Granted Patent B2

US 10,694,251 · App. 15/440,272 · Granted Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

Claims (56)

1. A system comprising:

a computing device comprising a processor; and

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a content server and at the computing device, media content, wherein the media content comprises audio content and video content that corresponds to a first media program, and wherein the first media program is associated with a first channel,

receiving, from the content server and at the computing device, an inadvertent view risk flag that is received separately from the media content, wherein the inadvertent view risk flag indicates that the first media program is at risk for possible inadvertent viewing,

detecting, while the first media program is being recorded by the computing device and while a second media program is being displayed on a video display associated with the computing device, receipt of a command that will result in a display of the first media program on the video display, wherein the second media program is associated with a second channel, and wherein the command comprises a command to turn on the video display while the computing device is recording the first media program on the first channel and while a tuner of the computing device is tuned to the first channel, and

in response to detecting receipt of the command and detecting the inadvertent view risk flag,

creating, by the computing device, an alert that indicates that a user may be inadvertently exposed to the first media program,

blocking, by the computing device, output of the audio content and the video content to the video display while continuing to record the first media program by the computing device, and

allowing, by the computing device, presentation of a user interface on the video display, wherein the user interface presents the alert on the video display while the audio content and the video content are blocked from being provided to the video display.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio content and the video content are blocked from being processed while maintaining communications that allow the user interface to be presented.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a set-top box.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first media program corresponds to a broadcast of a live event.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein blocking output of the audio content and the video content from the first media program from being provided to the video display comprises controlling device circuitry of the computing device to block the audio content and the video content from the first media program from being provided to the video display.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

providing a substitute media content to the video display.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises:

a first selectable option to view the first channel,

a second selectable option to tune to a guide,

a third selectable option to view a playlist menu, and

a fourth selectable option to watch the first media program being recorded from a beginning of the first media program being recorded.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device and from a content server, media content, wherein the media content comprises audio content and video content that corresponds to a first media program, and wherein the first media program is associated with a first channel;

receiving, at the computing device and from the content server, an inadvertent view risk flag that is received separately from the media content, wherein the inadvertent view risk flag indicates that the first media program is at risk for possible inadvertent viewing;

detecting, at the computing device, while the first media program is being recorded by the computing device, and while a second media program is being displayed on a video display associated with the computing device, receipt of a command that will result in a display of the first media program on the video display, wherein the second media program is associated with a second channel, and wherein the command comprises a command to turn on the video display while the computing device is recording the first media program on the first channel and while a tuner of the computing device is tuned to the first channel; and

in response to detecting receipt of the command and detecting the inadvertent view risk flag,

creating, by the computing device, an alert that indicates that a user may be inadvertently exposed to the first media program,

blocking, by the computing device, output of the audio content and the video content to the video display while continuing to record the first media program by the computing device, and

allowing, by the computing device, presentation of a user interface on the video display, wherein the user interface presents the alert on the video display while the audio content and the video content are blocked from being provided to the video display.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the computing device is a set-top box.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first media program corresponds to a broadcast of a live event.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein blocking output of the audio content and the video content from the first media program from being provided to the video display comprises controlling device circuitry of the computing device to block the audio content and the video content from the first media program from being provided to the video display.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing, at the computing device, a substitute media content to the video display.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the user interface comprises:

a first selectable option to view the first channel;

a second selectable option to tune to a guide;

a third selectable option to view a playlist menu; and

a fourth selectable option to watch the first media program being recorded from a beginning of the first media program being recorded.

14. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a content server and at a computing device, media content, wherein the media content comprises audio content and video content that corresponds to a first media program, and wherein the first media program is associated with a first channel;

receiving, from the content server and at the computing device, an inadvertent view risk flag that is received separately from the media content, wherein the inadvertent view risk flag indicates that the first media program is at risk for possible inadvertent viewing;

detecting, while the first media program is being recorded by the computing device and while a second media program is being displayed on a video display associated with the computing device, receipt of a command that will result in a display of the first media program on the video display, wherein the second media program is associated with a second channel, and wherein the command comprises a command to turn on the video display while the computing device is recording the first media program on the first channel and while a tuner of the computing device is tuned to the first channel; and

in response to detecting receipt of the command and detecting the inadvertent view risk flag,

creating, by the computing device, an alert that indicates that a user may be inadvertently exposed to the first media program,

blocking, by the computing device, output of the audio content and the video content to the video display while continuing to record the first media program by the computing device, and

allowing, by the computing device, presentation of a user interface on the video display, wherein the user interface presents the alert on the video display while the audio content and the video content are blocked from being provided to the video display.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the computing device is a set-top box.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the first media program corresponds to a broadcast of a live event.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein blocking output of the audio content and the video content from the first media program from being provided to the video display comprises controlling device circuitry of the computing device to block the audio content and the video content from the first media program from being provided to the video display.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

providing a substitute media content to the video display.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the user interface comprises:

a first selectable option to view the first channel;

a second selectable option to tune to a guide;

a third selectable option to view a playlist menu; and

a fourth selectable option to watch the first media program being recorded from a beginning of the first media program being recorded.

Assignments (6)