IP Library Granted Patent US 10,904,630
Granted Patent B2
US 10,904,630 · App. 14/808,616 · Granted Jan 26, 2021

Interactive media guide with media guidance interface

Inventors: William L. Thomas (Evergreen, CO); W. Benjamin Herrington (Tulsa, OK); David M. Berezowski (Tulsa, OK); Robert A. Knee (Lansdale, PA); Michael D. Ellis (Boulder, CO); Todd A. Walker (Destin, FL); M. Scott Reichardt (Tulsa, OK); L. Joe Hedges, Esq. (Tulsa, OK)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
H04N21/4755H04N5/76H04N5/782H04N7/17336H04N21/2393H04N21/26283H04N21/426H04N21/4333H04N21/4532H04N21/4622H04N21/478H04N21/4722H04N21/47202H04N21/482H04N21/4828H04N21/4316H04N21/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,904,630
App. No.
14/808,616
Filed
Jul 24, 2015
Granted
Jan 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2424
USPC
725/46
Abstract

Systems and methods for providing guidance to users for finding media are described. Such systems and methods may be provided in interactive media guides such as program guides, web browsers, or other suitable interactive media guides.

Claims (35)

1. A method for presenting user-defined media group options to a user, the method comprising:

generating for display a menu for configuring a plurality of user-configurable media group options, wherein each of the plurality of user-configurable media group options is configurable by a user with a user-defined search query;

receiving, via the menu, selection of a first user-configurable media group option of the plurality of user-configurable media group options;

receiving, via the menu, a first user-defined search query for configuring the first user-configurable media group option;

receiving, via the menu, selection of a second user-configurable media group option of the plurality of user-configurable media group options;

receiving, via the menu, a second user-defined search query for configuring the second user-configurable media group option;

generating for display a selectable list of the plurality of user-configurable media group options without displaying media assets available in the plurality of user-configurable media group options;

receiving a user selection, from the selectable list, of the first user-configurable media group option;

causing a search to be executed, using the first user-defined search query, to identify available media assets associated with the first user-defined search query;

generating, in response to receiving the user selection of the selected user-configurable media group option, for display a plurality of media indicators associated with the available media assets; and

in response to receiving a selection of a media indicator from the plurality of media indicators, performing an action associated with the selected media indicator.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user-defined search query comprises at least one of time, subject, and keyword.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the search to be periodically executed.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an option to cause the search to be executed after an occurrence of one of the user selection of the first user-configurable media group option and an event.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the event is an end of a specified program.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of user-configurable media group options in the selectable list includes an icon indicating a numerical amount of media assets available in the respective user-defined media group option, wherein the numerical amount of media assets available in the respective user-defined media group option corresponds to a number of media assets found based on a search associated with the user-defined search query.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media indicators associated with the available media assets comprises a first media indicator for media available at a scheduled time and a second media indicator for media available without a scheduled time.

8. A system for presenting media to a user, the system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

generate for display a menu for configuring a plurality of user-configurable media group options, wherein each of the plurality of user-configurable media group options is configurable by a user with a user-defined search query:

receive, via the menu, selection of a first user-configurable media group option of the plurality of user-configurable media group options;

receive, via the menu, a first user-defined search query for configuring the first user-configurable media group option;

receive, via the menu, selection of a second user-configurable media group option of the plurality of user-configurable media group options;

receive, via the menu, a second user-defined search query for configuring the second user-configurable media group option;

generate for display a selectable list of the plurality of user-configurable media group options without displaying media assets available in the plurality of user-configurable media group options;

receive, from the selectable list, a user selection of the first user-configurable media group option;

cause a search to be performed, using the first user-defined search query, to identify available media assets associated with the first user-defined search query;

generate, in response to receiving the user selection of the selected user-configurable media group option, for display a plurality of media indicators associated with the available media assets; and

in response to receiving a selection of a media indicator from the plurality of media indicators, perform an action associated with the selected media indicator.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first user-defined search query comprises at least one of time, subject, and keyword.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cause the search to be periodically executed.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide an option to cause the search to be performed after an occurrence of one of the user selection of the first user-configurable media group option and an event.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the event is an end of a specified program.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of user-configurable media group options in the selectable list includes an icon indicating a numerical amount of media assets available in the respective user-defined media group option, wherein the numerical amount of media assets available in the respective user-defined media group option corresponds to a number of media assets found based on a search associated with the user-defined search query.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of media indicators associated with the available media assets comprises a first media indicator for media available at a scheduled time and a second media indicator for media available without a scheduled time.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2015
From: THOMAS, WILLIAM L.; HERRINGTON, W. BENJAMIN; BEREZOWKSI, DAVID M.; KNEE, ROBERT A.; ELLIS, MICHAEL D.; WALKER, TODD A.; REICHARDT, M. SCOTT; HEDGES, L. JOE
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036894/0204 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 27, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 036979/0041 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 27, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 036979/0011 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 27, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC..
Reel/Frame 036894/0227 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 14223706 · Mar 24, 2014
Continuation 13845809 · Mar 18, 2013
Continuation 13005975 · Jan 13, 2011
Continuation 09829806 · Apr 10, 2001
Provisional Application 60202306 · May 5, 2000
Provisional Application 60195946 · Apr 10, 2000
Related Publication 20150334462A1 · Nov 19, 2015