Displaying non-time bound content in a time bound grid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018070121-A1
Application number	US-201715694619-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 1, 2017
Priority date	Sep 2, 2016
Publication date	Mar 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating and displaying a non-time bound content channel in a time-bound grid is provided. The system comprises receiving content data representing non-time bound content to be displayed in the time bound grid. The system generates the time bound grid, by creating, based on the content data, a non-time bound content channel. The non-time bound content channel displays one or more content objects representing the non-time bound content in the time bound grid. The system incorporates the non-time bound content channel with a plurality of time bound channels in the time bound grid. The system then causes display of the generated time bound grid on a viewing device of a user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
receiving content data representing non-time bound content to be displayed in a time bound grid; generating, using a hardware processor, the time bound grid, the generating the time bound grid comprising:
creating, based on the content data, a non-time bound content channel, the non-time bound content channel displaying one or more content objects representing the non-time bound content in the time bound grid, and
incorporating the non-time bound content channel with a plurality of time bound channels in the time bound grid; and
causing display of the generated time bound grid on a viewing device of a user.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the time bound grid comprises an electronic program guide (EPG).

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-time bound content channel is represented in a linear time bound format that scrolls independently of the plurality of time bound content channels.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising visually distinguishing the content objects representing the non-time bound content to indicate that user selection of one of the content objects representing the non-time bound content will immediately play.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-time bound content channel comprises a column displayed on a side of the time bound grid that scrolls in a vertical direction.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the content data representing the non-time bound content comprises a finite number of non-time bound content; and scrolling to an end of the non-time bound content channel comprising the finite number of non-time bound content causes the content objects representing the non-time bound content to repeat.

7 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the content data representing the non-time bound content comprises a finite number of non-time bound content; and the method further comprises providing a selection that triggers obtaining and displaying more non-time bound content in response to the user scrolling to an end of the non-time bound content channel comprising the finite number of non-time bound content.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-time bound content channel displays a content object promoting a piece of content and requesting a non-subscriber to subscribe.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the content data comprises recommendations of non-time bound content, the recommendations determined to be of interest to the user based on device data corresponding to the user, the device data indicating user behavior and watching habits of the user.

10 . A system comprising:
one or more hardware processors; and a memory storing instructions, that when executed by the one or more hardware processors, cause the one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving content data representing non-time bound content to be displayed in a time bound grid;
generating the time bound grid, the generating the time bound grid comprising:
creating, based on the content data, a non-time bound content channel, the non-time bound content channel displaying one or more content objects representing the non-time bound content in the time bound grid, and
incorporating the non-time bound content channel with a plurality of time bound channels in the time bound grid; and

causing display of the generated time bound grid on a viewing device of a user.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the time bound grid comprises an electronic program guide (EPG).

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the non-time bound content channel is represented in a linear time bound format that scrolls independently of the plurality of time bound content channels.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise visually distinguishing the content objects representing the non-time bound content to indicate that user selection of one of the content objects representing the non-time bound content will immediately play.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the non-time bound content channel comprises a column displayed on a side of the time bound grid that scrolls in a vertical direction.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the content data representing the non-time bound content comprises a finite number of non-time bound content; and scrolling to an end of the non-time bound content channel comprising the finite number of non-time bound content causes the content objects representing the non-time bound content to repeat.

16 . The system of claim 10 ,
wherein the content data representing the non-time bound content comprises a finite number of non-time bound content; and the operations further comprise providing a selection that triggers obtaining and displaying more non-time bound content in response to the user scrolling to an end of the non-time bound content channel comprising the finite number of non-time bound content.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the non-time bound content channel displays a content object promoting a piece of content and requesting a non-subscriber to subscribe.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the content data comprises recommendations of non-time bound content, the recommendations determined to be of interest to the user based on device data corresponding to the user, the device data indicating user behavior and watching habits of the user.

19 . A machine-storage medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more hardware processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
receiving content data representing non-time bound content to be displayed in a time bound grid; generating the time bound grid, the generating the time bound grid comprising:
creating, based on the content data, a non-time bound content channel, the non-time bound content channel displaying one or more content objects representing the non-time bound content in the time bound grid, and
incorporating the non-time bound content channel with a plurality of time bound channels in the time bound grid; and
causing display of the generated time bound grid on a viewing device of a user.

20 . The machine-storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the content data comprises recommendations of non-time bound content, the recommendations determined to be of interest to the user based on device data corresponding to the user, the device data indicating user behavior and watching habits of the user.

Assignees

• Opentv Inc

Inventors

• Zimmerman Danielle Maslow
• Kempe David Daniel
• Chai Crx K
• Fishman Alex
• Zhao Colin Shengcai
• Wheeler Andrea

Classifications

• H04N21/4821

  using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time · CPC title

• H04N21/4532

  involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18) · CPC title

• H04N21/26283 Primary

  for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic programme guide data · CPC title

• H04N21/4668 Primary

  for recommending content, e.g. movies · CPC title

• H04N21/4312

  involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations · CPC title