User Interface for Television Programming and Social Media Feeds for Time Shifted Viewing
A Graphical User Interface (GUI) for displaying broadcast television on a mobile device. The GUI is intended for use with a cloud-based digital video recorder and includes a programming guide, allowing users to watch live television or record programs for later viewing. The invention also includes a system for displaying comments about television programs in a social networking environment. The comments are entered and distributed relative to a particular point in a television program rather than in real time, allowing users to comment on a television program even when they are not watching the program at the same time.
1 . A graphical user interface provided by a cloud based video delivery system comprising:
a video portion in which pre-recorded or live broadcast television programs are displayed; and
at least one sidebar adjacent to the video portion, including a programming guide sidebar displaying television programming.
2 . The graphical user interface of claim 1 , wherein the television programing is listed by broadcast time and broadcast network.
3 . The graphical user interface of claim 1 , wherein the television programing listed in the programming guide sidebar is selectable for recording or for immediate viewing in the video portion.
4 . The graphical user interface of claim 1 , wherein the schedule of broadcast television programming displayed in the programming guide sidebar can be searched by broadcast time.
5 . The graphical user interface of claim 1 , wherein a series of screens is displayed in the video portion when television programs are not displayed, including a screen displaying a selectable list of television series and television programs selected by a user for recording.
6 . The graphical user interface of claim 5 , wherein the screen further comprises pop-up windows superimposed on the screen listing television programs selectable for recording or viewing.
7 . The graphical user interface of claim 1 , further comprising pop-up windows superimposed on the screens displaying information on a television program and selectable links.
8 . The graphical user interface of claim 1 , further comprising a social networking feed for displaying comments and actions of linked users within a social networking environment.
9 . The graphical user interface of claim 8 , wherein the feed further displays notifications regarding scheduled recordings of television programs, upcoming television programs, and amount of digital video recorder space available.
10 . The graphical user interface of claim 8 , wherein the feed is displayed as a sidebar.
11 . A method for controlling video using a graphical user interface provided by a cloud based video delivery system, the method comprising:
displaying pre-recorded or live broadcast television programs in a video portion of the graphical user interface; and
displaying at least one sidebar adjacent to the video portion, including a programming guide sidebar displaying television programming.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising listing the television programing by broadcast time and broadcast network.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising enabling the television programing listed in the programming guide sidebar to be selectable for recording or for immediate viewing in the video portion.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising further comprising generating pop-up windows displaying information on a television program and selectable links.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising displaying a social networking feed adjacent to the video portion for displaying comments and actions of linked users within a social networking environment.
16 . The graphical user interface of claim 11 , further comprising displaying in a feed notifications regarding scheduled recordings of television programs, upcoming television programs, and amount of digital video recorder space available.
17 . A system for distributing synchronized social networking comments for television programs, the system comprising:
a series of devices asynchronously displaying the television programs on a series of screens, the devices receiving comments entered by users at time points in the running of each of the television programs; and
the devices displaying previously-entered comments on the screens based on time points in running of the same television programs that the comments were entered for the other linked users; and
a social media server for enabling the distribution of the comments between the devices.
18 . A method for distributing synchronized social networking comments for television programs, the method comprising:
asynchronously displaying television programs on a series of screens of devices, the devices receiving comments entered by users at time points in the running of each of the television programs; and
displaying previously-entered comments on the screens based on time points in running of the same television programs that the comments were entered for the other linked users.