USER INTERFACE FOR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS

• US 20140052450A1
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: CHEONG, Yuen-Keen, HATCH, Steven A., YOUNG, Hoi L., KOIVUNIEMI, Tapio I.
• Application Number:
  US13/587,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing a search interface for an electronic device including a tuner configured to tune the electronic device to receive scheduled programming content. A search query is received and one or more data sources including information about media content are searched based, at least in part, on the search query. The results of the search are presented on a user interface using a time-based axis and a time-independent axis.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user interface for a digitally-tunable electronic device configured to display scheduled programming content, the method comprising:

displaying, on the user interface, a plurality of content-independent tags, the plurality of content-independent tags comprising a first content-independent tag identifying a first content unit returned from a search; and

in response to receiving first input corresponding to the first content-independent tag, performing at least one action related to the first content unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input is voice input and wherein the first content-independent tag is configured to be responsive to the voice input.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second input, wherein a second content-independent tag of the plurality of content-independent tags is configured to be responsive to the second input; and

wherein performing the at least one action related to the first content unit comprises performing the at least one action based, at least in part, on the second input.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second input is voice input and wherein the second content-independent tag is configured to be responsive to the voice input.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the first input and receiving the second input comprises receiving the second input before receiving the first input.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the first content unit based on the first input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing at least one action related to the first content unit comprises tuning the electronic device to a channel to display scheduled programming for the first content unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content unit corresponds to a bundled service content unit comprising multiple search results, and wherein the performing at least one action related to the first content unit comprises displaying the multiple search results.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a plurality of voice commands with the user interface, wherein the plurality of voice commands includes a first voice command and a second voice command, wherein the first voice command invokes a first action and the second voice command invokes a second action, and wherein the first voice command and the second voice command are recognized by the electronic device irrespective of a particular screen displayed on the user interface.

10. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with a plurality instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, perform a method of providing a user interface for a digitally-tunable electronic device configured to display scheduled programming content, the method comprising:

displaying, on the user interface, a plurality of content-independent tags, the plurality of content-independent tags comprising a first content-independent tag identifying a first content unit returned from a search; and

in response to receiving first input corresponding to the first content-independent tag, performing at least one action related to the first content unit.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first input is voice input and wherein the first content-independent tag is configured to be responsive to the voice input.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving second input, wherein a second content-independent tag of the plurality of content-independent tags is configured to be responsive to the second input; and

wherein performing the at least one action related to the first content unit comprises performing the at least one action based, at least in part, on the second input.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the second input is voice input and wherein the second content-independent tag is configured to be responsive to the voice input.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the performing at least one action related to the first content unit comprises tuning the electronic device to a channel to display scheduled programming for the first content unit.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first content unit corresponds to a bundled service content unit comprising multiple search results, and wherein the performing at least one action related to the first content unit comprises displaying the multiple search results.

16. A digitally-tunable electronic device configured to display scheduled programming content, the electronic device comprising:

at least one processor programmed to;

display, on a user interface, a plurality of content-independent tags, the plurality of content-independent tags comprising a first content-independent tag identifying a first content unit returned from a search; and

in response to receiving first input corresponding to the first content-independent tag, perform at least one action related to the first content unit.

17. The digitally-tunable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first input is voice input and wherein the first content-independent tag is configured to be responsive to the voice input.

18. The digitally-tunable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to:

receive second input, wherein a second content-independent tag of the plurality of content-independent tags is configured to be responsive to the second input; and

wherein performing the at least one action related to the first content unit comprises performing the at least one action based, at least in part, on the second input.

19. The digitally-tunable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the performing at least one action related to the first content unit comprises tuning the electronic device to a channel to display scheduled programming for the first content unit.

20. The digitally-tunable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first content unit corresponds to a bundled service content unit comprising multiple search results, and wherein the performing at least one action related to the first content unit comprises displaying the multiple search results.