System and method for enhanced video selection

• US 9,396,212 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible World Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Haberman, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Vy, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US11/081,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,144 Days
• Field of Search: 725/44, 725/46, 725/87, 725/32, 725/112, 725/52, 725/61, 725/105, 725/110, 725/25, 725/127, 725/91, 725/34, 725/9, 725/36, 715/500.1, 386/123, 707 3- 5, 707/104.1, 707/732, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/738 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/74 Browsing; Visualisation therefor end-user interfaces for requesting or interacting with video content, e.g. video on demand interfaces or electronic program guides, H04N21/472
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/73 using meta-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/47202 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 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 : Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for presenting video asset information to a viewer to assist the view in selecting a video asset for viewing. The video assets can be available from a plurality of different video asset sources, such as VOD (video on demand), PVR (personal video recorders) and broadcast (including over the air, cable, and satellite). Images from the video assets are displayed in a uniform manner, along with information about the video assets. The information includes data in a metadata category. The view can select one of the video assets for viewing, but also can navigate using metadata categories such as genre, actors, director etc. This allows a much easier and natural navigating and selection process for viewers.

Claims

1. A system to assist a user in selecting a video asset for viewing, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

present a first video asset to a user, the first video asset comprising metadata related to the first video asset;

receive from a client device a request for a collection of video assets available from a plurality of different content provider sources, each video asset of the collection comprising metadata in a metadata category, the metadata category selected from a set of metadata categories associated with the first video asset;

search the plurality of different content provider sources to determine the collection;

obtain the metadata associated with each of the video assets in the collection;

obtain personalization data comprising at least subscriber data and external data from a third party, the personalization data being stored in a personal profile associated with the user;

retrieve, based on the personalization data, at least one of clips and stills associated with the at least one of the video assets in the collection;

send to the client device the at least one of clips and stills and the metadata associated with the at the least one of the video assets in the collection; and

provide display interface with the at least one clips and still to the user to be presented based on the personalization data of the personal profile associated with the user to highlight aspects of the at least one of the video assets in the collection according to at least one genre preference indicated by the personalization data, thereby presenting the collection to the user to represent each of the video assets to appeal to the at least one genre preference.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one of clips and stills associated with each of the video assets in the collection comprises at least one image associated with each of the plurality of video assets.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one image comprises still clips, video clips, trailers, or combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the metadata category comprises actor, director, genre, sport, league, team, player, or school.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of content provider sources comprise video-on-demand (VOD), personal video recorder (PVR), contemporaneous broadcast video, future broadcast video, or internet-protocol networks.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the video asset is a future broadcast video, the processor configured to provide the user with an option of setting an alert to remind the user at a time proximate when the video asset can be viewed.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to indicate to the user that the video asset for viewing requires a format conversion in order to be viewed.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to provide to the user a selection setting to determine from which video asset source the video asset is provided to the user for viewing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to provide the user with an interactive graphical user interface on a display presenting video content having one or more linked fields, wherein the linked fields represent the request for the collection of video assets.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the request from the client device is initiated by the user using a remote control, and without utilizing a keyboard.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the video assets of the collection are available from three or more different content provider sources.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the personalization data further comprises viewing behavior from a client device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different content provider sources comprises at least two of:

at least one video on demand (VOD) source, at least one personal video recorder (PVR) source, at least contemporaneous broadcast video source, at least one future broadcast video source, and at least one internet protocol (IP) network.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different content provider sources comprise a plurality of video on demand (VOD) sources.

15. A method to assist a user in selecting a video asset for viewing, the method comprising:

presenting a first video asset to a user, the first video asset comprising metadata related to the first video asset;

receiving from a client device a request for a collection of video assets available from a plurality of different content provider sources, each video asset of the collection comprising metadata in a metadata category, the metadata category selected from a set of metadata categories associated with the first video asset;

searching the plurality of different content provider sources to determine the collection;

obtaining the metadata associated with each of the video assets in the collection;

obtaining personalization data, the personalization data being stored in a personal profile associated with the user and comprising at least subscriber data and external data from a third party;

retrieving, based on the personalization data, at least one of clips and stills associated with the at least one of the video assets in the collection;

sending to said client device the at least one of clips and stills and the metadata associated with the at least one of the video assets in the collection; and

provide display interface with the at least one clips and still to the user to be presented based on the personalization data of the personal profile associated with the user to highlight aspects of the at least one of the video assets in the collection according to at least one genre preference indicated by the personalization data, thereby presenting the collection to the user to represent each of the video assets to appeal to the at least one genre preference.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one of clips and stills associated with each of the video assets in the collection comprise at least one image associated with each of the plurality of video assets.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the metadata category comprises actor, director, genre, sport, league, team, player, or school.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of content provider sources comprise video-on-demand (VOD), personal video recorder (PVR), past broadcast video, contemporaneous broadcast video, or future broadcast video.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the video assets of the collection are available from three or more different content provider sources.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the user with an interactive graphical user interface on a display presenting video content having one or more linked fields.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the request from the client device is initiated by the user using a remote control, and without utilizing a keyboard.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the personalization data further comprises viewing behavior from a client device.

23. A video asset presentation system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive a request from a client device for asset information associated with at least one video asset,

access metadata associated with the at least one video asset,

transmit the asset information to the client device, the asset information comprising at least one linked field relating to an attribute of the metadata,

receive a selected attribute of the metadata,

search at least one video asset source for a collection of video assets associated with metadata relating to the selected attribute,

obtain personalization data,

retrieve at least one of a clip and a still associated with at least one video asset of the collection of video assets based on the personalization data, and

transmit the at least one of a clip and a still configured for presentation through the client device, the at least one of a clip and a still being presented based on the personalization data to highlight aspects of the at least one video asset of the collection of video assets according to at least one genre preference indicated by the personalization data, thereby presenting the collection to the user to represent each of the video assets to appeal to the at least one genre preference.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one video asset source comprises a plurality of video asset sources.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of video asset sources comprise at least two of:

at least one video on demand (VOD) source, at least one personal video recorder (PVR) source, at least one contemporaneous broadcast video source, at least one future broadcast video source, at least one past broadcast video source, and at least one internet protocol (IP) network.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of video assets comprise a plurality of video on demand (VOD) sources.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to configure the asset information for presentation through the client device as an informational banner arranged adjacent to a presentation of the at least one video asset.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to maintain a library of at least a portion of video assets available through the at least one video source.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the personalization data comprises external data from a third party.

30. A receiver device configured to present video asset information, the receiver device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

receive a request, from a user input device operably coupled to the processor, for asset information associated with at least one video asset,

transmit the request to a video asset management system,

receive the asset information from the video asset management system, the asset information comprising at least one linked field relating to an attribute of metadata associated with the at least one video asset,

receive a selected attribute from the user input device,

transmit the selected attribute to the video asset management system,

present, through a display device operably coupled to the processor, at least one of a clip and a still associated with at least one of a collection of video assets associated with metadata relating to the selected attribute, the collection of video assets located in at least one video source accessible by the receiver device, the at least one of a clip and a still being retrieved based on personalization data and presented based on the personalization data to highlight aspects of the at least one of the collection of video assets according to at least one genre preference indicated by the personalization data, thereby presenting the collection to the user to represent each of the video assets to appeal to the at least one genre preference.

31. The receiver device of claim 30, wherein the receiver device is a set-top box.

32. The receiver device of claim 30, wherein the receiver device is a computing device.

33. The receiver device of claim 30, wherein the receiver device is a television.

34. The receiver device of claim 30, wherein the at least one video asset source comprises at least two of:

at least one video on demand (VOD) source, at least one personal video recorder (PVR) source, at least one contemporaneous broadcast video source, at least one future broadcast video source, at least one past broadcast video source, and at least one internet protocol (IP) network.

35. The receiver device of claim 34, wherein the at least one video source comprises a plurality of video on demand (VOD) sources.

36. The receiver device of claim 30, wherein the personalization data comprises external data from a third party.

37. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code configured to present video assets embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code configured to receive a request from a client device for asset information associated with at least one video asset;

computer-readable program code configured to access metadata associated with the at least one video asset;

computer-readable program code configured to cause the transmission of the asset information to the client device, the asset information comprising at least one linked field relating to an attribute of the metadata,

computer-readable program code configured to receive a selected attribute of the metadata through an activation of the at least one linked field from the client device,

computer-readable program code configured to search at least one video asset source for a collection of video assets associated with metadata relating to the selected attribute,

computer-readable program code configured to obtain personalization data,

computer-readable program code configured to retrieve at least one of a clip and a still associated with at least one video asset of the collection of video assets based on the personalization data, and

computer-readable program code configured to cause the transmission of the at least one of a clip and a still configured for presentation through the client device, the at least one of a clip and a still being presented based on the personalization data to highlight aspects of the at least one video asset of the collection of video assets according to at least one genre preference indicated by the personalization data, thereby presenting the collection to the user to represent each of the video assets to appeal to the at least one genre preference.