Source-linked electronic programming guide

• US 9,628,861 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar UK Holdings Ltd (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Mountain, Dale Llewelyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gee, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/470,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20160066049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• 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 21/47214 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 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526

Abstract

Surfacing or providing to an end-user via an electronic programming guide one or more alternative or alternate options for accessing particular content of interest, that which is initially itemized or presented for selection in or within the electronic programming guide.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

outputting, by a television receiver for display by a presentation device, an electronic programming guide for selection of programming from a television provider;

detecting, by the television receiver, a command to define a timer to record particular programming at a time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider;

outputting, within the electronic programming guide, an interactive interface that provides an activation indicator for activating access to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider;

receiving input corresponding to selection of the activation indicator, thereby enabling access by the television receiver to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider;

in response to enabling access by the television receiver to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider, querying local and non-local resources to identify a plurality of subscription-based options for access to the particular programming, wherein the plurality of subscription-based options identified includes a first option corresponding to a first network-accessible source for the particular programming, different from the television provider, for which an active subscription exists, and wherein the plurality of subscription-based options identified includes a second option corresponding to a second network-accessible source for the particular programming, different from the television provider, for which no active subscription exists;

outputting, by the television receiver within the interactive interface within the electronic programming guide, the plurality of subscription-based options for access to the particular programming from network-accessible sources other than the television provider including the first option providing a first identifier of the first network-accessible source and the second option providing a second identifier of the second network-accessible source, wherein the second option identifies subscription terms for access to the particular programming from the second network-accessible source;

receiving input corresponding to selection of the first option or the second option;

receiving additional input corresponding to selection of a particular indicator to decline access to the particular programming from any source other than the television provider;

identifying an amount of storage space sufficient for storing the particular programming;

displaying, within the interactive interface, an indicator of the amount;

determining that unused storage space of a persistent storage medium is insufficient for storing the particular programming;

displaying, within the interactive interface, a list identifying recorded content and indicators of storage space freed upon deletion of the recorded content;

receiving further input corresponding to selection of a particular recorded content for deletion;

deleting the particular recorded content from the persistent storage medium, thereby increasing the unused storage space;

determining that unused storage space of the persistent storage medium is sufficient for storing the particular programming;

receiving the particular programming at the time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider;

storing the particular programming to the persistent storage medium at the time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider for subsequent access therefrom; and

outputting the particular programming for display by the presentation device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identifier corresponds to a first logo or a first icon identifying the first network-accessible source and wherein the second identifier corresponds to a second logo or a second icon identifying the second network-accessible source.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of the television receiver, the particular programming from the first network-accessible source without incurring additional fees.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

perfecting initialization of or agreement to a subscription for the second network-accessible source; and

receiving, via a network interface of the television receiver, the particular programming from the second network-accessible source.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, for display within the interactive interface, at least one advertisement for a service or package offered by the television provider based upon one or more particular attributes of the particular programming.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, for display within the interactive interface, a source indicator that, when selected, activates the television receiver to access content from a third network-accessible source;

receiving input corresponding to selection of the source indicator, thereby enabling access to content from the third network-accessible source, wherein the plurality of subscription-based options is modified to include a third option corresponding to the third network-accessible source.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the input, logging the selection to update a number of particular instances of selection of each of the plurality of options; and

reporting a total number of particular instances of selection of the options for reimbursement from entities associated with each source.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, within the interactive interface, a further indicator for disabling access to network-accessible sources of programming different from the television provider; and

receiving input corresponding to selection of the further indicator for disabling access to network-accessible sources of subscription-based programming different from the television provider, thereby deactivating access by the television receiver to network-accessible sources of subscription-based programming different from the television provider.

9. A television receiver, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory element communicatively coupled with and readable by at least one processor and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations including;

outputting, to a presentation device using an output interface of the television receiver, an electronic programming guide for selection of programming from a television provider

detecting a command to define a timer to record particular programming at a time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider;

outputting, within the electronic programming guide, an interactive interface that provides an activation indicator for activating access to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider;

receiving input corresponding to selection of the activation indicator, thereby enabling access by the television receiver to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider;

in response to enabling access by the television receiver to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider, querying local and non-local resources to identify a plurality of subscription-based options for access to the particular programming, wherein the plurality of subscription-based options identified includes a first option corresponding to a first network-accessible source for the particular programming, different from the television provider, for which an active subscription exists, and wherein the plurality of subscription-based options identified includes a second option corresponding to a second network-accessible source for the particular programming, different from the television provider, for which no active subscription exists;

outputting, within the interactive interface within the electronic programming guide, the plurality of subscription-based options for access to the particular programming from network-accessible sources other than the television provider including the first option providing a first identifier of the first network-accessible source and a second option providing a second identifier of the second network-accessible source, and wherein the second option identifies subscription terms for access to the particular programming from the second network-accessible source;

receiving input corresponding to selection of the first option or the second option;

receiving additional input corresponding to selection of a particular indicator to decline access to the particular programming from any source other than the television provider;

identifying an amount of storage space sufficient for storing the particular programming;

displaying, within the interactive interface, an indicator of the amount;

determining that unused storage space of a persistent storage medium is insufficient for storing the particular programming;

displaying, within the interactive interface, a list identifying recorded content and indicators of storage space freed upon deletion of the recorded content for deletion;

deleting the particular recorded content from the persistent storage medium, thereby increasing the unused storage space;

determining that unused storage space of the persistent storage medium is sufficient for storing the particular programming;

receiving the particular programming at the time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider;

storing the particular programming to the persistent storage medium at the time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider for subsequent access therefrom; and

outputting the particular programming to the presentation device using the output interface.

10. The television receiver of claim 9, wherein the first identifier corresponds to a first logo or a first icon identifying the first network-accessible source and wherein the second identifier corresponds to a second logo or a second icon identifying the second network-accessible source.

11. The television receiver of claim 9, wherein the operations further include:

receiving, via a network interface of the television receiver, the particular programming from the first network-accessible source without incurring additional fees.

12. The television receiver of claim 9, wherein the operations further include:

perfecting initialization of or agreement to a subscription for the second network-accessible source; and

receiving, via a network interface of the television receiver, the particular programming from the second network-accessible source.

13. The television receiver of claim 9, wherein the operations further include:

outputting, to the presentation device for display within the interactive interface, at least one advertisement for a service or package offered by the television provide based upon one or more particular attributes of the particular programming.

14. The television receiver of claim 9, wherein the operations further include:

displaying, within the interactive interface, a further indicator for disabling access to network-accessible sources of programming different from the television provider; and

receiving input corresponding to selection of the further indicator for disabling access to network-accessible sources of programming different from the television provider, thereby deactivating access by the television provider to network-accessible sources of programming different from the television provider.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a television receiver, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

outputting, to a presentation device using an output interface of the television receiver, an electronic programming guide for selection of programming from a television provider

detecting a command to define a timer to record particular programming at a time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider;

outputting, within the electronic programming guide, an interactive interface that provides an activation indicator for activating access to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider;

receiving input corresponding to selection of the activation indicator, thereby enabling access by the television receiver to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider;

in response to enabling access by the television receiver to subscription-based network-accessible programming sources different from the television provider, querying local and non-local resources to identify a plurality of subscription-based options for access to the particular programming, wherein the plurality of subscription-based options identified includes a first option corresponding to a first network-accessible source for the particular programming, different from the television provider, for which an active subscription exists, and wherein the plurality of subscription-based options identified includes a second option corresponding to a second network-accessible source for the particular programming, different from the television provider, for which no active subscription exists;

outputting, to the presentation device using the output interface within the interactive interface within the electronic programming guide, the plurality of subscription-based options for access to the particular programming from network-accessible sources other than the television provider including the first option providing a first identifier of the first network-accessible source and the second option providing a second identifier of the second network-accessible source, wherein the second option identifies subscription terms for access to the particular programming from the second source;

receiving input corresponding to selection of the first option or the second option;

receiving additional input corresponding to selection of a particular indicator to decline access to the particular programming from any source other than the television provider;

identifying an amount of storage space sufficient for storing the particular programming;

displaying, within the interactive interface, an indicator of the amount;

determining that unused storage space of a persistent storage medium is insufficient for storing the particular programming;

displaying, within the interactive interface, a list identifying recorded content and indicators of storage space freed upon deletion of the recorded content;

receiving further input corresponding to selection of a particular recorded content for deletion;

deleting the particular recorded content from the persistent storage medium, thereby increasing the unused storage space;

determining that unused storage space of the persistent storage medium is sufficient for storing the particular programming;

receiving the particular programming at the time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider;

storing the particular programming to the persistent storage medium at the time of broadcast of the particular programming by the television provider for subsequent access therefrom; and

outputting the particular programming to the presentation device using the output interface.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first identifier corresponds to a first logo or a first icon identifying the first network-accessible source and wherein the second identifier corresponds to a second logo or a second icon identifying the second network-accessible source.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further include:

receiving, via a network interface of the television receiver, the particular programming from the first network-accessible source without incurring additional fees.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further include:

outputting, to the presentation device for display within the interactive interface, at least one advertisement for a service or package offered by the television provide based upon one or more particular attributes of the particular programming.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further include:

perfecting initialization of or agreement to a subscription for the second network-accessible source; and

receiving, via a network interface of the television receiver, the particular programming from the second network-accessible source.