Tile based media content selection

• US 8,887,202 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MobiTV Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Hunter, Kirsten, Chan, Christopher, Shenoy, Vasanth, Collette, James, Chung, Do H., Billing, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): EKPO, NNENNA NGOZI
• Application Number:
  US13/053,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20110231878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/40, 725/43, 725/48, 725/59
• US Class Current: 725/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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 21/4622 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Mechanisms are provided for allowing a user to dynamically manage rich media content in an efficient and effective manner. Tiles including media content, personalized video selections, content pack upgrades, and promotions for featured content are presented to a user. Each tile may include calls to view, purchase, discuss, rate, review, or read about associated content. Tiles may be presented as still images, logos, text, or live video. Multiple tiles may be manipulated using keyboard, mouse, touchpad, and/or touchscreen movements, motions, and gestures. In particular examples, an overlay provided on top of a tile mechanism provides a user with additional navigation and management options.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving media content information corresponding to a plurality of live video streams from a plurality of content providers;

identifying user characteristics information;

selecting a first piece of content using the user characteristics information, wherein the first piece of content is selected based on bid amounts from the plurality of content providers, and wherein the first piece of content is selected based on content popularity;

generating a first tile corresponding to the first piece of content, the first tile including a first option to playback a media stream corresponding to the first piece of content, a second option to view program information corresponding to the first piece of content, and a third option to rate the first piece of content; and

presenting the first tile to the user on a display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first piece of content has the highest bid for a demographic corresponding to the user characteristics information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first piece of content is a television program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first piece of content is a commercial.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein media content information further corresponds to a plurality of on demand videos.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user selection of the first option corresponding to the first tile.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising presenting a live video stream corresponding to the first piece of content to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a second piece of content using the user characteristics information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating a second tile corresponding to the second piece of content.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting third piece of content using the user characteristics information.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a third tile corresponding to a third piece of content.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising presenting the first tile, the second tile, and the third tile to the user simultaneously.

13. A system, comprising:

an interface operable to receive media content information corresponding to a plurality of live video streams from a plurality of content providers;

a processor operable to identify user characteristics information, select a first piece of content using the user characteristics information, wherein the first piece of content is selected based on bid amounts from the plurality of content providers, and wherein the first piece of content is selected based on content popularity, and generate a first tile corresponding to the first piece of content, the first tile including a first option to playback a media stream corresponding to the first piece of content, a second option to view program information corresponding to the first piece of content, and a third option to rate the first piece of content; and

wherein the first tile is presented to the user on a display.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first piece of content has the highest bid for a demographic corresponding to the user characteristics information.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first piece of content is a television program.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first piece of content is a commercial.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising:

computer code for receiving media content information corresponding to a plurality of live video streams from a plurality of content providers;

computer code for identifying user characteristics information;

computer code for selecting a first piece of content using the user characteristics information, wherein the first piece of content is selected based on bid amounts from the plurality of content providers and wherein the first piece of content is selected based on content popularity;

computer code for generating a first tile corresponding to the first piece of content, the first tile including a first option to playback a media stream corresponding to the first piece of content, a second option to view program information corresponding to the first piece of content, and a third option to rate the first piece of content;

computer code for presenting the first tile to the user on a display.