Presenting linear and nonlinear content via DVR

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9077947-B2
Application number	US-201113292897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2011
Priority date	Nov 9, 2011
Publication date	Jul 7, 2015
Grant date	Jul 7, 2015

Abstract

Embodiments related to the presentation of linear content and non-linear content in an integrated user experience are disclosed. One embodiment provides a method of identifying linear content and non-linear content for presentation via a video recording device. The method includes detecting a trigger to perform a search for content items, and providing, responsive to the trigger, a search request to one or more metadata sources, each metadata source containing locations of one or more of linear content items and non-linear content items available at one or more content sources. The method further includes receiving from each metadata source a search response including metadata associated with available content at one or more of the content sources, and outputting a list of content items identifying one or more linear content items and one or more non-linear content items from one or more metadata sources.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. On a computing device, a method of identifying scheduled content and on-demand content for presentation, the method comprising:
detecting a trigger to perform a search for content items;
providing, responsive to the trigger, a search request to one or more metadata sources, each metadata source containing information regarding locations of one or more of scheduled content items and on-demand content items at one or more content sources;
receiving, responsive to the search request, from each metadata source a search response including metadata associated with available content at the one or more content sources;
outputting a list of content items identifying one or more selected scheduled content items and one or more selected on-demand content items from the one or more metadata sources;
determining whether a particular scheduled content item of the one or more selected scheduled content items is available from an on-demand content source; and
during presentation of the particular scheduled content item, outputting a notification if the particular scheduled content item is available from the on-demand content source.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger comprises one or more of a user input to record a video program, a user input to view a video program, a user input to update recording preferences, and an automated request to update series information.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search request is provided to a local metadata source.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search request is provided to one or more remote metadata sources via a computer network.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising, for each remote metadata source, translating the search request before sending the search request to the remote metadata source.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing account access information for a secure remote metadata source.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the list of content items further comprises providing a user interface comprising scheduled content items and on-demand content items scheduled for recording.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the list of content items comprises outputting a user interface image comprising one or more of the selected scheduled content items and one or more of the selected on-demand content items in the user interface image.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising prioritizing the list of one or more selected scheduled content items and one or more on-demand content items by one or more of user preference and content source availability.

Assignees

• Merzon Alan
• Herby Tim
• Habliston Christopher
• Fontan Antonio
• Welden Chris
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Merzon Alan
• Herby Tim
• Habliston Christopher
• Fontan Antonio
• Welden Chris

Classifications

• H04N21/84

  Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)} · CPC title

• H04N21/4622 Primary

  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 title

• H04N21/4668

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

• H04N21/4147

  PVR [Personal Video Recorder] (H04N5/76 takes precedence {; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40}) · CPC title

• H04N21/26275

  for distributing content or additional data in a staggered manner, e.g. repeating movies on different channels in a time-staggered manner in a near video on demand system · CPC title