Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING MEDIA
PROGRAM OPTIONS BASED ON PROGRAM SEGMENT INTEREST
Background of the Invention
[0001) The disclosed technology relates generally to
user interest in media programs and, more particularly,
to gathering information on user interest with respect
to portions of particular media programs.
[0002] Television program and other media program
offerings today are vast and continue to grow in
quantity and diversity. With the advent of interactive
program guides and other media navigation applications,
audiences now have the ability to navigate among the
growing media program offerings more easily than
before. For example, a program guide may allow a user
to enjoy one media program while browsing through
program descriptions of other media programs.
Therefore, audience members can more easily navigate
media program listings to pass time during commercials
or to find other, more interesting programs,.
Accordingly, through greater ease of navigation,
audiences may have a greater ability to find and view
programs of interest.
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[0003] Audiences also continue to have the ability
to record programs for later enjoyment at their
convenience and at their own pace. For example,
traditional recording devices such as VCRs continue to
be in use, and emerging recording devices based on hard
disks and writable optical disks (e.g., CDs and DVDs)
are gradually gaining their share of the marketplace.
These recording devices allow busy audience members to
enjoy media programs that they would otherwise have
missed. Additionally, they allow audience members to
control the playback of the media program based on
their interest level. For example, users can pause the
recording if they are interrupted during an interesting
portion, rewind the recording over an especially
important or enjoyable portion, or fast-forward the
recording through an uninteresting portion (e_g., a
commercial). Accordingly, by using a recording device,
audiences can have the ability to control the
presentation of a media program based on their level of
interest.
[0004] Given the vast selection of media program
offerings and the increasing ability of users to find
other interesting programs and to control program
presentation, programming stations may have a more
difficult time attracting and maintaining audiences.
Accordingly, there is continuing interest in developing
and improving ways to maintain an audience member's
level of interest in particular media programs.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] The disclosed technology relates to
maintaining a user's interest level in rriedia programs
by monitoring and using a user's interests in
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particular segments of media programs to provide users
with different media program versions or options. The
media program segments referred to herein may be
logical or physical segments. In one aspect of the
invention, systems and methods are provided for using a
user's interests in particular segments of media
programs to determine what media content may be of
interest to the user.
[0006.) In one aspect of the invention, the disclosed
systems and methods can use a user's interests in
segments of a particular media program to determine
whether or not to record episodes of the particular
media program. For example, in accordance with one
aspect of the invention, the disclosed systems may know
that a user consistently watches the Late Show with
David Letterman, but does not watch the entire show.
Rather, the user may watch only the Top Ten List and
then turn off the television or switch to another
channel. Based on knowing this preference, the
disclosed systems and methods can, in one embodiment,
record the Top Ten List segment of the Late Show if the
user is not available to catch an episode. In another
example, the user may consistently watch the entire
Late Show with David Letterman. In this case, the
'disclosed technology can record the entire Late Show if
the user is not available to catch an episode.
[0007] In one aspect of the invention, the disclosed
systems and methods can use a user's interests in
segments of a particular media program to determine
which types of content or which media program options
to present to a user. In one example, if a user
typically stays tuned through the entire course of a
program, the user may be the kind of audience member
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who would be interested in accessing an extended
version of that program. For example, if a user
consistently watches the entire program of the Late
Show with David Letterman, the disclosed technology may
present such user with an option to view an extended
version of the Late Show with out-takes. On the other
hand, if a user typically stays tuned only through
select segments of a particular media program, the user
may be the kind of audience member who would be
interested in accessing only particular segments of the
media program or only a condensed version (e.g., a
summary or highlight version) of the media program.
For example, if a user typically watches portions of
the Late Show with David Letterman but does not watch
the entire show, the disclosed technology may in one
embodiment present such user with a summary version of
the show that includes a text description of the show,
for example, or present such user with a highlight
version of the show that includes video snapshots of
portions of the show, for example. In one embodiment,
the disclosed technology may present the user with the
option to watch only those portions of the Late Show
that the user usually watches. In this manner, the
disclosed systems and methods can suggest, present, or
record for a user those media program versions or
segments that he or she may enjoy.
[0008] In one aspect of the invention, the disclosed
systems and methods can monitor a user's interest in
segments of one particular media program and use that
information to suggest, present, or record for the user
analogous or relevant portions of other media programs.
For example, many different television channels have
sports-related media programs, such as FOX Sports or
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ESPN Sportscenter, for example, and the different
sports-related media programs may have analogous or
relevant segments. For example, ESPN Sportscenter may
have a Top Plays segment which features clips of
recent, particularly enthralling sports plays.
Additionally, FOX Sports can also include a Top Plays
segment. In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, if a user typically watches the Top Plays
segment of ESPN Sportscenter, the disclosed technology
can suggest, present, or record for the user the Top
Plays segment of Fox Sports. In one embodiment, the
Top Plays segment of Fox Sports can be presented to the
user when the user accesses Fox Sports. In one
embodiment, the Top Plays segment of Fox Sports can be
presented to the user even when the user may not have
accessed Fox Sports. In this embodiment, the disclosed
technology can seek out other media programs that have
a Top Plays segment analogous to the Top Plays segment
in ESPN Sportscenter and can find the Fox Sports media
program in that manner.
[0009] In one aspect of the invention, the disclosed
technology can also monitor a user's interest in
segments of commercials. A commercial may include one
segment or multiple segments. Different commercials
may be analogous or may be relevant to each other or
may have analogous or relevant segments. In one
embodiment, the disclosed technology can use a user's
interest in segments of commercials to determine which
commercials to record and which commercial to not
record. For example, if a user typically watches BMW
car commercials but does not watch Mercedes car
commercials, the disclosed technology can record BMW
commercials but not record Mercedes commercials. In
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one embodiment, the disclosed technology can use a
user's interest in segments of commercials to select
commercials to present to a user. Continuing with the
car commercial example, the disclosed technology can
select more BMW car commercials to'present to the use
based on knowing that the user watches BMW commercials.
[0010] In one aspect of the invention, the disclosed
systems and methods can associate different business
models with media program versions or options that are
presented to a user. For example, in one exemplary
business model, a user can access a regular version of
a media program at no additional charge but may be
assessed a particular charge for accessing a
commercial-free version of the media program and
assessed another charge for accessing an extended
version of the media program.
[0011] In one aspect of the invention, media
programs can have logical segments, and user equipment
can monitor user interest with respect to particular
media program segments. In one embodiment, if there is
about the same interest in all of the segments of a
media program, it may be appropriate to present the
user with an option to access an extended version of
the media program. On the other hand, if there is more
interest in some segments and less interest in other
segments, it=may be appropriate to present the user
with an option to access a condensed version of the
media program. In another example, if there is much
more interest in particular segments than in other
segments, it may be appropriate to present the user
with an option to manually designate particular
segments to access/record and the segments to not
access/record.
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[0012] In one embodiment, a user can select to
access or record a media program from an interactive
program guide. In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, the interactive program guide can determine
whether or not different versions of a selected program
are available, or if extra options for the program are
available. If they are available, the interactive
program guide can determine which of the versions or
options are appropriate for the user based on the
user's interest in the media program's segments. A
user who is presented with the opportunity to access
the different versions or options can select to access
one of the versions or options through the interactive
program guide. In one embodiment, if the interactive
program guide is a networked program guide and is in
communication with different types of user devices, the
interactive program guide can access the separate
segment interest information for the different devices.
Therefore, the interactive program guide may know that
viewing habits on different devices may be different
and may provide different media program versions or
options to different devices.
[0013] In one aspect of the invention, the disclosed
systems and methods can provide media program options
to a user based on a community's interest in the media
program's segments. In this manner, a user may be able
to sample and access media program options that may be
enjoyed by the community as a whole.
[0014] Further features of the invention, its nature
and various advantages, will be more apparent from the
accompanying drawings and the following detailed
description of the various embodiments.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen for setting an opportunity to access alternative
versions of television programs;
FIG. 2 is a display screen of an exemplary
media program;
FIG. 3 is a display screen of an exemplary
interactive program guide;
FIG. 4 is a diagram of an exemplary display
interface for accessing recorded/stored programs;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen presenting an option to access an extended
version of a media program;
FIG. 6 is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen presenting options to access condensed versions
of a media program;
FIG. 7 is a diagram of an exemplary display
interface for designating segments of a media program
to access and segments of a media program to not
access;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of exemplary media
program segments;
FIG. 8A is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen presenting options to view favorite segments of
a media program;
FIG. 8B is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen presenting op.tions to view an extended version
of a media program;
FIG. 8C is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen;
FIG. 8D is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen of a media segment selection menu that may be
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displayed in response to selection of a media program
in FIG. 8c;
FIG. 8E is a diagram of an exemplary display
of a media segment recommendation screen;
FIG_ 9 is a diagram of an exemplary segment
information data structure;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of exemplary
components iri a segment tune-in timer circuit;
FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of exemplary
operations of the segment tune-in timer circuit of FIG.
10;
FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of exemplary
operations for computing a tune-in duration;
FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of exemplary
operations of the segment tune-in timer circuit of FIG.
10 in connection with presentation control commands;
FIG. 14 is a diagram of an exemplary segment
interest table;
FIG. 15 is a diagram of an exemplary segment
interest table having longer term interest information
and shorter term interest information;
FIG. 16 is a diagram of an exemplary
community segment interest table that receives interest
information from a plurality of user equipment;
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of an exemplary
program options circuit for presenting options to
access different program versions;
FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of exemplary
operations of the program options circuit of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of exemplary
operations of the program options circuit of FIG. 17 in
connection with providing an option to access a
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condensed version of a related program from an earlier
time slot;
FIG. 20 is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen for presenting options to access alternative
versions of a media program with commercials and
without commercials;
FIG. 21 is a diagram of an exemplary segment
interest table that includes interest information for
commercials;
FIG. 21A is a diagram of an exemplary display
screen showing media alternatives in accordance with a
business model;
FIG. 21B is a diagram of a exemplary display
screen showing media alternative in accordance with an
alternative business model;
FIG. 22 is a diagram of an exemplary media
guidance system in accordance with one aspect of the
invention;
FIG. 23 is a diagram of exemplary user
television equipment in the media guidance system of
FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a diagram of exemplary user
recording equipment in the media guidance system of
FIG. 22;
FIG. 25 is a diagram of an exemplary remote
control device;
FIG. 26 is a diagram of exemplary user
computer equipment in the media guidance system of
FIG. 22; and
FIG. 27 is a diagram of exemplary user
equipment in the media guidance system of FIG. 22.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0016] The amount of media available to users in any
given media delivery system can be substantial.
Consequently, many users desire a form of media
guidance, an interface that allows users to efficiently
navigate media selections and easily identify media
that they may desire. An application which provides
such guidance is referred to herein as an interactive
media guidance application or, sometimes, a guidance
application.
[0017] Interactive media guidance applications may
take various forms depending on the media for which
they provide guidance. One typical type of media
guidance application is an interactive television
program guide. Interactive television program guides
are well-known guidance applications that, among other
things, allow users to navigate among and locate
television programming viewing choices and, in some
systems, digital music choices. The television
programming (and music programming) may be provided via
traditional broadcast,.cable, satellite, Internet, or
any other means. The programming may be provided on a
subscription basis (sometimes referred to as premium
programming), as pay-per-view programs, or on-demand
such as in video-on-demand (VOD) systems.
[00181 With the advent of the Internet, mobile
computing, and high-speed wireless networks, users are
able to access media on personal computers (PCs) and
devices on which they traditionally could not. Non-
television-centric platforms (i.e., platforms that
distribute media with equipment not part of the user's
broadcast, cable or satellite television-delivery
network) allow users to navigate among and locate
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desirable video clips, full motion videos (which may
include television programs), images, music files, and
other suitable media. Consequently, media guidance is
also necessary on modern non-television-centric
platforms. For example, media guidance applications
may be provided as on-line applications (i.e., provided
on a web-site), or as stand-alone applications or
clients on hand-held computers, personal digital
assistants (PDAs) or cellular telephones. In some
systems, users may control equipment remotely via a
media guidance application. For example, users may
access an online media guide and set recordings or
other settings on their in home equipment. This may be
accomplished by the on-line guide controlling the
user's equipment directly or via another media guide
that runs on the user's equipment. Remote access of
interactive media guidance applications is discussed in
greater detail in U.S. Patent Application
No. 11/246,392, filed October 7, 2005, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0019] The present invention relates generally to
media programs and can also relate to media programs
identified through a media guidance application, such
as a television program guide. The aspects and
embodiments of the invention described herein can be
provided=through an interactive program gui-de. One
aspect of the disclosed technology relates to
maintaining a user's interest level in a media program
by monitoring a user's interests in particular media
program segments. Based on knowing the user's
interests in particular media program segments, the
disclosed technology can suggest, present, or record
media content that a user may enjoy.,
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[0020] For example, if a user typically stays tuned
through the entire course of a particular program, the
user may be interested in all segments of the program
and, further, may be interested in accessing an
extended version of the media program. On the other
hand, if a user typically stays tuned only through
select segments of a media program, the user may only
be interested in accessing particular segments of the
media program or only a condensed version (e.g., a
summary or highlight version) of the media program.
[0021] In another example, the disclosed technology
can monitor a user's interest in segments of a
particular media program and suggest, present, or
record for the user analogous or relevant segments of
other media programs. For example, if a user typically
watches a Top Plays segment of a sports program, such
as ESPN Sportscenter, the disclosed technology can
suggest, present, or record for the user an analogous
Top Plays segment of another sports program, such as
FOX Sports.
[0022] In some embodiments where a user device is
largely used by a single user (such as a cellular
telephone), it may be possible to accurately determine
a single user's interest in particular media program
segments. However, in embodiments where a user device
is used by multiple users (such as a home television),
it may be more difficult to discern each individual
user's interest in particular media program segments.
Rather, in such embodiments, the disclosed technology
may monitor a group's interest in particular media
program segments. From hereon, the term "user
interest" will be used to refer to interest for a
single user device. In contrast, the term "community
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interest" will be used to refer to an accumulation of
user interest from multiple user devices. In some
embodiments of the present invention, users may choose
to belong to one or more communities, including,
without limitation, a science fiction community, a
"family oriented" community, and a sports community.
Other communities are also contemplated.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1 and in accordance
with one aspect of the invention, there is shown an
exemplary display screen 100 which contains settings
that allow a user to specify whether he or she is
interested in accessing only regular versions of media
programs or regular and alternative versions of media
programs. The illustrated display screen 100 can apply
to user equipment that can access and/or present media
programs, including, but not limited to, television
equipment, computer equipment, mobile computing
equipment (e.g., laptop, pocket PC, PDA, cellular
telephone), and other mobile or portable television
viewing devices, such as location-free television
consumer electronic devices or car entertainment
systems that include a television tuner. User
equipment and their interactions with surrounding
networks will be described in more detail later herein
in connection with FIGS. 22-27.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, there is a setting which
allows the system to provide a user with access to
regular and alternative versions of media programs. As
used herein, the term "regular version" may have
different meanings for different media platforms. In a
broadcast platform, a "regular version" can refer to
the broadcast version of a media program, so that user
equipment tuning in to the broadcast would receive the
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"regular version" of the media program. In a non-
broadcast platform, a regular version" of a media
program can refer to a media program version that would
generally be provided to requesting user equipment.
For example, when different user equipment access the
.CNN website, the same webpage will generally be
provided to the user equipment; that same webpage is
referred to herein as the "regular version." As used
herein, the term "alternative version" refers to a
media program that is related to the regular version of
a media program but that is not identical to the
regular version. For example, a alternative version of
a media program can include some segments from the
media program but not other segments. As another
example, an alternative version of a media program can
include a text summary of the media program or an
extended version of the media program with additional
content. Additionally, as used herein, the term
"different versions can refer to multiple, related
versions of a media program. For example, different
versions of a media program may refer to a regular
version and an alternative version of a media program,
or may refer to multiple alternative versions of a
media program.
[0025] From hereon, the following detailed
description may refer to media programs without
referring to whether the platform is a broadcast
platform, a non-broadcast platform, or otherwise.
Unless provided otherwise, it is contemplated that the
aspects and embodiments described herein are applicable
to broadcast, non-broadcast, and other types of
platforms.
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[0026] FIGS. 2-4 show exemplary ways by which a user
can access a media program for viewing or for
recording. FIG. 2 shows a display screen 200 that is
presenting a media program. The media program can be
received from a broadcast signal, received from an on-
demand or other communication channel, or accessed from
a local storage device: A user can use an interface
device, such as a remote control, to change channels or
to control the presentation of the program (e.g., fast-
forward, rewind). In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, the disclosed technology can monitor a
user's interest in the segments of the media program on
the display screen 200. This monitoring is described
in more detail in connection with FIGS. 9-15.
Additionally, from the illustrated display screen 200,
the disclosed technology can also present a user with
media program options, which will be described in more
detail in connection with at least FIGS. 5-7.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows one way to access a media
program by using an interactive program guide
application (IPG). The program guide 300 can be an
application residing on user equipment or can be an
online/networked program guide. As previously
described herein, remote access of interactive media
guidance applications is described in greater detail in
U.S. Patent Application No. 11/246,392. Additionally,
examples of interactive program guides showing a
program listings region, a program description region,
and/or a picture-in-guide region are described in U.S.
Patent Nos. 6,239,794, 6,563,515, and 6,564,378, which
are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
As shown in FIG. 3, the illustrated program guide 300
includes a program listings region 302 that can display
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a schedule of media programs. A user of the IPG can
navigate a cell highlight 304 or a cursor, for example,
to a particular program listing in the program listings
region 302. By using an input device, such as a remote
control, a user can select the highlighted program
listing 304 for viewing, for recording, or for another
form of access. In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, the disclosed technology can present a user
with media program versions or options through the
interactive program guide 300, which will be described
in more detail in connection with at least FIGS. 5-8E.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows one way of accessing a media
program through a listing of recorded/stored media
programs 400. The user equipment (not shown) can be
general user equipment having a storage medium and a
display screen that allows a user to interface with the
storage medium. For example, the user equipment can be
a digital video recorder ("DVR"), computer equipment,
DVD player, cellular telephone, iPod or other mobile
media player, pocket PC, or PDA. The user equipment
can provide the illustrated display interface 400 to a
user. The user can navigate a cell highlight 402 or a
cursor, for example, to a recorded/stored media
program. By using an input device, a user can select
the highlighted program 402 for viewing or for another
form of access. In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, the disclosed technology can present a user
with media program versions or options from a listing
of recorded/stored media programs, which will be
described in more detail in connection with at least
FIGS. 5-7.
[0029] FIGS. 2-4 are illustrative do not limit the
scope of the invention: It is contemplated that a user
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can access or record media programs using user
equipment and platforms that are not shown or described
herein.
[0030] In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, when a user selects a media program for
which alternative versions are available, the user
equipment may present options allowing the user to
select one or more of the alternative versions for
access or recording. FIGS. 5-8 and the following
detailed description describe exemplary display screens
for presenting media program options to a user in
connection with viewing or recording a media program.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a
display screen 500 that provides a user with an option
to access a regular version of a media program or an
extended version of the media program. The display
screen 500 can be shown after a user changes a channel
or after a user selects a program listing or stored
media program, for example, as described above herein
in connection with FIGS. 2-4. In the illustrated
screen 500, there is an option to access an extended
version of the media program 502. As used herein, an
"extended version" refers to a media program that is
related to and that has a longer duration than the
regular version of the media program. For example, if
the media program is the evening news, an extended
version can be a longer version of the evening news
that includes extra news footage. Additionally, in
accordance with one aspect of the invention, the
display screen 500 of FIG. 5 may be presented to a user
based on conditions associated with the extended
version and based on user interest in the media
program's segments. For example, a condition
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associated with the extended version 502 may require a
user to consistently watch the complete evening news
program over a particular number of days, such that the
display screen 500 is shown to the user only after the
condition is satisfied. In this manner, the condition
can operate to identify users who are more likely to be
interested in the extended version. Media program
conditions will be described in more detail in
connection with FIGS. 17-19.
[0032] FIG. 6 shows another display screen 600 that
provides a user with options to access yet other
versions of a media program. In the illustrated screen
600, there are options to select a condensed version of
a media program, such as a highlight version 602 or a
summary version 604. In one embodiment, a highlight
version of a media program 602 can be a compilation of
important clips from various segments of the regular
version. In one embodiment, a summary version of a
media program 604 can be a scrolling or navigable text
summary of the content or storyline of the media
program. In one embodiment, the display screen can
include an option for the user to designate particular
segments of the regular version to access and
particular segments to not access 606. This option 606
allows a user to generate a tailored version of a media
program by designating segments of interest and will be
described in connection with FIGS. 7-8. In one
embodiment, the display screen can include an option
for the user to watch the segments that the user
usually watches 608. If option 608 is selected, the
disclosed technology may, for example, present only the
segments the user typically views for any given program
(e.g., Late Show with David Letterman) or category of
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programming (e.g., news). A more detailed example of
presenting the segments a user usually watches is
described in connection with FIG. 8A. As described
above, the options to access different versions 602-608
of a media program can be presented to a user based on
conditions associated with the different versions and
based on the user's interest in particular media
program segments. In this manner, the media program
conditions can operate to identify users who are more
likely to be interested in the different versions 602-
608. Media program conditions will be described in
more detail in connection with FIGS. 17-19.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown an
exemplary display screen 700 that allows a user to
generate a tailored version of a media program by
designating particular segments of a media program to
access/record and particular segments to not
access/record. In one embodiment, the illustrated
display screen 700 can be shown after a user selects
the corresponding option 606 (FIG. 6) from the display
screen 600 of FIG. 6. In one embodiment, the display
screen 700 can show the labels of the segments 702 in
the regular version of the media program. In one
embodiment, the labels can be implemented as metadata
in the media program. In one example, if the media
program is the FOX evening news program, the news
program may include segments such as local news, world
news, traffic news, weather news, sports news,
entertainment news, daily book review, and upcoming
movies news segments 702, which can be identified by
metadata in the media program. The user equipment can
allow a user to designate particular segments to access
by, for example, placing a check mark 704 next to the
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particular segment labels, and particular segments to
not access by, for example, removing any check mark
beside such segment labels 706. In this manner, a user
can indicate which media program segments he or she is
interested in accessing/recording 704, and which media
program segments he or she is not interested in
accessing/recording 706. For example, although a user
may watch the FOX evening news, the user may have no
interest in watching the world news, traffic news,
entertainment news, and upcoming movie segments 706 of
the evening news_ Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, the
unchecked segments 802 would not be presented to the
user. Only segments that the user has designated with
a check mark 704 can be presented/recorded. In one
embodiment, the display screen 700 of FIG. 7 can
initially be displayed with certain segment labels
already checked, based on knowing a user's interest in
the news program's segments or in analogous segments of
other news programs.
[0034] In one embodiment, with continuing reference
to FIG. 8, the regular version of a media program may
be located at a user equipment or at a
server/distribution facility. If the regular version
is located at user equipment, the user equipment can
perform the segment selection operation locally. In
one embodiment, if the regular version is located at a
server/distribution facility, the server/distribution
facility can communicate the regular version to the
user equipment and allow the user equipment to perform
the segment selection operation locally. In another
embodiment, the server/distribution facility can
perform the segment selection operation and communicate
the selected segments to the user equipment as a media
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file or as streaming media. In one embodiment, for a
broadcast platform (e.g., cable, satellite), the
selected segments can be communicated to the user
equipment in an out-of-band analog or digital channel
or in another channel that is different from the
channel broadcasting the regular version. The user
equipment can present the segment selections 804 or
record the segment selections 804 as they are received.
One skilled in the art will recognize that existing
analog and/or digital communications technologies can
be used to communicate the regular version of the media
program or the segment selections 804 to user
equipment.
[0035] In one embodiment and with continuing
reference to FIG. 8, the regular version of a media
program may be playing on a broadcast platform. A
recording device (not shown) may know the user's
designations from FIG. 7 or may know the user's
interest in the media program's segments. Accordingly,
the recording device can, in one embodiment, tune in to
the media program and record only the segments which
the user has designated for recording or which the
user's interest information indicates would be of
interest to the user. Segment interest information is
described in more detail in connection with at least
FIGS. 14-15.
[0036] FIG. BA is a screen shot that may be
displayed prompting a user to select whether the user
wishes to watch his or her favorite segments for the
program the user is accessing. Prompt screen 820 may
be displayed, for example, when a user changes the
channel, accesses a video-on-demand program, accesses a
program stored on a digital video recorder, or in
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response to any other suitable action. If the user
chooses NO option 824, the program guide may display
the regular version of the program. If the user
chooses YES option 822, the program guide may display
an alternative version of the program. Many different
alternative versions of the program may be displayed,
depending on, for example, the program being accessed
or user monitored viewing activities of the program or
category of programming being assessed, or both.
[0037] In one embodiment, the interactive program
guide may provide an option to view a condensed
alternative version of programming. For example,
assume that a user likes watching sports and typically
watches the "Top Plays" or "Top Sports Highlights"
segment of a particular sports program (e.g., ESPN
Sportscenter). The interactive program guide may keep
track of the user's preferred interest in watching the
"Top Plays" segment of sports programming. Thus, when
the user accesses that particular sports program (e.g.,
ESPN Sportscenter), the program guide may prompt the
user to select whether he wishes to watch the "Top
Plays" segment of.that program. As an alternative to
the foregoing, when the user accesses a similar but
different sports program (e.g., FOX Sports), the
program guide may prompt the user to select whether he
wishes to watch the "Top Plays" segment of that
program. Note that the program guide may prompt the
user to watch the "Top Plays" segment of the different
program even if the user has not viewed the different
program or if the program guide has not tracked which
segments of that different program the user has
watched.
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[0038] The foregoing embodiment may be further
explained by the following example. Assume that the
program guide has monitored that the user typically
likes to watch only the local news and weather segments
of the news. When the user accesses a news program,
regardless of whether it is a news program the user
typically watches (e.g., channel 7 news) or a news
program the user normally does not watch (e.g.,
channel 2 news), the program guide may prompt the user
whether he wishes to watch his favorite segments.
[0039] In another embodiment, the program guide may
provide an options screen such as options screen 830 of
FIG. 8B for a user to select an extended alternative
version of programming. For example, assume that the
program guide has determined that the user may be
interested in watching "extra" media associated with
programming, if available. The "extra" media may
include, for example, the director's cut, director
commentary, interviews with actors, theatrical
trailers, behind-the-scenes, or other media that is
typically not displayed as part of the regular program.
When the user accesses programming that may have an
alternative extended version, the program guide may
prompt the user to select whether the user wishes to
view the alternative extended version.
[0040] The program guide may provide the user with a
segment selection menu of available segments that a
user may select and watch when the user accesses a
program, for example, through a program guide screen
(e.g., FIG. 3). Such a feature is discussed in
connection with FIGS. 8C and 8D. FIG. 8C shows a
display screen 840 of programming (e.g., broadcast
programming, VOD programming) that may be available for
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viewing. A user may navigate a highlight region 842 to
various program listings displayed on display
screen 840. When the user selects a program, the
program guide may provide a user with a segment
selection menu including available segments that may be
selected for viewing. FIG. 8D shows an example of a
segment selection menu 852 (outline in bold) that may
be presented in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention. The segment selection menu may be displayed
when the user presses a predetermined key on an input
device or the program guide may provide the user with
an option to have the segment selection menu displayed
when a program listing is selected.
[0041] Segment selection menu 852 may be displayed
in response to a user selection of the Sportscenter
program listing in FIG. 8C. For example, segment
selection menu 852 may expand out of the Sportcenter
listing to show that the segments pertain to
Sportscenter. The user may navigate a highlight
region 854 to select one or more of the segments for
viewing. For example, if the user selects the "Top
Plays" segment, the program guide may play the "Top
Plays" segment of Sportscenter. As described above
herein, the selected segment can be communicated to the
user equipment in a number of different ways or may
already be stored on the user equipment.
[0042] In one embodiment, the program guide may
recommend segments for the user to watch when the user
accesses a particular program. FIG. 8E shows display
screen 860, which may be a listing of programming
recorded on a digital-video-player. When the user
selects a listing such as the "ESPN Sportscenter"
program listing, the program guide may display a
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segment recommendations window 862, which may be an
expansion of the selected program listing. Segment
recommendations window 862 may include one or more
segments the program guide recommends for the user.
For example, a user may typically watch the Top Plays
segment of ESPN Sportscenter but the user may not know
about an analogous Top Plays segment in Fox Sports. In
one embodiment, the Top Plays segment of Fox Sports can
be presented to the user even when the user may not
have accessed Fox Sports. In this embodiment, based on
knowing that a user typically watches the Top Plays
segment of ESPN Sportscenter, the disclosed technology
can seek out other media programs that have a Top Plays
segment analogous to the Top Plays segment in ESPN
Sportscenter and can find the Fox Sports media program
in that manner. If desired, the user may then select
one or more of the recommended segments for viewing.
The segment recommendation menu 862 may be displayed
when the user presses a predetermined key on an input
device, or the program guide may provide the user with
an option to have the segment recommendation menu
displayed when a program listing is selected.
[0043] In one aspect of the invention, a user
equipment can determine the availability of different
versions of a media program in different ways. For
example, in the scenario of FIG. 2, where the user
equipment may receive a broadcast media program, the
media program signal can include metadata to indicate
the availability and/or location of other versions of
the media program. If the media program signal is an
analog signal, the metadata can be encoded in the
vertical blanking interval of the analog signal or in
another suitable interval. If the media program signal
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is a digital signal, the metadata can be interleaved
among the media program content. Therefore, the
exemplary display screens of FIGS. 5-6 can appear after
the metadata is received and processed. In the
scenario of FIG. 3, where the user equipment is using a
media guidance application, the media guidance
application can have information about the availability
and/or location of other versions of a media program.
Therefore, in one embodiment, the exemplary display
screens of FIGS. 5-6 can appear when the user has
selected a program listing for access or recording, but
before the user equipment tunes to or receives the
selected media program. Alternatively, the display
screens of FIGS. 5-6 can appear after the user
equipment tunes to or receives the selected media
program. The display screens can appear when the media
guidance application is still open, or after the media
guidance application has been closed and the media
program is displayed in full screen. In the scenario
of FIG. 4, where the user is accessing a list of
recorded/stored media programs, the recorded/stored
media programs can include metadata or header
information to indicate that other versions of the
media program are available. If the stored media
programs have header information, the header
information can include the types and locations of the
different media program versions. If the stored media
programs do not have header information, the media
programs can include metadata, as described above in
connection with the scenario of FIG. 2. The user
equipment can access the indication either in the
header information or in metadata embedded in the media
program. The exemplary display screens of FIGS. 5-6
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can be displayed while the media programs list is open,
or after the media programs list has been closed and
the selected media program is displayed in full screen.
[0044] In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, a user can be presented with media program
options based on the user's interest in particular
media program segments. The media program options can
include, for example, an opportunity to access/record
different versions of a media program. FIGS. 9-16 and
the following detailed description will now describe
this aspect of the invention.
[0045] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary data structure 900
that can be used to identify a media program segment.
The data structure 900 can be implemented as metadata
and can be embedded in a media program. For example,
the data structure 900 can be encoded in a vertical
blanking interval of an analog signal or in another
suitable interval, or the data structure 900 can be
interleaved among the content of a digital signal. In
a platform in which a user can switch among multiple
channels or otherwise switch among multiple media
programs, the data structure 900 can occur in the media
programs periodically so that the user equipment will
be able to identify media program segments even when a
user tunes-in mid-way into a media program segment.
[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the data
structure 900 includes a field that identifies the data
structure as containing media program segment
information 902. The field 902 need not contain the
string "Segment Information" and can contain another
value. The data structure also includes a field that
characterizes a media program segment as one or more
standardized segment types 904. The standard segment
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types can be defined by an industry group, for example.
In contrast, the illustrated data structure also
includes a field for identifying a media program
segment using one or more custom segment names 906.
The custom segment names 906 may or may not be
standardized. In one embodiment, the custom segment
name(s) 906 can include names used by a programming
station and/or a program producer, for example. In one
embodiment, segment information may specify both
standard segment type(s) 904 and custom segment name(s)
906. In other embodiments, segment information may
specify only standard segment type(s) 904 or only
custom segment name(s) 906 both not both. In one
embodiment, different media programs that have
analogous or relevant program segments can use the same
standard segment types 904 or the same custom segment
names 906. For example, "Top Plays" may be a standard
segment type or a custom segment name. The Top Plays
segment of ESPN Sportscenter and the analogous Top
Plays segment of FOX Sports can each include the
illustrated data structure 900 and can include the "Top
Plays" standard segment type/custom segment name. In
this manner, if a user typically watches the Top Plays
segment of ESPN Sportscenter, the disclosed technology
can determine, based on the "Top Plays" standard
segment type/custom segment name in the FOX Sports
media program, that the user may also be interested in
watching the Top Plays segment of FOX Sports.
[0047] The illustrated data structure 900 also
includes a field that specifies a minimum tune-in
duration Tint 908 that is required for the user to
establish interest in the media program segment. In
one example, if a media program segment is five minutes
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long, the minimum tune-in duration required to
establish interest in the segment may be four minutes.
However, if the media program segment is three minutes
long, the minimum tune-in duration required to
establish interest in the segment,.may be two minutes.
The value of the minimum tune-in duration 908 can be
defined by a programming station or a program producer,
for example, and can vary depending on the content and
length of the segment.
[0048] In accordance with the data structure 900 of
FIG. 9, user interest in a media program segment can be
established based on a minimum tune-in duration Tint
908. FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an exemplary
segment tune-in timer circuit 1000 for computing tune-
in time and for determining whether the total tune-in
time for a segment is greater than the Tint for the
segment. In the illustrated embodiment, the timer
circuit 1000 includes a memory for recording the start
time of the timer 1002, a memory for recording the
total tune-in time for a segment 1004, and a memory for
recording received segment information 1006. The timer
circuit can receive a current time from a clock circuit
1008 and can receive segment information 1010 from a
media program signal. The segment'tune-i.n timer
circuit 1000 can also detect user commands 1012 that
may affect the timing computation. For example, if a
user pauses, fast-forwards, rewinds, or stops a media
program, or powers off the user device, the timer
circuit can stop the timer because those commands can
indicate that a user is no longer watching the media
program segment that was being tracking. On the other
hand, a play command can cause the timer circuit to
begin the timer, and, similarly, a channel or program
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switch command can cause the timer circuit to end the
timer for a segment and begin the timer for a new
segment. In one embodiment, when it is clear that a
media program segment has ended or stopped, or when a
user switches to another channel or program, the timer
circuit 1000 can compare the total segment tune-in time
1004 for the segment with the Tint value in the stored
segment information 1006. If the segment tune-in time
1004 is longer than Tint (908, FIG. 9), the timer
circuit 1000 can access a segment interest table 1014
to indicate that there was sufficient interest in the
media program segment. These operations are described
in detail in FIGS. 11-13. FIGS. 14-16 show examples of
segment interest tables. The following illustrations
and corresponding detailed description are exemplary do
not limit the implementation or operation of the
segment tune-in time circuitry.
[0049] Referring now to FIG. 11, there is shown a
flow diagram of the operation of the segment tune-in
timer circuit of FIG. 10. The illustrated embodiment
operates to keep track of the time during which a user
equipment presents a particular media program segment.
When the user device is first powered on 1102, the
timer circuit resets its segment information memory
1104, resets its segment total tune-in memory, and sets
its timer start time memory to the current time 1106.
The timer circuit then waits for events that trigger a
change in one.or more of its memories or that trigger a
computation 1108.
[0050] One triggering event is the receipt of
segment information (e.g., data structure of FIG. 9)
which identifies the segment that is being presented
1110. If the received segment information is the first
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segment information to be received (i.e., the segment
information memory is empty) 1112, the timer circuit
stores the received segment'information in the segment
information memory 1114 and again waits for a
triggering event 1108. However, if the received
segment information is not the first segment
information to be received 1112, the timer circuit can
determine if the received *segment information indicates
that the media program has entered a new segment (i.e.,
if the received segment information is different from
the stored segment information) 1116. If the media
program is still in the same segment, the timer circuit
can return to waiting for triggering events 1108. On
the other hand, if the media program has entered a new
segment, the timer circuit can process the user
interest in the segment that ended 1118, and then store
the received segment information in the segment
information memory 1120 and again wait for triggering
events 1108.
[0051] The flow chart of FIG. 12 shows one
embodiment of processing user interest in a segment.
Referring to FIG. 12, the timer circuit can compute the
difference between the timer start time and the current
time to compute the timed tune-in duration, which will
be referred to herein as "delta" 1202. The timer
circuit can then add delta to the segment tune-in total
time 1204. If the segment tune-in total time is
greater than or equal to Tint 1206, the timer circuit
records the user interest information in the segment
interest table (e.g., FIGS. 14-16) 1208. In the
illustrated embodiment, if the segment tune-in total
time is less than Tint 1206, the processing is complete
and nothing is stored in the segment interest table.
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[0052] FIG. 14 shows one embodiment of a segment
interest table in accordance with one aspect of the
invention. In one embodiment, the table 1400 can be
stored at the user equipment. In one embodiment, the
table 1400 can be stored at a location remote from the
user equipment. In the illustrated embodiment, the
table 1400 can maintain a list of user interest for
standard segment types 1402 and a list of user interest
for custom segment names 1404. In other embodiments,
the table can maintain only one list containing both
standard segments types 1402 and custom segment names
1404, or the table can maintain more than two lists by
sub-diva.ding the standard segment types 1402 or the
custom segment names.1404. When the timer circuit
updates the segment interest table 1400, the timer
circuit can add one count in the table for each
standard segment type 1402 and each custom segment name
1404 indicated in the segment information (1006, FIG.
10) stored in the timer circuit. For example, if the
user equipment is updating the segment interest table
1400 for the traffic segment of the FOX 7PM evening
news program, the traffic segment may have a standard
segment type of "News traffic" and a custom segment
name of "FOX 7PM traffic." If user interest is
established for this segment, the timer circuit can add
a count to both of these entries in the segment
interest table 1400. In general, it is intuitive that
the standard segment type entries 1402 in the table may
have greater counts than those for the custom segment
names 1404 because the standard segment types 1404 may
be used more frequently for different media programs
(e.g., all news programs throughout the day), while the
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custom segment names 1404 may be used only for
particular media programs (e.g., FOX 7PM evening news).
[0053] FIG. 15 shows a variation of the segment
interest table of FIG. 14. The table 1500 of FIG. 15
contains multiple interest counts 1502-1506 for each
standard segment type and each custom segment name.
The table 1500 can maintain a longer-term count, such
as a total count 1502, as well as shorter-term counts,
such as a weekly count 1504 or a daily count 1506.
FIG. 16 shows a configuration in which a community
segment interest table 1602 is maintained based on user
interest information from multiple user equipment 1604.
In one embodiment, the community segment interest table
1602 can be located remotely from the user equipment
1604, such as on a remote server or at a distribution
facility. In one embodiment, the community segment
interest table 1602 can be located on a home server,
and the user equipment 1604,can belong to household
members using the home server. In one embodiment, the.
community segment interest table 1602 can be accessed
and used by user equipment that is not part of the
community's user equipment 1604.
[0054] Returning to FIG. 11, other trigger events
that may effect the timer operation include user
commands received from a user interface device 1134.
If the command is a power off command 1122, the timer
circuit can process user interest in the tracked
segment 1124 before turning off the user equipment. If
the command is a change channel or change program
command 1126, the timer circuit can process user
interest in the tracked segment 1128 before, during, or
after changing to the different channel or program.
After the timer circuit processes user interest in the
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tracked segment 1128, the timer circuit can reset its
memory contents 1104, set the timer start time to the
current time 1106, and wait for triggering events 1108.
If the triggering event is a presentation control event
(e.g., pause, rewind, play) 1130, the timer circuit can
process the presentation control event 1132 in
accordance with FIG. 13. A presentation control event
1130 can occur if a user is controlling the
presentation of a stored media program, for example.
In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the timer circuit
considers a play command as the only command that
requires the timer to keep track of tune-in time. For
other commands, the timer circuit halts the timer. For
the user commands pause, stop, rewind, and fast-forward
1302, the timer circuit does nothing if the timing
operation is already halted 1304. In one embodiment,
the timer circuit can indicate the halt by setting the
timer start time to a reset value. Therefore, if the
timer start time is already at reset 1304 when a user
issues a pause, stop, rewind, or fast-forward command,
the timer circuit need not do anything. However, if
the timer operation is running and is not at reset, the
timer circuit can compute delta (i.e., current time
minus timer start time) 1306, add delta to the segment
tune-in total time 1308, and set the timer start time
to the reset value 1310. If the user command is a play
command 1312, the timer circuit can enable the timing
operation by setting the timer start time to the
current time 1314. For all other commands, the
illustrated embodiment does nothing. It is
contemplated that there may be other commands not
described herein which may effect the timer operation.
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The timer circuit.can handle those other commands in
accordance with the principles described above herein.
[0055] FIG. 11 is illustrative and other triggering
events that are not describee3 herein can also be
handled by the timer circuit in accordance with the
principles described above herein. One skilled in the
art will recognize that, in+one embodiment, triggering
events can be handled using hardware or software
interrupts in a processor-based computing architecture.
[0056] In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, user interest information can be used to
determine which media program options, if any, should
be provided to a user. FIG. 17 shows one embodiment of
a program option circuit 1702 for determining which
options, if any, should be provided to a user. The
program option circuit 1702 can be located in user
equipment and/or in a server/distribution facility.
The program option circuit 1702 can be in communication
with a media program 1704 that contains segment
information having standard.segment types 1706 and/or
custom segment names 1708 (e.g., FIG. 9). The program
option circuit 1702 can also be in communication with a
segment interest table 1710 (e.g., FIGS. 14-16), which
may be local to or remote from the program option
circuit 1702 and which can be a community segment
interest table (e.g., FIG. 16). In one embodiment, the
program option circuit 1702 can include media program
conditions 1712 that are associated with particular
media program options (not shown) and that are tied to
user interest information 1710. In various
embodiments, the conditions 1712 can be located at the
user equipment or at a server/distribution facility.
The conditions 1712 may be embedded in or stored
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separately from a media program 1704. In one aspect of
the invention, a condition 1712 associated with a
particular media program option can determine whether
or not the media program option is provided to a user.
In this manner, the media program conditions 1712 can
further the benefit of providing users with media
programs versions that they will likely enjoy.
[0057] As an example, an extended version of a media
program may be available. Assuming that only users who
are very interested in the media program would want
access the extended version, the conditions 1712
associated.with the extended version can require a user
to be equally interested and recently interested in
each of the segments of the media program 1704. For
example, referring to the segment interest table 1500
of FIG. 15, the condition may require that the total
counts 1502 for each of the segments in the media
program be substantially the same. The condition may
also require that the week counts 1504 for each of the
segments in the media program be substantially the
same. In various embodiments, the program options
circuit may determine "substantially the same" in
different ways. In one embodiment, the highest and
lowest counts may need to have less than a particular
difference. In one embodiment, the counts may all need
to be within a particular number or within a particular
percentage of the mean. Referring again to FIG. 17, if
the user interest information satisfies the condition
1712, the program option circuit 1702 can present the
user with the associated media program option, which
may be an option to access/record an alternative
version of a media program (e.g., FIGS. 5-7). In this
manner, the program option circuit 1702 can provide
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media program options to users who will likely be
interested in them.
[0058] One embodiment of the operation of the
program option circuit is shown in FIG. 18. When a
user has selected a media program for access or
recording, as described above herein, for example, in
connection with FIGS. 2-4, the program option circuit
can know or can identify the media program that was
selected. The program option circuit can obtain the
standard segment types and the custom segment names of
the media program's segments by, for example, examining
the media program to extract that information 1802.
The program option circuit can access a segment
interest table to locate entries corresponding to the
standard segment types and custom segment names of the
media program 1804, and can compare the interest counts
of the located entries to the media program conditions
1806. The conditions can be based on standard segment
types or custom segment names or both. For conditions
which are satisfied, the media program options
corresponding to those conditions can be presented to
the user 1808.
[0059] In one embodiment, a media program option can
include a highlight version of a media program. As
described above herein, a highlight version of a media
program can be a compilation of important clips from
various segments of a media program. In one
embodiment, a user may be interested in a highlight
version if the user typically catches only some
segments of the media program but not other segments.
Accordingly, a condition associated with a highlight
version can require that there be more user interest in
some segments of the media program and less interest in
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the remaining portions of the media program. In one
embodiment, more interest can refer to interest counts
that are greater than the mean of the relevant counts
and less interest can refer to interest counts that are
less than the mean. In one embodiment, a condition can
require that the proportion of more-interest segments
to less-interest segments be no less than a particular
proportion, such as one:two, for example.
[0060] In one embodiment, a media program option can
include a summary version of a media program. As
described above herein, a summary version of a media
program can be a scrolling or navigable text summary of
the content or storyline of the media program. In one
embodiment, a user may only be interested in the
summary version if the user barely watches the media
program at all. Accordingly, a condition associated
with a summary version can require that there be more
user interest in some segments of the media program and
less interest in the remaining portions of the media
program, but also require that the proportion of more-
interest segments to less-interest segments be no more
than a particular proportion, such as one:four, for
example.
[0061] In one embodiment, a media program option can
include an option to have the user generate a tailored
version of a media program by designating particular
segments to access and particular segments to not
access, as described above herein in connection with
FIG. 7. In one embodiment, a user may be interested in
this option if the user typically watches particular
segments and but not other segments. Accordingly, a
condition associated with this media program option can
require that there be substantially more user interest
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in some segments of the media program than in the
remaining portions of the media program.
[0062] In one embodiment, and with reference to FIG.
19, when a user selects a media program for access or
recording, the program option circuit may present an
option to allow the user to access/record a condensed
version of a related media program from an earlier time
slot. For example, this option may be particularly
applicable to episodes in a series. If a user
consistently watches the series but misses a particular
episode, the program option circuit can allow the user
to access a summary version of the missed episode, for
example. Accordingly, with reference also to FIG. 15,
a condition for this option may require the long term
counts (e.g., total counts 1502) for segments in the
media program to be substantially the same, and may
require the short term counts (e.g., the counts for the
day of an episode 1506) to be substantially zero 1902-
1906. For example, if a series airs every week on
Monday and.a user typically watches the entirety of
each episode, the total counts for the segments in the
media program can be substantially the same. However,
if the user misses an episode,- the Monday count would
be zero. In this situation, the media program
condition can allow the user to access an option to
view/record a condensed (e.g., summary) version of the
missed episode 1908. In one embodiment, the disclosed
technology can recognize when a user has missed an
episode of a series that he typically watches and can
automatically record the episode that was missed. For
example, the disclosed technology can access the
segment labels for media programs that will soon be
airing, and compare the labels to an segment interest
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table. If it is determined that a user typically
watches a media program that is about to air and the
user equipment is not tuned to the program or is
powered off, the media program or one of its
alternative versions can be recorded and presented to a
user at a later time.
[0063] In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, media program options can include
alternative versions with commercials 2002 and
alternative versions without commercials 2004, as shown
in the exemplary display screen 2000 of FIG. 20. In
one embodiment, the conditions associated with an
option to access a media program version with
commercials and an option to access a media program
version without commercials can be the same_ In one
embodiment, the condition associated with an option to
access a media program version without commercials can
be based on a user's interest in commercial segments,
one example of which is shown in FIG. 21. In one
embodiment, the option to access a media'program
version without commercials may require an additional
charge.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 21, a segment interest
table 2100 can include user interest in commercial
segments. In one embodiment, a commercial can include
only one segment. In one embodiment, the minimum time
duration to establish a user's interest in a commercial
can be the entire duration of the commercial. The
segment tune-in timer circuit of FIGS. 10-13 can
process user interest for commercials in the same way
it processes user interest for other media programs.
In one embodiment, a condition for an option to access
a media program version without commercials can require
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the commercial segment entries in the segment interest
table to be relatively few and the counts for those
entries to be relatively low. In one embodiment, a
condition for an option to access a media program
version with commercials can require the commercial
segment entries in the segment interest table to be
relatively many and the counts for those entries to be
relatively high. In one embodiment, a media program
version with commercials can include commercials that
are selected based on the commercial segment entries in
a.segment interest table 2100. For example, the
commercials presented to a user can be selected to
correspond to the commercial entries in the segment
interest table 2100 that have higher counts. In one
embodiment, the disclosed technology can use a user's
interest in segments of commercials to determine which
commercials to record and which commercial to not
record. For example, if a user typically watches BMW
car commercials but does not watch Mercedes car
commercials, the disclosed technology can record BMW
commercials but not record Mercedes commercials. In
one embodiment, the disclosed technology can use a
user's interest in segments of commercials to select
commercials to present to a user. Continuing with the
car commercial example, the disclosed technology can
select more BMW car commercials to present to the use
based on knowing that the user watches BMW commercials.
[0065] In one aspect of the invention, embodiments
of the present invention may be used across platforms.
That is, user activities (e.g., viewing habits) may be
monitored for different types of platforms and content
may be tailored to each different type of platform
based on monitored activities. For example, a user may
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have a platform that is typically used in the user's
home (e.g., set-top-box) and a platform that the user
may carry on his person (e.g., a.wireless personal
device). In this example, the two platforms are
referred to as the set-top-box and the personal device.
If the user typically watches sports and news
programming on the personal device, the media
application may provide sports and news segments that
may be viewed. If the user watches movies and news
with the set-top-box, the media application may tailor
display screens to offer segments related to movies and
news. In one embodiment, if the interactive program
guide is a networked program guide and is in
communication with different types of user devices, the
interactive program guide can access the separate
segment interest information for the different devices.
Therefore, the interactive program guide may know that
viewing habits on different devices may be different
and may provide different media program versions or
options to different devices.
[0066] FIG. 21A shows a display screen 2110 that
illustrate different business models of programming
that may be provided for a user in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. That is, the
media application may provide a user with an
opportunity to view regular and alternative versions of
programming at different prices, or for no price at
all. Display screen 2110 may be displayed, for
example, when the user selects a program listing (shown
here as Program X). The user may be provided with the
option to view the regular version of the program, a
version which may be offered to the user free of
charge, or alternative versions of the program, which
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versions may cost the user a predetermined amount of
money to view. For example, the user may select to
play the commercial free version of program x for
twenty-five cents by navigating a highlight region to
play element 2120.
[0067] FIG. 21B is a display screen showing an
alternative business model for providing programming in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Display screen 2130 shows a screen for a pay-per-view
event that permits a user to select from regular and
alterative versions of the pay-per-view event. For
example, as shown, a user may select from one of
versions 2132, 2134, or 2136. The user may select
version 2132 to watch the highlights of the program,
version 2134 to watch just the program, or version 2136
to watch the program and additional material associated
with the program.
[0068] It is understood that other business models
not specifically mentioned herein may be practiced by
the invention.
[0069] Accordingly, what have been described thus
far are systems and methods for accessing media
programs and media program options based on a user's
interest in media program segments. When a user
selects a media program for access or recording, a
program option circuit can present options related to
the selected media program if media program conditions
associated with the options are satisfied. A segment
tune-in timer circuit can track user interest in media
program segments and can maintain the interest
information in a segment interest table.
[0070] In one aspect of the invention, the
embodiments and aspects of the invention described
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above herein can be implemented in an interactive media
guidance system, which will now be described in
connection with FIGS. 22-27-.
[0071] An illustrative interactive media guidance
system 2200 in accordance with the present invention is
shown in FIG. 22. System 2200 is intended to
illustrate a number of approaches by which media of
various types, and guidance for such media, may be
provided to (and accessed by) end-users. The present
invention, however, may be applied in systems employing
any one or a subset of these approaches, or in systems
employing other approaches for delivering media and
providing media guidance.
[0072] The first approach represents a typical
television-centric system in which users may access
television (and in some systems music) programming.
This includes programming sources 2202 and distribution
facility 2204. Media such as television programming
and digital music is provided from programming sources
2202 to distribution facility 2204, using
communications path 2206. Communications path 2206 may
be a satellite path, a fiber-optic path, a cable path,
or any other suitable wired or wireless communications
path or combination of such paths.
[0073] Programming sources 2202 may be any suitable
sources of television and music programming, such as
television broadcasters (e.g., NBC, ABC, and HBO) or
other television or music production studios.
Programming sources 2202 may provide television
programming in a variety of formats in high definition
and standard definition, such as, for example, 1080p,
1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i, and any other suitable format.
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[00747 Distribution facility 2204 may be a cable
system headend, a satellite television distribution
facility, a television broadcaster, or any other
suitable facility for distributing video media (e.g.,
television programs, video-on-demand programs, pay-per-
view programs) and audio media (e_g., music programming
and music clips) to the equipment of subscribers of the
corresponding cable, satellite, or IPTV system. In
some approaches, distribution facility 2204 may also
distribute other media to users, such as video and
audio clips, web pages, and interactive applications,
that may be offered to subscribers of a given cable,
satellite, or IPTV system. There are typically
numerous distribution facilities 2204 in system 2200,
but only one is shown in FIG. 22 to avoid
overcomplicating the drawing.
[0075] Distribution facility 2204 may be connected
to various user equipment devices 2208, 2210, and 2212.
Such user equipment devices may be located, for
example, in the homes of users. User equipment devices
may include user television equipment 2210, user
computer equipment 2212, or any other type of user
equipment suitable for accessing media. User equipment
2208 may be any type of user equipment. (e.g., user
television equipment, user computer equipment, cellular
phones, handheld video players, gaming platforms,
etc.), including mobile or portable television viewing
devices, such as location-free television consumer
electronic devices or car entertainment systems that
include a television tuner. For simplicity, user
equipment devices may be referred to generally as user
equipment 2208.
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[0076] User equipment devices 2208, 2210, and 2212
may receive media (such as television, music, web '
pages, etc.) and other data from distribution facility
2204 over communications paths, such as communications
paths 2214, 2216, and 2218, respectively. User
equipment devices 2208, 2210, 2212 may also transmit
signals to distribution facility 2204 over paths 2214,
2216, and 2218, respectively. Paths 2214, 2216, and
2218 may be cables or other wired connections, free-
space connections (e.g., for broadcast or other
wireless signals), satellite links, or any other
suitable link or combination of links.
[00771 A second approach illustrated in FIG. 22 by
which media and media guidance are provided to end
users is a non-television-centric approach. In this
approach media such as video (which may include
television programming), audio, images, web pages, or a
suitable combination thereof, are provided to equipment
of a plurality of users (e.g., user equipment 2208,
user television equipment 2210, and user computer
equipment 2212) by server 2230 via communications
network 2226. This approach is non-television-centric
because media (e.g., television programming) is
provided by and delivered at least partially, and
sometimes exclusively, via equipment that have not
traditionally been primarily focused on the television
viewing experience. Non-television-centric equipment
is playing a larger role in the television viewing
experience.
[00781 In some embodiments for this approach,
communications network 2226 is the Internet. Server
2230 may provide for example, a web site that is
accessible to the user's equipment and provides an on-
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line guidance application for the user. In.such
approaches, the user's equipment may be, for example, a
PC or a hand-held device such as a PDA or web-enabled
cellular telephone that incorporates a web browser. In
other embodiments, server 2230 uses the Internet as a
transmission medium but does not use the Web. In.such
approaches, the user's equipment may run a client
application that enables the user to access media. In
still other approaches, communications network 2226 is
a private communications network, such as a cellular
phone network, that does not include the Internet.
[0079] In yet other approaches, communications
network 2226 includes a private communications network
and the Internet. For example, a cellular telephone or
other mobile-device service provider may provide
Internet access to its subscribers via a private
communications network, or may provide media such as
video clips or television programs to its subscribers
via the Internet and its own network.
[0080] The aforementioned approaches for providing
media may, in some embodiments, be combined. For
example, a distribution facility 2204 may provide a
television-centric media delivery system, while also
providing users' equipment (e.g., 2208, 2210 and 2212)
with access to other non-television-centric delivery
systems provided by server 2230. For example, a user's
equipment may include a web-enabled set-top box or a
television enabled PC. Distribution facility 2204 may,
in addition to television and music programming,
provide the user with Internet access whereby the user
may access server 2230 via communications network 2226.
Distribution facility 2204 may communicate with
communications network 2226 over any suitable path
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2234, such as a wired path, a cable path, fiber-optic
path, satellite path, or combination of such paths.
[0081] Media guidance applications may be provided
using any approach suitable for the type of media and
distribution system for which the applications are
used. Media guidance applications may be, for example,
stand alone applications implemented on users'
equipment. In other embodiments, media guidance
applications may be client-server applications where
only the client resides on the users' equipment. In
still other embodiments, guidance applications may be
provided as web sites accessed by a browser implemented
on the users' equipment. Whatever the chosen
implementation, the guidance application will require
information about the media for which it is providing
guidance. For example, titles or names of media, brief
descriptions, or other information may be necessary to
allow users to navigate among and find desired media
selections. Additionally, the guidance application can
have information on whether=different versions of a
media program are available for access by a user. In
one embodiment, the guidance application can also
maintain or have access to a segment interest table
(e.g., FIGS. 14-16).
[0082] In some television-centric embodiments, for
example, the guidance application may be a stand-alone
interactive television program guide that receives
program guide data via a data feed (e.g., a continuous
feed, trickle feed, or data in the vertical blanking
interval of a channel). Data source 2220 in system
2200 may include a program listings database that is
used to provide the user with television program-
related information such as scheduled broadcast times,
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titles, channels, ratings information (e.g., parental
ratings and critic's ratings), user or community
interest information (e.g., a segment interest table,
FIGS. 14-16), detailed title descriptions, genre or
category information (e.g., sports, news, movies,
etc.), program format (e.g., standard definition, high
definition) and information on actors and actresses.
Data source 2220 may also be used to provide
advertisements (e.g., program guide advertisements and
advertisements for other interactive television
applications), real-time data such as sports scores,
stock quotes, news data, and weather data, application
data for one or more media guidance applications or
other interactive applications, and any other suitable
data for use by system 2200. As another example, data
source 2220 may provide data indicating the types of
information that may be included in interactive media
guidance overlays (e.g., at the request of the user,
absent user modification, etc.).
[0083] Program guide data may be provided to user
equipment, including user equipment located on home
network 2213, using any suitable approach. For
example, program schedule data, information on the
availability of different version of media programs,
various different versions of media programs, segment
interest tables (e.g., FIG. 14-16), segment information
metadata (e.g., FIG. 9), and other data may be provided
to the user equipment on a television channel sideband,
in the vertical blanking interval of a television
channel, using an in-band digital signal, using an out-
of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data
transmission technique. Program schedule data, media
programs, different versions of media programs, and
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other data may be provided to user equipment on
multiple analog or digital television channels.
Program schedule data and other data (e.g., segment
interest tables, FIGS. 14-16) may be provided to the
user equipment with any suitable frequency (e.g.,
continuously, daily, in response to a request from user
equipment, etc.).
[0084] In some television-centric embodiments,
guidance data from data source 2220 may be provided to
users' equipment using a client-server approach. For
example, a guidance application client residing on the
user's equipment may initiate sessions with server 2240
to obtain guidance data when needed. In some
embodiments, the guidance application may initiate
sessions with server 2240 via a home network server
(e.g., a server located in home network 2213 that
supports the user equipment devices loc.ated in home
network 2213).
[0085] There may be multiple data sources (such as
data source 2220) in system'2200, although only one
data source is shown in FIG. 22 to avoid
overcomplicating the drawing. For example, a separate
data source may be associated with each of a plurality
of television broadcasters and may provide data that is
specific to those broadcasters (e.g., advertisements
for future programming of the broadcasters, logo data
for displaying broadcasters' logos in program guide
display screens, different versions of media programs,
segment interest tables, etc.). Data source 2220 and
any other system components of FIG. 22 may be provided
using equipment at one or more locations. Systems
components are drawn as single boxes in FIG. 22 to
avoid overcomplicating the drawings.
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[0086] Data source 2220 may provide data to
distribution facility 2204 over communications path
2222 for distribution to the associated user equipment
and home network 2213 (discussed below) over paths
2214, 2216, 2218, and 2219 (e.g., when data source 2220
is located at a main facility). Communications path
2222 may be any suitable communications path such as a
satellite communications path or other wireless path, a
fiber-optic or other wired communications path, a path
that supports Internet communications, or other
suitable path or combination of such paths.
[0087.] In some television-centric and non-television
centric approaches, data source 2220 may provide
guidance data directly to user equipment 2208 over path
2224, communications network 2226, and path 2228 (e.g.,
when data source 2220 is located at a facility such as
one of programming sources 2202). In some embodiments
of the present invention, data source 2220 may provide
guidance data directly to user equipment located on
home network 2213 (discussed below) over path 2224,
communications network 2226, and path 2239 (e.g., when
data source 2220 is located at a facility such as one
of programming sources 2202). Paths 2224, 2228, and
2239 may be wired paths such as telephone lines, cable
paths, fiber-optic paths, satellite paths, wireless
paths, any other suitable paths or a combination of
such paths. Communications network 2226 may be any
suitable communications network, such as the Internet,
the public switched telephone network, or a packet-
based network.
[0088] User equipment devices, including user
equipment devices located on home network 2213
(discussed below), such as user television equipment
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and personal computers, may use the program schedule
data and other interactive media guidance application
data to display program listings and other information
(e.g., availability of different media program
versions) for the user. An interactive television
program guide application or other suitable interactive
media guidance application may be used to display the
information on the user's display (e.g., in one or more
overlays that are displayed on top of video for a given
television channel). Interactive displays (e.g., FIGS.
1, 5-7) may be generated and displayed for the user
using any suitable approach. In one suitable approach,
distribution facility 2204, server 2230, or another
facility, may generate application display screens and
may transmit the display screens to user equipment for
display. In another suitable approach, user equipment
may store data for use in one or more interactive
displays (e.g., program schedule data,.advertisernents,
logos, etc.), and an interactive media guidance
application implemented at least partially on the user
equipment may generate the interactive displays based
on instructions received from distribution facility
2204, server 2230 or another facility. In some
embodiments of the present invention, user equipment
may store only the data that is used to generate the
interactive television displays (e.g., storing logo
data for a particular television broadcaster only if
the logo is to be included in one or more interactive
television displays). In some embodiments of the
present invention, user equipment may store data that
is not necessarily used to generate the interactive
television displays (e.g., storing advertisements
associated with a particular television broadcaster
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that may or may not be displayed dependirng on, for
example, the outcome of negotiations with the
television broadcaster). Any other suitable approach
or combination of approaches may be used to generate
and display interactive overlays for the user.
[0089] In still other embodiments, interactive media
guidance applications. (television-centric and non-
television centric) may be provided online as, for
example, websites. For example, server 2230 may
provide an online interactive television program guide.
As another example, user equipment 2208 may be a mobile
device, such as a cellular telephone or personal
digital assistant (PDA). The mobile device may be web-
enabled to allow the user to access an on-line guidance
application (which may be modified from its original
version to make it appropriate for a cellular phone).
Alternatively, the mobile device may have an applet
that communicates with server 2230 to obtain guidance
data via the Internet.
[0090] Server 2230 may receive program schedule data,
information on the availability of different media
program versions, segment interest tables (e.g., FIGS.
14-16), and other data from data source 2220 via
communications path 2,224, communications network 2226,
and communications path 2232 or via another suitable
path or combination of paths. Path 2232 may be a
satellite path, fiber-optic path, wired path, or any
other path or combination of paths. User equipment
2208 may access the on-line interactive media guidance
application and other sources from server 2230 via
communications path 2228. User equipment 2208 may also
access the application and other services on server
2230 via communications path 2214, distribution
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facility 2204, and communications path 2234. For
example, a cable modem or other suitable equipment may
be used by user equipment 2208 to communicate with
distribution facility 2204.
[0091] User equipment such as user television
equipment 2210, user computer equipment 2212, and user
equipment located on home network 2213 may access the
on-line interactive media guidance application and
server 2230 using similar arrangements. User
television equipment 2210 may access the on-line
interactive media guidance application and server 2230
using communications path 2236 or using path 2216,
distribution facility 2204, and path 2234. User
computer equipment 2212 may access the on-line
interactive media guidance application and server 2230
using communications path 2238 or using path 2218,
distribution facility 2204, and path 2234. User
equipment located on home network 2213 may access the
on-line media guidance application and server 2230
using communications path 2239 or using path 2219,
distribution facility 2204, and path 2234. Paths 2236,
2238, and 2239 may be any suitable paths such as wired
paths, cable paths, fiber-optic paths, wireless paths,
satellite paths, or a combination of such paths.
[0092] In some embodiments, system 2200 may support
other interactive applications in addition to the
interactive media guidance applications. Such
applications may be implemented using any suitable
approach. For example, the interactive applications
may be implemented locally on the user equipment or in
a distributed fashion (e.g., using a client-server
architecture in which the user equipment serves at
least partly, and for at least some of the time, as the
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client and a server, such as server 2240 at
distribution facility 2204, server 2230, or other
suitable equipment acts as the server). Other
distributed architectures may also be used if desired.
Moreover, some or all of the features of the
interactive applications of system 2200 (including the
media guidance application) may be provided using
operating system software or middleware software. Such
operating system software and middleware may be used
instead of or in combination with application-level
software. In yet other approaches, interactive
applications may also be supported by servers or other
suitable equipment at one or more service providers
such as service provider 2242. Regardless of the
particular arrangement used, the software that supports
these features may be referred to as an application or
applications.
[00931 For example, an interactive application such
as a home shopping service may be supported by a
service provider such as service provider 2242 that has
sales representatives, order fulfillment facilities,
account maintenance facilities, and other equipment for
supporting interactive home shopping features. A home
shopping application that is implemented using the user
equipment may be used to access the service provider to
provide such features to the user. The user equipment
may access service provider.2242 via distribution
facility 2204 and communications path 2244 or via
communications network 2226 and communications path
2246. Communications paths such as paths 2244 and 2246
may be any suitable paths such as wired paths, cable
.paths, fiber-optic paths, satellite paths, or a
combination of such paths.
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[0094] Another example of an interactive application
is a home banking application. A home banking service
may be supported using personnel at facilities such as
service provider 2242. An interactive home banking
application that is implemented using the user
equipment may access the home banking service via
distribution facility 2204 and communications path 2244
or via communications network 2226 and communications
path 2246.
[0095] If desired, an interactive media guidance
application such as a network-based video recorder or a
video-on-demand application may be supported using
server 2240, server 2230, a home network server, or
equipment at service provider 2242. Video-on-demand
content, different versions of media programs, and
video recorded using a network-based video recorder
arrangement may be stored on server 2240 or server 2230
or a home network server or at service provider 2242
and may be provided to the user equipment when
requested by users. An interactive television program
guide, for example, may be used to support the
functions of a digital video recorder (sometimes called
a personal video recorder) that is implemented using
user equipment 2208. Illustrative equipment that may
be used to support digital video recorder functions
include specialized digital video recorder devices,
integrated receiver decoders (IRDs), set-top boxes with
integrated or external hard drives, or personal
computers with video recording capabilities.
[0096] Interactive applications such as media
guidance applications (e.g., interactive television
program guide applications and video-on-demand
applications), home shopping applications, home banking
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applications, game applications, and other applications
(e.g., applications related to e-mail and chat or other
communications functions, etc.) may be provided as
separate applications that are accessed through a
navigation shell application (i.e., a menu application
with menu options corresponding to the applications).
The features of such applications may be combined. For
example, games, video-on-demand services, home shopping
services, network-based video recorder functions,
digital video recorder functions, navigational
functions, program guide functions, communications
functions, and other suitable functions may be provided
using one application or any other suitable number of
applications. The one or more applications may display
various overlays on user equipment including, for
example, interactive television information on top of
video for a given television channel.
[0097] Interactive television program guide
applications, home banking applications, home shopping
applications, network-based video recorder and digital
video recorder applications, video-on-demand
applications, gaming applications, communications
applications, and navigational applications are only a
few illustrative examples of the types of interactive
media guidance and other applications that may be
supported by system 2200. Other suitable interactive
applications that may be supported include news
services, web browsing and other Internet services, and
interactive wagering services (e.g., for wagering on
horse races, sporting events, and the like).
Interactive television overlays that are displayed by
these applications may also be customized in accordance
with the present invention.
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[0098] Users may have multiple types of user
equipment by which they access media and obtain media
guidance. For example, some users may have home
networks that are accessed by in-home and mobile
devices. As shown in FIG. 22, home network 2213
communicates with distribution facility 2204 and server
2230 over paths 2219 and 2239 (and, in the case of
server 2230, communications network 2226). Such home
networks 2213 may be located, for example, in homes of
users or distributed, for example, among homes of
users. Home networks 2213 may each include a plurality
of interconnected user equipment devices, such as, for
example user equipment devices 2208, 2210 and 2212. In
some embodiments, users may control in-home devices via
a media guidance application implemented on a remote
device. For example, users may access an online media
guidance application on a website via a personal
computer at their office, or a mobile device such as a
PDA or web-enabled cellular telephone. The user may
set settings (e.g., recordings, reminders, options to
access different media program versions, or other
settings) on the on-line guidance application to
control the user's in-home equipment. The on-line
guide may control the user's equipment directly, or by
communicating with a media guidance application on the
user's in-home equipment.
[0099] FIGS. 22-26 show illustrative arrangements
for user equipment. An illustrative set-top box-based
arrangement for user equipment 2210 is shown in
FIG. 23. User television equipment 2210 may be stand-
alone or a part of home network 2213 (FIG. 22).
Input/output 2302 may be connected to communications
paths such as paths 2216 and 2236 (FIG. 22).
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Input/output functions may be provided by one or more
wires or communications paths, but are shown as a
single path in FIG. 23 to avoid overcomplicating the
drawing. Television programming, program guide data,
information on the availability of different versions
of media programs, various versions of media programs,
segment interest tables, and any other suitable
interactive media guidance application data or other
data may be received using input/output 2302. Commands
and requests and other data generated as a result of
user interactions with the interactive media guidance
application may also be transmitted over input/output
2302.
[0100] Set-top box 2304 may be any suitable analog
or digital set-top box (e.g., a cable set-top box).
Set-top box 2304 may contain an analog tuner for tuning
to a desired analog television channel (e.g., a channel
comprising television programming, interactive
television data, or both). Set-top box 2304 may also
contain digital decoding circuitry for receiving
digital television channels (e.g., channels comprising
television or music programming, interactive television
data, etc.). Set-top box 2304 may also contain a high-
definition television tuner for receiving and
processing high-definition television channels. Set-
top box 2304 may include a segment tune-in timer
circuit (FIG. 10) and a program options circuit (FIG.
17). Analog, digital, and high-definition channels may
be handled together if desired. Multiple tuners may be
provided (e.g., to handle simultaneous watch and record
functions or picture-in-picture (PIP) functions). Box
2304 may be an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) that
handles satellite television. If desired, box 2304 may
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have circuitry for handling cable, over-the-air
broadcast, and satellite content.
[0101] Set-top box 2304 may be configured to output
media, such as television programs, in a preferred
format. Because television programs may be received in
a variety of formats, set-top box 2304 may contain
scaler circuitry for upconverting and downconverting
television programs into the preferred output format
used by set-top box 2304. For example, set-top box
2304 may be configured to output television programs in
720p. In this example, the scaler circuitry may
upconvert standard-definition television programs
having 480 lines of vertical resolution to 720p format
and downconvert certain high-definition television
programs having 1080 lines of vertical resolution to
720p format.
[0102] Box 2304 may include a storage device (e.g.,
a digital storage device such as a hard disk drive) for
providing recording capabilities. Box 2304 may also be
connected to a recording device 2306 such as a video
cassette recorder, digital video recorder, optical disc
recorder, or other device or devices with storage
capabilities. In some embodiments, box 2304 may be
configured to record either standard-definition
television programs or high-definition television
programs. In some embodiments, box 2304 may be
configured to record both standard-definition
television programs and high-definition television
programs.
[0103] Set-top box 2304 contains a processor (e.g.,
a microcontroller or microprocessor or the like) that
is used to execute software applications. Set-top box
2304 may contain memory such as random-access memory
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for use when executing applications. Nonvolatile
memory may also be used (e.g., to launch a boot-up
routine and other instructions)_ Hard disk storage in
box 2304 or in recording device 2306 may be used to
back up data and to otherwise support larger databases
and storage requirements than may be supported using
random-access memory approaches. Hard disk storage in
box 2304 or in recording device 2306 may also be used
to store and back up program guide settings, segment
interest tables (e.g., FIGS. 14-16), different versions
of media programs, or saved user preferences.
[0104] Set-top box 2304 may have infrared (IR) or
other communications circuitry for communicating with a
remote control or wireless keyboard. Set-top box 2304
may also have dedicated buttons and a front-panel
display. The front-panel display may, for example, be
used to display the current channel to which the set-
top box is tuned.
[0105] Set-top box 2304 may also have communications
circuitry such as a cable modem, an integrated services
digital network (ISDN) modem, a digital subscriber line
(DSL) modem, a telephone modem, or a wireless modem for
communications with other equipment. Such
communications may involve the Internet or any other
suitable communications networks or paths. If desired,
the components of set-top box 2304 may be integrated
into other user equipment (e.g., a television or video
recorder).
[0106] Recording device 2306 may be used to record
videos, media programs, or different versions of media
programs provided by set-top box 2304. For example, if
set-top box 2304 is tuned to a given television
channel, the video signal fpr that television channel
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may be passed to recording device 2306 for recording on
a videocassette, compact disc, digital video disk, or
internal hard drive or other storage device. In some
embodiments, recording device 2306 may be configured to
record either standard-definition television programs
or high-definition television programs. In some
embodiments, recording device 2306 may be configured to
record both standard-definition television programs and
high-definition television programs. Recording device
2306 may have communications circuitry such as a cable
modem, an ISDN modem, a DSL modem, or a telephone modem
for communications with other equipment. Such
communications may involve the Internet or any other
suitable communications networks or paths. The
components of recording device 2306 may be integrated
into other user equipment (e.g., a television, stereo
equipment, etc.).
[0107] Recording device 2306 may be controlled using
a remote control or other suitable user interface. If
desired, video recorder functions such as start, stop,
record and other functions for device 2306 may be
controlled by set-top box 2304. For example, set-top
box 2304 'may control recording device 2306 using
infrared commands directed toward the remote control
inputs of recording device 2306 or set-top box 2304 may
control recording device 2306 using other wired or
wireless communications paths between box 2304 and
device 2306.
[0108] The output of recording device 2306 may be
provided to television 2308 for display to the user.
In some embodiments, television 2308 may be capable of
displaying high-definition programming (i.e., HDTV-
capable). If desired, multiple recording devices 2306
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or no recording device 2306 may be used. If recording
device 2306 is not present or is not being actively
used, the video signals from set-top box 2304 may be
provided directly to television 2308. Any suitable
television or monitor may be used to display the video.
For example, if the video is in a high-definition
format, an HDTV-capable television or monitor is
required to display the video. In the equipment of
FIG. 23 and the other equipment of system 2200 (FIG.
22), the audio associated with various video items is
typically distributed with those video items and is
generally played back to the user as the videos are
played. In some embodiments, the audio may be
distributed to a receiver (not shown), which processes
and outputs the audio via external speakers (not
shown).
[0109] Another illustrative arrangement for user
television equipment 2210 (FIG. 22) is shown in FIG.
24. User television equipment 2210 may be stand-alone
or a part of home network 2213 (FIG. 22). In the
example of FIG. 24, user television equipment 2210
includes a recording device 2402 such as a digital
video recorder (e.g., a personal video recorder (PVR))
that uses a hard disk or other storage for recording
video. Recording device 2402 may alternatively be a
digital video disc recorder, compact disc recorder,
videocassette recorder, or other suitable recording
device. Equipment 2210 of FIG. 24 may also include a
television 2404. In some embodiments, television 2404
may be HDTV-capable. Input/output 2406 may be
connected to communications paths such as paths 2216
and 2236 (FIG. 22). Television programming, program
schedule data, information on the availability of
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different versions of media programs, various versions
of media programs, segment interest tables, and other
data (e.g., advertisement data, data indicating one or
more television channels for which the display of an
overlay is to be customized, etc.) may be received
using input/output 2406. Commands and requests and
other data from the user may be transmitted over
input/output 2406.
[0110] Recording device 2402 may contain at least
one analog tuner for tuning to a desired analog
television channel (e.g., to display video for a given
television channel to a user, to receive program guide
data and other data) and multiple other tuners may also
be provided. Recording device 2402 may also contain
digital decoding circuitry for receiving digital
television programming, music programming, program
guide data, and other data on one or more digital
channels. Recording device 2402 may also contain
circuitry for receiving high-definition television
channels. If desired, recording device 2402 may
contain circuitry for handling analog, digital, and
high-definition channels. Recording device 2402 may
include a segment tune-in timer circuit (FIG. 10) and a
program options circuit (FIG. 17). "Recording device
2402 also contains a processor (e.g., a microcontroller
or microprocessor or the like) that is used to execute
software applications. Recording device 2402 may
contain memory such as random-access memory for use
when executing applications. Nonvolatile memory may
also be used to store a boot-up routine or other
instructions. The hard disk and other storage in
recording device 2402 may be used to support databases
(e.g., program guide databases, segment interest
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tables, or other interactive television application
databases). The hard disk or other storage in
recording device 2402 may also be used to record video
such as television programs, different versions of
media programs, or video-on-demand content or other
content provided to recording device 2402 over
input/output 2406.
[0111] Recording device 2402 may have IR
communications circuitry or other suitable
communications circuitry for communicating with a
remote control. Recording device 2402 may also have
dedicated buttons and a front-panel display. The
front-panel display may, for example, be used to
display,the current channel to which the recording
device is tuned.
[0112] Recording device 2402 may also have
communications circuitry such as a cable modem, an ISDN
modem, a DSL modem, a telephone modem, or a wireless
modem for communications with other equipment. Such
communications may involve the Internet or other
suitable communications networks or paths.
[0113] If desired, recording device 2402 may include
a satellite receiver or other equipment that has
wireless communications circuitry for receiving
satellite signals.
[0114] Recording device 2402 of FIG. 24 or recording
device 2306 of FIG. 23 may record new video while
previously recorded video is being played back on
television 2404 or 2308. This allows users to press a
pause button during normal television viewing. When
the pause button is pressed, the current television
program is stored on the hard disk of digital video
recorder 2402. When the user presses play, the
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recorded video may be played back. This arrangement
allows the user to seamlessly pause and resume
television viewing. Recording devices 2402 and 2306
may also be used to allow a user to watch a previously-
recorded program while simultaneously recording a new
program.
[0115] The set-top box arrangement of FIG. 23 and
the digital video-recorder with a built-in set-top box
arrangement of FIG. 24 are merely illustrative. Other
arrangements may be used if desired. For example, user
television equipment may be based on a WebTV box, a
personal computer television (PC/TV), or any other
suitable television equipment arrangement. If desired,
the functions of components such as set-top box 2304,
recording device 2402, a WebTV box, or PC/TV or the
like may be integrated into a television or personal
computer or other suitable device.
[0116] An illustrative remote control 2500 for
operating user television equipment 2210 (FIG. 22) or
suitable user computer equipment 2212 is shown in FIG.
25. Remote control 2500 is only illustrative and any
other suitable user input interface may be used to
operate user equipment (e.g., a mouse, trackball,
keypad, keyboard, touch screen, voice recognition
system, etc.). Remote control 2500 may have function
keys 2502 and other keys 2504 such as keypad keys,
power on/off keys, pause, stop, fast-forward and
reverse keys. Volume up and down keys 2506 may be used
for adjusting the volume of the audio portion of a
video. Channel up and down keys 2508 may be used to
change television channels and to access content on
virtual channels. Cursor keys 2510 may be used to
navigate on-screen menus. For example, cursor keys
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2510 may be used to position an on-screen cursor,
indicator, or highlight (sometimes all generically
referred to herein as a highlight or highlight region)
to indicate interest in a particular option or other
item on a display screen that is displayed by the
interactive television application.
[0117] OK key 2512 (sometimes called a select or
enter key) may be used to select on-screen options that
the user has highlighted, such as options to access
different versions of media programs (FIGS. 5-7).
[0118] Keys 2502 may include RECORD key 2514 for
initiating recordings. MENU button 2516 may be used to
direct an interactive media guidance application to
display a menu on the user's display screen (e.g., on
television 2308 or 2404 or on a suitable monitor or
computer display). INFO button 2518 may be used to
direct an interactive media guidance application to
display an information display screen. For example,
when a user presses INFO key 2518 while video for a
given television channel is displayed for the user, an
interactive television program guide may display a
FLIP/BROWSE overlay including program schedule
information for the current program on the given
television channel on top of the video. As another
example, when a particular program listing in an
interactive television program listings display screen
is highlighted, the user pressing INFO button 2518 may
cause an interactive television program guide to
provide additional program information associated with
that program listing (e.g., a program description,
actor information, schedule information, etc.).
[0119] LOCK button 2520 may be used to modify access
privileges=. For example, a parent may use LOCK button
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2520 or on-screen options to establish parental control
settings for the interactive media guidance
application. The parental control settings may be
time-based settings (e.g., to prevent a child from
watching television during a particular time block,
such as from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM). The parental control
settings may also be used to, for example, block
programming based on rating, channel, and program
title. A locked or blocked program (or other media) is
typically not viewable until the interactive media
guidance application is provided with a suitable-
personal identification number (PIN). Once this PIN
has been entered, the interactive media guidance
application will unlock the user's equipment and allow
the locked content to be accessed.
[0120] EXIT button 2522 may be used to exit the
interactive media guidance application or to exit a
portion of the interactive media guidance application
(e.g., to cause an interactive television program guide
to remove a FLIP, BROWSE, or other interactive
television overlay from the display screen). GUIDE
button 2524 may be used to invoke an interactive
television program guide (e.g., a program guide menu
screen, program listings screen, or other program guide
screen).
[0121] The keys shown in FIG. 25 are merely
illustrative. Other keys or buttons may be provided if
desired. For example, a music button may be used to
access music with the interactive media guidance
application. An edit button may be used to edit stored
content (e.g., to remove commercials, remove portions
of a video, etc.). Alphanumeric buttons may be used to
enter alphanumeric characters. A last or back button
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may be used to browse backward in the interactive media
guidance application (e.g., to return to a previous
channel, web page, or other display screen). Video
recorder function buttons such as a play button, pause
button, stop button, rewind button, fast-forward
button, and record button, may be used to control video
recorder functions (local or network-based) in system
2200 (FIG. 22). A help key may be used to invoke help
functions such as context-sensitive on-screen help
functions.
[0122] Illustrative user computer equipment 2212
(FIG. 22) is shown in FIG. 26. User computer equipment
2212 may be stand-alone or a part of home network 2213
(FIG. 22). In the arrangement of FIG. 26, personal
computer unit 2602 may be controlled by the user using
keyboard 2604 and/or other suitable user input device
such as a trackball, mouse, touch pad, touch screen,
voice recognition system, or a remote control, such as
remote control 2500 of FIG. 25. Video content, such as
television programming or web pages having video
elements, and interactive media guidance application
display screens may be displayed on monitor 2606.
Television and music programming, media guidance
application data (e.g., television program guide data),
video-on-demand content, video recordings played back
from a network-based.video recorder, information on the
availability of different versions of media programs,
various versions of media programs, segment interest
tables, and other data may be received from paths 2218
and 2238 (FIG. 22) using input/output 2608. User
commands and other information generated as a result of
user interactions with the interactive media guidance
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application and system 2200 (FIG. 22) may also be
transmitted over input/output 2608.
[0123] Personal computer unit 2602 may contain a
television or video card, such as a television tuner
card, for decoding analog, digital, and high-definition
television channels and for handling streaming video
content. Multiple video cards (e.g., tuner cards) may
be provided if desired. An illustrative television
tuner card that may be used may contain an analog
television tuner for tuning to a given analog channel,
digital decoding circuitry for filtering out a desired
digital television or music channel from a packetized
digital data stream, and a high-definition television
tuner for tuning to a high-definition channel. Any
suitable card or components in computer unit 2602 may
be used to handle video and other content delivered via
input/output line 2608 if desired.
[0124] Personal computer unit 2602 may contain one
or more processors (e.g., microprocessors) that are
used to run the interactive media guidance application
or a portion of the interactive media guidance
application.
[0125] Personal computer unit 2602 may include a
hard drive, a recordable DVD drive, a recordable CD
drive, or other suitable storage device or devices that
stores video, program guide data, information on the
availability of different versions of media programs,
various versions of media programs, segment interest
tables, and other content. The interactive media
guidance application and personal computer unit 2602
may use a storage device or devices to, for example,
provide the functions of a digital video recorder. The
personal computer unit 2602 may include a segment tune-
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in timer circuit (FIG. 10) and a program options
circuit (FIG. 17).
[0126] User equipment, such as user equipment 2208,
user television equipment 2210, user computer equipment
2212, and user equipment located on home network 2213
(FIG. 22), may be used with network equipment such as
server 2230, server 2240, a home network server, and
equipment at service providers such as service provider
2242 of FIG. 22 to provide network-based video
recording functions. Video recording functions may be
provided by storing copies of television programs and
other video content on a remote server (e.g., server
2230 or server 2240 or a home network server) or other
network-based equipment, such as equipment at a service
provider such as service provider 2242.
[0127] Video recordings may be made in response to
user commands that are entered at user equipment 2208
or user equipment located on home network 2213 (FIG.
22). In a digital video recorder arrangement, the
interactive media guidance application may be used to
record video locally on the user equipment in response
to the user commands. In a network-based video
recorder arrangement, the interactive media guidance
application may be used to record video or to make
virtual recordings (described below) on network
equipment such as server 2230, server 2240, a home
network server, or equipment at service provider 2242
in response to the user commands. The user commands
may be provided to the network equipment over the
communications paths shown in FIG. 22. The digital
video recorder arrangement and the network-based video
recorder arrangement can support functions such as
fast-forward, rewind, pause, play, and record.
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[0128] To avoid unnecessary duplication in a
network-based video recorder environment, system 2200
may provide network-based video recording capabilities
by using virtual copies or recordings. With this
approach, each user may be provided with a personal
area on the network that contains a list of that user's
recordings. The video content need only be stored once
(or a relatively small number of times) on the network
equipment, even though a large number of users may have
that video content listed as one of their recordings in
their network-based video recorder personal area.
Personal settings or any other suitable data may be
stored in a user's personal area on the network.
[0129] The user television equipment and user
computer equipment arrangements described above are
merely illustrative. A more generalized embodiment of
illustrative user equipment 2208, 2210, and 2212 (FIG.
22) and user equipment located on home network 2213
(FIG. 22) is shown in FIG. 27, which can include mobile
or portable television viewing devices, such as
location-free television consumer electronic devices or
car entertainment systems that include a television
tuner. Control circuitry 2702 is connected to
input/output 2704. Input/output 2704 may be connected
to one or more communications paths such as paths 2214,
2216, 2218, 2228, 2236, and 2238 of FIG. 22. Media
(e.g., television programming, music programming,
different versions of media programs, other video and
audio, and web pages) may be received via input/output
2704 (e.g., from programming sources 2202, servers or
other equipment, such as server 2230, service providers
such as service provider 2242, distribution facility
2204, etc.). Interactive media guidance application
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data, such as program schedule information for an
interactive television program guide, information on
the availability of different versions of media
programs, various versions of media programs, and
segment interest tables may be received from data
source 2220 via input/output 2704. Input/output 2704
may also be used to receive data from data source 2220
for other interactive television applications. The
user may use control circuitry 2702 to send and receive
commands, requests, and other suitable data using
input/output 2704.
[0130] Control circuitry 2702 may be based on any
suitable processing circuitry 2706 such as processing
circuitry based on one or more microprocessors,
microcontrollers, digital signal processors,
programmable logic devices, etc. In some embodiments,
control circuitry 2702 executes instructions for an
interactive media guidance application or other
interactive application (e.g., web browser) from
memory. Memory (e.g., random-access memory and read-
only memory), hard drives, optical drives, or any other
suitable memory or storage devices may be provided as
storage 2708 that is part of control circuitry 2702.
Tuning circuitry such as one or more analog tuners, one
or more MPEG-2 decoders or other digital video
circuitry, high-definition tuners, or any other
suitable tuning or video circuits or combinations of
such circuits may also be included as part of circuitry
2702. Encoding circuitry (e.g., for converting over-
the-air, analog, or digital signals to MPEG signals for
storage) may also be provided. The tuning and encoding
circuitry may be used by the user equipment to receive
and display, play, or record a particular television or
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music channel or other desired audio and video content
(e.g., video-on-demand content or requested network-
based or local video recorder playback). The control
circuit 2702 may include a segment tune-in timer
circuit (FIG. 10) and a program options circuit (FIG.
17). Television programming and other video and on-
screen options and information may be displayed on
display 2710. Display 2710 may be a monitor, a
television, or any other suitable equipment for
displaying visual images. In some embodiments, display
2710 may be HDTV-capable. Speakers 2712 may be
provided as part of a television or may be stand-alone
units. Digital music and the audio component of videos
displayed on display 2710 may be played through
speakers 2712. In some embodiments, the audio may be
distributed to a receiver (not shown), which processes
and outputs the audio via speakers 2712.
[0131] A user may control the control circuitry 2702
using user input interface 2714. User input interface
2714 may be any suitable user interface, such as a
mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touch
pad, voice recognition interface, or a remote control.
[0132] Accordingly, what have been described thus
far are systems and methods for presenting media
programs based on a user's interest in media program
segments. When a user selects a media program for
access or recording, a program option circuit can
present options related to the selected media program
if media program conditions associated with the options
are satisfied. A segment tune-in timer circuit can
track user interest in media program segments and can
maintain the interest information in a segment interest
table. The disclosed embodiments and illustrations are
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exemplary and do not limit the scope of the disclosed
invention as defined by the following claims.
