MEDIA PROCESSING METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS
The present technology generally concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic content directories). Some aspects of the technology involve program-centric (as opposed to channel-centric) content directories. Such directories allow users to identify the diversity of sources from which desired content can be obtained—some available on a scheduled basis, others available on-demand; some available from free sources, others from paid sources; some from streaming sources and others from file-download sources; etc. Depending on the application, the directory information may be transparent to the user—serving to identify sources for desired content from which application software can pick based, e.g., on context and stored preference data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
1 . A method comprising the acts:
receiving report data from plural distributed computer nodes, indicating video entertainment content automatically detected through use of digital watermark or fingerprint technology at such node;
from at least certain of said nodes, additionally receiving scheduling data detailing public availability of the detected video entertainment content by one or more content distributors; and
presenting at least certain of said data to a user in the form of a program-centric directory, detailing source and schedules by which user-specified video content can be obtained for viewing.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the program centric directory identifies at least two types of outlets from which the user-specified video content can be obtained for viewing, wherein said types of outlets are selected from the group consisting of a television network, a web site, and a peer-to-peer network.
3 . A method comprising:
identifying, to a user, a plurality of different items of entertainment content, a first item of said plurality of items being available from multiple alternate media sources;
receiving user input selecting said first item; and
selecting a media source from which to obtain the first item, from among the multiple alternative media sources, said selecting of the media source being performed by a processor configured to perform such act, making use of stored rule data that is customized to the user.
4 . The method of claim 3 in which the stored rule data expresses a preference of the user regarding at least one of:
(a) an on-demand source vs. a scheduled source;
(b) a free source vs. a paid source;
(c) a streaming source vs. a file download source; or
(d) a source preference, selected from the iTunes service, the Hulu service, and the YouTube service.
5 . The method of claim 4 in which the stored rule data expresses a preference of the user regarding at least two of (a)-(d).
6 . The method of claim 4 in which the stored rule data expresses a preference of the user regarding at least three of (a)-(d).
7 . The method of claim 3 in which the stored rule data indicates a first factor that should be given priority over a second factor in making said selection of media source.
8 . The method of claim 3 in which the selecting a media source includes weighting different factors differently in making a selection.
9 . A method comprising:
through information received by a viewer's cell phone, identifying an item of entertainment content being rendered to the viewer by a first device that is different than the cell phone, the identified item being an episode of a series;
on a screen of the cell phone, presenting a listing of other episodes in the series, from which the viewer can select, and listing multiple alternative media sources for at least one of said other episodes;
receiving viewer input selecting an episode from said listing; and
selecting a media source from which to obtain the selected episode, from among said multiple alternative media sources.
10 . The method of claim 9 in which said information is received using a microphone of the cell phone.
11 . The method of claim 9 in which said information is received using a service discovery protocol.
12 . The method of claim 9 wherein said selecting makes use of stored rule data that is customized to the viewer.
13 . The method of claim 12 in which the stored rule data expresses a preference of the user regarding at least one of:
(a) an on-demand source vs. a scheduled source;
(b) a free source vs. a paid source;
(c) a streaming source vs. a file download source; or
(d) a source preference, selected from the iTunes service, the Hulu service, and the YouTube service.
14 . The method of claim 13 in which the stored rule data expresses a preference of the user regarding at least two of (a)-(d).
15 . The method of claim 13 in which the stored rule data expresses a preference of the user regarding at least three of (a)-(d).
16 . The method of claim 13 in which the stored rule data indicates one of (a)-(d) that should be given priority over another of (a)-(d) in selecting the media source.
17 . A system comprising at least one processor, at least one data store, and an interface to other systems, said data store including database information that identifies—for a given episode of a given television program—plural different sources from which the episode can be obtained, the data store further including instructions that configure the system to provide database information to a user system, enabling the user system to identify a source for said episode that meets a preference criterion, wherein the database information allows the preference criterion to specify that the source be:
(a) either an on-demand source or a scheduled source;
(b) either a free source or a paid source;
(c) either a streaming source or a file download source; or
(d) either the iTunes service, the Hulu service, or the YouTube service.
18 . A system comprising at least one processor, at least one data store, and an interface to other systems, said data store including database information that identifies—for a given episode of a given television program—plural different sources from which the episode can be obtained, the data store further including instructions that configure the system to provide database information to a user system, enabling identification of a source for said episode that meets a criterion, wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise:
(a) both an on-demand source and a scheduled source;
(b) both a free source and a paid source;
(c) both a streaming source and a file download source; or
(d) at least two of the iTunes service, the Hulu service, and the YouTube service.
19 . The system of claim 18 wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise both (a) and (b).
20 . The system of claim 18 wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise both (a) and (c).
21 . The system of claim 18 wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise both (a) and (d).
22 . The system of claim 18 wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise both (b) and (c).
23 . The system of claim 18 wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise both (b) and (d).
24 . The system of claim 18 wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise both (c) and (d).
25 . The system of claim 18 wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise three of (a), (b), (c) and (d).
26 . The system of claim 18 wherein said plural sources identified in the database information comprise all four of (a), (b), (c) and (d).