System, apparatus, and method for templates offering default settings for typical virtual channels

1. A method for specifying a virtual channel (VC) by use of a VC template, comprising the steps of:

defining a virtual channel by providing at least one template having a VC type and at least one settable parameter, the at least one settable parameter being selected from the group consisting of resumption strategy, and deletion strategy;

associating an action with each of the at least one settable parameter, the action being selected from the group consisting of set with provided default value, set with provided default value and allow edit thereof, set with a previous setting and allow edit thereof, and set with prompted-for value;

associating a behavior of a user with an implicit selection of the VC template;

displaying a VC template based on a VC template selection based upon an explicit selection of the VC template or an implicit selection of the VC template by the associated behavior of a user; and

specifying a VC by performing the associated parameter setting action for the displayed virtual channel template.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of;

providing, by an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), a list of content items that match the specified VC; and

giving feedback of the list of content items.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of after a pre-specified time has elapsed since activation of a device modified to perform the method of claim 1 , the device performing the steps of:

performing the selection action associated with each at least one template to display a VC template selected thereby; and

specifying a VC as settings obtained for each displayed VC template by performing the action associated with the at least one settable parameter thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of a wizard systematically executing the actions associated with the template and the at least one settable parameter thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

displaying a list of previously defined VCs for selection therefrom;

displaying a previously defined VC selected from the displayed list as a filled-in template; and

selectively performing the associated action of the at least one settable parameter at direction of a user.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the steps of a wizard systematically executing the actions associated with the template and the at least one settable parameter thereof.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of in accordance with the VC type of the VC template, ordering the actions associated with the at least one settable action prior to the step of systematically executing said actions.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one settable parameter is selected from the group consisting of preferred content, specific requirements, virtual channel name, preset position, resumption strategy, program sequencing, interaction possibility, and deletion strategy.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the VC type comprises a type selected from the group consisting of series, news, kids basic, kids advanced, genre, personal, music and keyword/topic; and

further comprising the step of for explicit selection, providing a list of VC types for selection therefrom of a type of VC template to be displayed and filled-in.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the prompted-for value comprises a list of values for selection therefrom.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the list of values includes a suggested selection therein.

12. An apparatus for specification of a virtual channel (VC) by a VC template, comprising:

a database including at least one template to define a VC, the at least one template having a VC type, and at least one settable parameter, the at least one settable parameter being selected from the group consisting of resumption strategy, and deletion strategy, and a VC template selection action that is used to implicitly select the at least one VC template based on behavior of a user; and

a VC definition application to

retrieve a VC template from the database and display the retrieved VC template, based on a VC template selection action selected from the group consisting of explicit selection of the VC template and implicit selection of the VC template associated with a behavior of the user,

define a VC as a set of settings obtained for the displayed VC template by performing a pre-defined action associated with each of the at least one settable parameter thereof, and

store the defined VC in the database.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the VC definition application is further configured to:

access an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and obtain a list of content items that match the defined VC; and

give feedback of the list of content items.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the pre-defined action associated with each at least one settable parameter is selected from the group consisting of set with provided default value, set with provided default value and allow edit thereof, set with a previous setting and allow edit thereof, and set with prompted-for value.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the VC definition application is further configured such that after a pre-specified time has elapsed since a start time, the application executes:

the VC template selection action associated with each at least one template to display a VC template selected thereby; and

each action associated with the at least one settable parameter of the VC template such that a VC is specified as settings obtained for the displayed VC template thereby.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the VC definition application is further configured as a wizard that systematically executes the actions associated with the template and the at least one settable parameter thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the VC definition application is further configured to:

display a list of previously defined VCs for selection therefrom;

display a previously defined VC selected from the displayed list as a filled-in template; and

selectively perform the associated action of the at least one settable parameter at the direction of a user.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the VC definition module is further configured such that in accordance with the VC type of the VC template, the actions associated with the at least one settable action are ordered in a pre-determined way prior to the systematically execution of said actions.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least one settable parameter is selected from the group consisting of preferred content, specific requirements, virtual channel name, preset position, resumption strategy, program sequencing, interaction possibility, and deletion strategy.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein:

the VC type comprises a type selected from the group consisting of series, news, kids basic, kids advanced, genre, personal, music and keyword/topic; and

the VC definition module is further configured such that explicit selection, a list is displayed of VC types for selection therefrom of a type of VC template to be displayed filled-in.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the prompted-for value comprises a list of values for selection therefrom.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the list of values includes a suggested selection therein.

23. A system to create and populate a virtual channel with a VC template, comprising:

a database including at least one VC definition of a VC template; stored therein;

a VC definition apparatus configured according to claim 12 to define VC using a template from the database; and

in accordance with the VC, a VC content selector module to periodically access an electronic program guide (EPG) to obtain content selections and to direct a recorder module to populate the VC with recorded content selections.