Program shortcuts
Techniques are described that allow DVR users to create program shortcuts to different types of media content from content providers. A program shortcut comprises a reference to another media content. A user may generate a shortcut so that the user may easily find and return to media content without performing a new search. In addition, techniques may be used to automatically generate program shortcuts for a user based at least in part to user-indicated preferences or actions. Shortcuts may be generated to media content that is related to a preferred genre or media type specified by a user. Shortcuts may also be generated to content that is determined to be similar to content that is often viewed or recorded by the user.
1. A method, comprising:
presenting a plurality of menus at a media device, each menu of the plurality of menus including menu items corresponding to content items available for playback at the media device from content sources;
responsive to identifying a particular content item available from a particular content source, generating a particular menu item corresponding to the particular content item;
automatically selecting in which particular menu, of the plurality of menus, to present the particular menu item based on a minimum number of input commands needed to access the particular menu from any menu of the plurality of menus;
presenting the particular menu item in the particular menu;
responsive to receiving input that selects the particular menu item from the particular menu, causing playback of the particular content item at the media device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving input selecting the particular content item at a time when the particular content item is not available from the particular content source;
storing data indicating the selection of the particular content item;
wherein generating the particular menu item is further responsive to determining that the data indicating the selection of the particular content item has been stored.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving input selecting a series of content;
wherein identifying the particular content item comprises:
determining that particular menu item is an episode of the series, the particular menu item not available from the particular content source at the time the input selecting the series was received; and
determining that the particular content item has become available for purchase from the particular content source;
wherein causing playback of the particular content item comprises presenting an interface for purchasing the particular content item from the particular content source.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises determining that the particular content item is related to other content items in which a user has indicated an interest.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises detecting a reference to the particular content item embedded in media content played by the media device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises locating the particular menu item in a list of recommended content, the method further comprising removing the menu item from the particular menu item responsive to the particular menu item no longer appearing in the list of recommended content.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically downloading the particular content item from the particular source, the particular source being a website.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular menu item includes first menu items corresponding to recorded content items from broadcast content sources, wherein the particular content source is not one of the broadcast content sources.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically selecting in which particular menu to present the particular menu item is based on the frequency of access of the menu by a particular user.
10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:
presenting a plurality of menus at a media device, each menu of the plurality of menus including menu items corresponding to content items available for playback at the media device from content sources;
responsive to identifying a particular content item available from a particular content source, generating a particular menu item corresponding to the particular content item;
automatically selecting in which particular menu, of the plurality of menus, to present the particular menu item based on a minimum number of input commands needed to access the particular menu from any menu of the plurality of menus;
presenting the particular menu item in the particular menu;
responsive to receiving input that selects the particular menu item from the particular menu, causing playback of the particular content item at the media device.
11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:
receiving input selecting the particular content item at a time when the particular content item is not available from the particular content source;
storing data indicating the selection of the particular content item;
wherein generating the particular menu item is further responsive to determining that the data indicating the selection of the particular content item has been stored.
12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:
receiving input selecting a series of content;
wherein identifying the particular content item comprises:
determining that particular menu item is an episode of the series, the particular menu item not available from the particular content source at the time the input selecting the series was received; and
determining that the particular content item has become available for purchase from the particular content source;
wherein causing playback of the particular content item comprises presenting an interface for purchasing the particular content item from the particular content source.
13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises determining that the particular content item is related to other content items in which a user has indicated an interest.
14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises detecting a reference to the particular content item embedded in media content played by the media device.
15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein identifying the particular content item comprises locating the particular menu item in a list of recommended content, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices further cause removing the menu item from the particular menu item responsive to the particular menu item no longer appearing in the list of recommended content.
16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause automatically downloading the particular content item from the particular source, the particular source being a website.
17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the particular menu item includes first menu items corresponding to recorded content items from broadcast content sources, wherein the particular content source is not one of the broadcast content sources.
18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein automatically selecting in which particular menu to present the particular menu item is based on the frequency of access of the menu by a particular user.
19. An apparatus comprising:
a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to present a plurality of menus at a media device, each menu of the plurality of menus including menu items corresponding to content items available for playback at the media device from content sources;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to, responsive to identifying a particular content item available from a particular content source, generating a particular menu item corresponding to the particular content item;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to automatically select in which particular menu, of the plurality of menus, to present the particular menu item based on a minimum number of input commands needed to access the particular menu from any point in the plurality of menus;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to present the particular menu item in the particular menu;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to, responsive to receiving input that selects the particular menu item from the particular menu, cause playback of the particular content item at the media device.