Program shortcuts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016134940-A1
Application number	US-201614996957-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Jan 3, 2007
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Techniques are described that allow DVR users to create program shortcuts to different types of media content from content providers. A program shortcut comprises a reference to another media content. A user may generate a shortcut so that the user may easily find and return to media content without performing a new search. In addition, techniques may be used to automatically generate program shortcuts for a user based at least in part to user-indicated preferences or actions. Shortcuts may be generated to media content that is related to a preferred genre or media type specified by a user. Shortcuts may also be generated to content that is determined to be similar to content that is often viewed or recorded by the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
presenting menus at a media device, the menus including menu items corresponding to content items available for playback at the media device from content sources; responsive to identifying a particular content item available from a particular content source, generating a particular menu item corresponding to the particular content item; automatically selecting in which particular menu, of the menus, to present the particular menu item based on at least one of: a population density of menu items in the particular menu, a number of input commands to access the particular menu from a main menu, or a frequency of access of the particular menu; presenting the particular menu item in the particular menu; responsive to receiving input that selects the particular menu item from the particular menu, causing playback of the particular content item at the media device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving input selecting the particular content item at a time when the particular content item is not available from the particular content source; storing data indicating the selection of the particular content item; wherein generating the particular menu item is further responsive to determining that the data indicating the selection of the particular content item has been stored.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving input selecting a series of content; wherein identifying the particular content item comprises:
determining that particular menu item is an episode of the series, the particular menu item not available from the particular content source at the time the input selecting the series was received; and
determining that the particular content item has become available for purchase from the particular content source;
wherein causing playback of the particular content item comprises presenting an interface for purchasing the particular content item from the particular content source.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises determining that the particular content item is related to other content items in which a user has indicated an interest.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises detecting a reference to the particular content item embedded in media content played by the media device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises locating the particular menu item in a list of recommended content, the method further comprising removing the menu item from the particular menu item responsive to the particular menu item no longer appearing in the list of recommended content.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically downloading the particular content item from the particular source, the particular source being a website.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular menu item includes first menu items corresponding to recorded content items from broadcast content sources, wherein the particular content source is not one of the broadcast content sources.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically selecting in which particular menu to present the particular menu item is based on the frequency of access of the menu by a particular user.

10 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:
presenting menus at a media device, the menus including menu items corresponding to content items available for playback at the media device from content sources; responsive to identifying a particular content item available from a particular content source, generating a particular menu item corresponding to the particular content item; automatically selecting in which particular menu, of the menus, to present the particular menu item based on at least one of: a population density of menu items in the particular menu, a number of input commands to access the particular menu from a main menu, or a frequency of access of the particular menu; presenting the particular menu item in the particular menu; responsive to receiving input that selects the particular menu item from the particular menu, causing playback of the particular content item at the media device.

11 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:
receiving input selecting the particular content item at a time when the particular content item is not available from the particular content source; storing data indicating the selection of the particular content item; wherein generating the particular menu item is further responsive to determining that the data indicating the selection of the particular content item has been stored.

12 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:
receiving input selecting a series of content; wherein identifying the particular content item comprises:
determining that particular menu item is an episode of the series, the particular menu item not available from the particular content source at the time the input selecting the series was received; and
determining that the particular content item has become available for purchase from the particular content source;
wherein causing playback of the particular content item comprises presenting an interface for purchasing the particular content item from the particular content source.

13 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises determining that the particular content item is related to other content items in which a user has indicated an interest.

14 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises detecting a reference to the particular content item embedded in media content played by the media device.

15 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises locating the particular menu item in a list of recommended content, the method further comprising removing the menu item from the particular menu item responsive to the particular menu item no longer appearing in the list of recommended content.

16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause automatically downloading the particular content item from the particular source, the particular source being a website.

17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the particular menu item includes first menu items corresponding to recorded content items from broadcast content sources, wherein the particular content source is not one of the broadcast content sources.

18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein automatically selecting in which particular menu to present the particular menu item is based on the frequency of access of the menu by a particular user.

19 . An apparatus comprising:
a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to present menus at a media device, the menus including menu items correspondin

Assignees

• Tivo Inc

Inventors

• Schmidt Margret
• Liston Alex
• Glennon Shelly

Classifications

• H04N21/25891

  being end-user preferences (retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18) · CPC title

• H04N21/432

  Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk {(details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739)} · CPC title

• H04N21/431

  Generation of visual interfaces {for content selection or interaction}; Content or additional data rendering · CPC title

• H04N9/8205

  involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal · CPC title

• H04N21/47202

  for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand · CPC title