to one or more multimedia assets classified under said selected category are highlighted, and wherein if a discrete interval of said plurality of intervals is not highlighted, then said non-highlighted discrete interval is automatically bypassed while radial motioned based selection is received from a user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification