System and method for providing a list of video-on-demand programs
View Patent ↗A list of video-on-demand (VOD) programs based on viewer selections is provided. VOD programs may be marked with a mark indicating the level of viewer interest. In one embodiment, a list of VOD programs may be displayed that includes or excludes programs having a particular mark, or sorts programs based on the marks. In another embodiment, a list of VOD programs may be displayed based on availability times. In yet another embodiment, after a viewer has played back a VOD program, a list of related VOD programs may be automatically displayed.
1. A method for providing a list of video-on-demand programs to a viewer, the method comprising:
receiving a viewer request to initiate playback of a video;
requesting the viewer-requested video from a video-on-demand server;
receiving a video stream corresponding to the viewer-requested video from the video-on-demand server;
generating a display of the video stream for the viewer;
determining that playback of the viewer-requested video has reached a particular play position;
determining at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video;
determining, based on a profile of the viewer, a level of interest associated with each identifier of a plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs;
determining a subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs based on the determined level of interest associated with each identifier of the plurality of identifiers;
automatically, independently of receiving a viewer request, generating for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs in response to determining that the playback of the viewer-requested video has reached the particular play position, wherein each of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of identifiers is simultaneously displayed.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs to be displayed in video-on-demand program order.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viewer request is a first viewer request, the viewer-requested video is a first video, the video stream is a first video stream, and further comprising:
receiving a second viewer request to initiate playback of a second video from the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs;
requesting the second video from the video-on-demand server;
receiving a second video stream corresponding to the second video from the video-on-demand server; and
generating a display of the second video stream.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viewer request is a first viewer request, and further comprising receiving a second viewer request to mark at least one program of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs with one of a first mark indicative of a program of interest to the viewer and a second mark indicative of a program not of interest to the viewer.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video based on the viewer-requested video.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein selecting the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video is responsive to the playback of the viewer-requested video reaching the particular play position.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
receiving the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video comprises receiving a viewer selection of the viewer-requested video from a first plurality of videos; and
the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video comprises a second plurality of videos different from the first plurality of videos.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular play position is specified relative to an end of the viewer-requested video.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the particular play position is independent of at least one of duration and an identity of the viewer-requested video.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular play position comprises an end of the viewer-requested video.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically generating for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs comprises generating for display the subset of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs without receiving a viewer request for programs related to the viewer-requested video.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs are automatically generated for display without receiving a request from the viewer further to the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs are automatically generated for display independently of any input received from the viewer further to the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that playback of the viewer-requested video has reached a particular play position is performed while the viewer-requested video is being played back.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs comprises:
comparing the level of interest associated with each identifier of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs with a pre-defined level of interest.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs comprises a plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs that are related to the viewer requested video.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the at least one identifier comprises determining at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video and that includes at least one identifier with which the viewer has previously interacted.
18. A system for providing a list of video-on-demand programs to a viewer, the system comprising:
processing circuitry operative to:
receive a viewer request to initiate playback of a video;
request the viewer-requested video from a video-on-demand server;
receive a video stream corresponding to the viewer-requested video from the video-on-demand server;
generate a display of the video stream for the viewer;
determine that playback of the viewer-requested video has reached a particular play position;
determine at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video;
determining, based on a profile of the viewer, a level of interest associated with each identifier of a plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs;
determining a subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs based on the determined level of interest associated with each identifier of the plurality of identifiers;
automatically, independently of receiving a viewer request, generating for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs in response to determine that the playback of the viewer-requested video has reached the particular play position, wherein each of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of identifiers is simultaneously displayed.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry is operative to cause the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs to be displayed in video-on-demand program order.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the viewer request is a first viewer request, the viewer-requested video is a first video, the video stream is a first video stream, and wherein the processing circuitry is further operative to:
receive a second viewer request to initiate playback of a second video from the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs related to the first video;
request the second video from the video-on-demand server;
receive a second video stream corresponding to the second video from the video-on-demand server; and
generate a display of the second video stream.
21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the viewer request is a first viewer request, and wherein the processing circuitry is further operative to receive a second viewer request to mark at least one program of the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs with one of a first mark indicative of a program of interest to the viewer and a second mark indicative of a program not of interest to the viewer.
22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to select the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video based on the viewer-requested video.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video responsive to the playback of the viewer-requested video reaching the particular play position.
24. The system of claim 18 , wherein:
the processing circuitry is operative to receive the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video by being further operative to receive a viewer selection of the viewer-requested video from a first plurality of videos; and
the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video comprises a second plurality of videos different from the first plurality of videos.
25. The system of claim 18 , wherein the particular play position is specified relative to an end of the viewer-requested video.
26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the particular play position is independent of at least one of duration and an identity of the viewer-requested video.
27. The system of claim 18 , wherein the particular play position comprises an end of the viewer-requested video.
28. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry is operative to automatically generate for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs by being operative to generate for display the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs without receiving a viewer request for programs related to the viewer-requested video.
29. The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs are automatically generated for display without receiving a request from the viewer further to the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video.
30. The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program and the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs are automatically generated for display independently of any input received from the viewer further to the viewer request to initiate playback of the viewer-requested video.
31. The system of claim 18 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to perform the determination that playback of the viewer-requested video has reached a particular play position while the viewer-requested video is being played back.
32. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry is operative, when determining the subset of the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs, to:
compare the level of interest associated with each identifier of the second plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs with a pre-defined level of interest.
33. The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs comprises a plurality of identifiers of video-on-demand programs that are related to the viewer requested video.
34. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry, when determining the at least one identifier, is operative to determine at least one identifier of a video-on-demand program that is related to the viewer-requested video and that includes at least one identifier with which the viewer has previously interacted.