Method and apparatus for menu placement on a media playback device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016241918-A1
Application number	US-201615137991-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 25, 2016
Priority date	Jun 23, 2006
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for presenting menus to DVR users and users of other media playback devices are described. After a DVR (or other media device) has finished playing a recorded television program (or other content), or in response to other specified events, the DVR presents a screen which comprises a menu. In addition to or in alternative to “save” and “delete” options, the menu comprises one or more options. Each of these other options may correspond to a separate item. For example, a user's selection of such an option may cause the DVR to display or play certain content on the user's television set. Additionally, or alternatively, these other options, when selected by a user, may cause the DVR to display a user interface through which the user can actually interact with content, such as an item that was featured or referenced in the television program that the user was just watching.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
at a multimedia device, pausing playback of a content stream at a particular point within the content stream; identifying, in captioning information associated with the content stream, particular captioning information for a recent period of time within the content stream relative to the particular point at which the content stream is paused; while playback of the content stream is paused at the particular point, overlaying a menu upon the paused content stream; displaying within the menu one or more items selected based upon the particular caption information for the recent period of time.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically selecting the one or more items to show within the menu by:
identifying a keyword that was referenced in the script of the program showing in the content stream; selecting the one or more items to show based on the keyword.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the particular captioning information for the recent period of time to a server; receiving, from the server, information indicating the one or more items to show in the menu.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying an icon prior to the pausing of playback, the icon indicating that the interactive information will be shown when playback is paused.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising overlaying a trickplay bar upon the paused content stream along with the menu.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the recent period of time is one minute.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more items include one or more of: a display of information, a link to view information, a link to request information, a link to interactive content, or a link to schedule content for recording or download by the multimedia device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
including within the menu one or more additional items selected based on electronic program guide information associated with a program currently playing in the content stream.

9 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:
at a multimedia device, pausing playback of a content stream at a particular point within the content stream; identifying, in captioning information associated with the content stream, particular captioning information for a recent period of time within the content stream relative to the particular point at which the content stream is paused; while playback of the content stream is paused at the particular point, overlaying a menu upon the paused content stream; displaying within the menu one or more items selected based upon the particular caption information for the recent period of time.

10 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more computing devices, further cause dynamically selecting the one or more items to show within the menu by:
identifying a keyword that was referenced in the script of the program showing in the content stream; selecting the one or more items to show based on the keyword.

11 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more computing devices, further cause:
sending the particular captioning information for the recent period of time to a server; receiving, from the server, information indicating the one or more items to show in the menu.

12 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more computing devices, further cause:
displaying an icon prior to the pausing of playback, the icon indicating that the interactive information will be shown when playback is paused.

13 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more computing devices, further cause overlaying a trickplay bar upon the paused content stream along with the menu.

14 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the recent period of time is one minute.

15 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the one or more items include one or more of: a display of information, a link to view information, a link to request information, a link to interactive content, or a link to schedule content for recording or download by the multimedia device.

16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more computing devices, further cause:
including within the menu one or more additional items selected based on electronic program guide information associated with a program currently playing in the content stream.

17 . A system comprising:
a module, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to, at a multimedia device, pause playback of a content stream at a particular point within the content stream; a module, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to identify, in captioning information associated with the content stream, particular captioning information for a recent period of time within the content stream relative to the particular point at which the content stream is paused; a module, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to, while playback of the content stream is paused at the particular point, overlay a menu upon the paused content stream; a module, implemented at least partially by computing hardware, configured to display within the menu one or more items selected based upon the particular caption information for the recent period of time.

18 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a module, implemented by computing hardware, configured to dynamically select the one or more items to show within the menu by: identifying a keyword that was referenced in the script of the program showing in the content stream; and selecting the one or more items to show based on the keyword.

19 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising:
a module, implemented by computing hardware, configured to send the particular captioning information for the recent period of time to a server; a module, implemented by computing hardware, configured to receive, from the server, information indicating the one or more items to show in the menu.

20 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a module, implemented by computing hardware, configured to display an icon prior to the pausing of playback, the icon indicating that the interactive information will be shown when playback is paused.

Assignees

• Tivo Inc

Inventors

• Barton James
• Stevens Paul
• Sandford David
• Hayes Robin
• Schmidt Margret
• Klein Bruce

Classifications

• H04N21/4325

  by playing back content from the storage medium (reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79) · CPC title

• H04N5/7755

  the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver · CPC title

• H04N5/907

  using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories (H04N5/91 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N5/775

  between a recording apparatus and a television receiver · CPC title

• H04N21/458

  Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules {; time-related management operations (arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10)} · CPC title