Granted Patent B2

US 8,595,768 · App. 13/475,808 · Granted Nov 26, 2013

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. A method of displaying first and second audiovisual content, the first audiovisual content comprising a current program and the second audiovisual content comprising audiovisual content relating to a future program according to a program broadcast schedule, the method comprising:

receiving the first audiovisual content at a media playback device;

receiving the second audiovisual content at the media playback device from a remote content system over a data network;

in response to user input, outputting the first and second audiovisual content to an output device having a screen; and

controlling the screen of the output device to display the first and second audiovisual content concurrently, wherein the second audiovisual content is displayed on the output device in a PiP (picture-in-picture) window, wherein a PiP window is only shown if the current program does not match a highlighted program in the EPG or EPG banner.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second audiovisual content is displayed in response to a user input request entered via a channel change selection function.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the channel change selection function comprises an on-screen graphical user interface (GUI), displaying textual information and scheduling information for current and future broadcast programs.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the user input request is to navigate to part of the channel change selection function displaying information corresponding to audiovisual content for future broadcast.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second audiovisual content is displayed on the output device in the graphical user interface of the channel change selection function.

6. The method of any of claim 1 , wherein the channel change selection function is one or more of: an EPG or EPG banner.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second audiovisual content is requested from a service provider or from a third party.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second audiovisual content is requested using one or more of: a satellite connection, a wireless connection, a cable connection, or a packet-based network connection.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second audiovisual content is requested in response to the user input in real-time.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second audiovisual content and/or the program broadcast schedule is stored on one or more of: the media playback device or on a local storage module associated with the media playback device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second audiovisual content is requested prior to the user input.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second audiovisual content is requested at a discrete interval.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second audiovisual content is selectively requested based on one or more parameters, the parameters including one or more of: popularity ratings, user preferences, or user browsing patterns.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data network is the Internet.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second audiovisual content comprise video or video with audio.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio of one of the first audiovisual content and the second audiovisual content is muted.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein if both the first and second audiovisual content have an audio element, the audio element of one of the first audiovisual content or the second audiovisual content is muted based on a default setting or a user preference.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises one or more of: a television, a monitor, a screen, a computer, or a loudspeaker.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input is provided via a user input device.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input device is a remote controller or a control interface on the media device or the output device.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media playback device is a set-top-box (STB) or a computer.

22. A method for controlling a screen, the method comprising:

displaying a first mode, in which a first current program is displayed on the screen;

displaying a second mode, in which in response to a user input, a first current program, a second current program and an EPG or EPG banner are shown; and

displaying a third mode, in which in response to a user input, a current program, an audiovisual clip and an EPG or EPG banner are shown, wherein the audiovisual clip is shown in a PiP window, wherein a PiP window is only shown if the current program does not match a highlighted program in the EPG or EPG banner.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the second current program is shown in a PiP window.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the audiovisual clip is related to a future program.

25. A media playback device configured to display a first and a second audiovisual content, the first audiovisual content comprising a current program and the second audiovisual content comprising audiovisual content relating to a future program according to a program broadcast schedule, the device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the first audiovisual content and the second audiovisual content from a remote content system over a data network; and

a controller configured to output the first and second audiovisual content to an output device having a screen in response to user input; and further configured to control the screen of the output device to display the first and second audiovisual content concurrently, wherein the second audiovisual content is displayed on the output device in a PiP (picture-in-picture) window, wherein a PiP window is only shown if the current program does not match a highlighted program in the EPG or EPG banner.

26. A media playback device having a controller configured to control a screen, the device comprising:

the screen, wherein the screen is configured to be operable in:

a first mode, in which a first current program is displayed on the screen;

a second mode, in which in response to a user input, a first current program, a second current program and an EPG or EPG banner are shown; and

a third mode, in which in response to a user input, a current program, an audiovisual clip and an EPG or EPG banner are shown, wherein the audiovisual clip is shown in a PiP window, wherein a PiP window is only shown if the current program does not match a highlighted program in the EPG or EPG banner.

27. The device of claim 26 , wherein the media playback device is a STB.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for displaying first and second audiovisual content, the first audiovisual content comprising a current program and the second audiovisual content comprising audiovisual content relating to a future program according to a program broadcast schedule, having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive the first audiovisual content at a media playback device;

receive the second audiovisual content at the media playback device from a remote content system over a data network;

in response to user input, output the first and second audiovisual content to an output device having a screen; and

control the screen of the output device to display the first and second audiovisual content concurrently, wherein the second audiovisual content is displayed on the output device in a PiP (picture-in-picture) window, wherein a PiP window is only shown if the current program does not match a highlighted program in the EPG or EPG banner.

Assignments (7)