Systems and methods for caching data in media-on-demand systems
Systems and methods may be provided for retrieving non-on-demand media data and on-demand media data that is provided by separate data sources. On-demand media data may be cached to reduce system latencies and the burden on the distribution network.
1. A method for caching a video preview, the method comprising:
displaying a plurality of program listings in a program listings screen, wherein each program listing of the plurality of program listings corresponds to a media program;
receiving, with an interactive media guidance application, during display of the program listings screen, a first user input identifying a respective program listing of the plurality of program listings corresponding to a respective media program;
receiving, with the interactive media guidance application, a second user input including a user request to view a program information screen for the respective media program corresponding to the respective program listing identified by the first user input;
in response to receiving the second user input:
determining, based on metadata of the respective media program, that a video preview corresponding to the respective media program is available;
generating, for display, the program information screen including a selectable option for accessing the video preview;
determining whether the video preview is stored in a local memory; and
in response to determining that the video preview is not stored in the local memory:
retrieving the video preview, from an on-demand data source, prior to any user selection of the selectable option; and
storing the preview in the local memory;
receiving a user selection of the selectable option; and
generating, for display, the video preview.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the video preview in the local memory further comprises storing the video preview in a local memory of a user equipment.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a user request to access the respective media program associated with the video preview;
determining whether the respective media program is stored in the local memory;
in response to determining the respective media program is stored in the local memory, generating for display the stored media program; and
in response to determining the respective media program is not stored in the local memory, retrieving the respective media program from a media data source and generating for display the retrieved media program.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the video preview further comprises automatically and periodically retrieving video previews associated with media programs.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the video preview further comprises automatically and periodically retrieving video previews based on a user history.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising monitoring user activity on a user equipment, and generating the user history based on the monitored user activity.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the video preview further comprises retrieving the video preview based on a cache schedule.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the respective media program originates from an on-demand media data source.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program information screen includes at least one of a title, rating, cost, run-time, release date, rental period, viewing period, movie summary, actor/actress names, producer names, and production studio name.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving the video preview comprises retrieving media data from multiple media data sources.
11. A system for caching a video preview, the system comprising:
local memory; and
control circuitry configured to:
generate, for display, a plurality of program listings on a program listings screen, wherein each program listing of the plurality of program listings corresponds to a media program;
receive, during display of the program listings screen, a first user input identifying a respective program listing corresponding to a respective media program;
receive a second user input including a user request to view a program information screen for the respective media program corresponding to the respective program listing identified by the first user input;
in response to receiving the second user input:
determine, based on metadata of the respective media program, that a video preview corresponding to the respective media program is available;
generate, for display, the program information screen including a selectable option for accessing the video preview;
determine whether the video preview is stored in a local memory; and
in response to determining that the video preview is not stored in the local memory:
retrieve the video preview, from an on-demand data source, prior to any user selection of the selectable option; and
store the preview in the local memory;
receive a user selection of the selectable option; and
generate, for display, the video preview.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry, when storing the video preview in the local memory, is further configured to store the video preview in a local memory of a user equipment.
13. The system defined in claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive a user request to access the respective media program associated with the video preview;
determine whether the respective media program is stored in the local memory;
in response to determining the respective media program is stored in the local memory, display the stored media program; and
in response to determining the respective media program is not stored in the local memory, retrieve the respective media program from a media data source and display the retrieved media program.
14. The system defined in claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically and periodically retrieve and store video previews associated with media programs.
15. The system defined in claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically and periodically retrieve and store selected video previews based on a user history.
16. The system defined in claim 15 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
monitor user activity on a user equipment, and
generate the user history based on the monitored user activity.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when retrieving the video preview, the control circuitry is further configured to retrieve the video preview based on a cache schedule.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the respective media program originates from an on-demand media data source.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the program information screen includes at least one of a title, rating, cost, run-time, release date, rental period, viewing period, movie summary, actor/actress names, producer names, and production studio name.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein, when retrieving the video preview, the control circuitry is further configured to retrieve media data from multiple media data sources.