IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,160,960

Granted Patent B2

US 9,160,960 · App. 12/958,661 · Granted Oct 13, 2015

Video preview based browsing user interface

Inventors: Mark D. Schwesinger (Bellevue, WA); John Elsbree (Bellevue, WA); David R. Fulmer (Redmond, WA); Evan J. Lerer (Seattle, WA); Stephane Joseph Comeau (Seattle, WA); Spencer I. A. N. Hurd (Seattle, WA)

Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

H04N5/44591 H04N21/431 H04N21/44016 H04N21/4825 H04N21/84 H04N2005/44595

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,160,960
App. No.: 12/958,661
Granted: Oct 13, 2015
Kind: B2

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USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A first video preview corresponding to a first video program is played back. When it is time to transition from playing back the first video preview to playing back a second video preview corresponding to a second video program, the transition is made from playing back the first video preview to playing back the second video preview. The transition can be made by sliding the first video preview off a display while sliding the second video preview onto the display. Additionally, metadata associated with the first video program can be displayed for an amount of time before playback of the first video preview ceases, and metadata associated with the second video program can be displayed for an amount of time after playback of the second video preview begins.

Claims (83)

1. One or more computer storage media having stored thereon multiple instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

displaying, on a screen, a first video preview, the first video preview corresponding to a first video program;

phasing in display, on the screen, of metadata identifying content of the first video program;

displaying the metadata for a first amount of time after display of the first video preview begins;

phasing out the display of the metadata after the first amount of time elapses;

displaying, on the screen, the metadata a second amount of time before display of the first video preview ceases; and

while displaying the first video preview, displaying additional metadata identifying content of a second video program that corresponds to a second video preview that is a next video preview to be displayed on the screen.

2. One or more computer storage media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multiple instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

identifying when it is time to transition from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview; and

transitioning, in response to identifying that it is time for the transition, from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview by sliding the first video preview off the screen while sliding the second video preview onto the screen, wherein at least a portion of the first video preview and at least a portion of the second video preview are displayed concurrently during the transition.

3. One or more computer storage media as recited in claim 2 , wherein transitioning comprises to transition from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview if the second video preview is available, and transitioning, if the second video preview is not available, from display of the first video preview to display of a still image for the second video program by sliding the first video preview off the screen while sliding the still image onto the screen, wherein at least a portion of the first video preview and at least a portion of the still image are displayed concurrently during the transition.

4. One or more computer storage media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the additional metadata includes a title of the second video program and box art for the second video program.

5. One or more computer storage media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes the screen.

6. One or more computer storage media as recited in claim 1 , wherein displaying of the first video preview ceases when playback of the first video preview finishes.

7. One or more computer storage media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multiple instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, while the first video preview is being displayed, a user request to take an action regarding the first video program; and

displaying an acquisition interface for the first video program from which a user can request to rent and/or buy the first video program.

8. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory having instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

playing back a first video preview that corresponds to a first video program, the first video preview including audio content that is played back on a speaker and video content that is displayed on a screen;

displaying, on the screen while the video content of the first video preview is displayed, metadata for a first amount of time after displaying of the video content begins, the metadata identifying content of the first video program and including a title of the first video program and box art for the first video program;

after the first amount of time elapses, ceasing displaying the metadata, while displaying of the video content continues;

after the first amount of time elapses and while displaying of the video content continues, displaying metadata associated with a second video preview that identifies content of a second video program to be displayed, the second video preview being a next video preview in a playlist of video previews;

resuming displaying, on the screen, the metadata and ceasing displaying the metadata associated with the second video preview a second amount of time before ceasing displaying of the video content of the first video preview for the second video preview; and

repeating the playing back, displaying, ceasing, and resuming displaying for the second video preview.

9. One or more computer storage media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multiple instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

identifying when it is time to transition from display of the first video preview to display of a second video preview, wherein the first video program comprises an episode of a series and the second video preview corresponds to a second video program that comprises another episode of the series; and

transitioning, in response to identification that it is time for the transition, from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview.

10. One or more computer storage media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multiple instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

identifying a plurality of video previews associated with respective episodes of a series;

selecting the first video preview from the plurality of video previews based at least in part on the respective episode of the series associated with first video preview corresponding to an early episode of the series.

11. A system as recited in claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

identifying a plurality of video previews associated with respective episodes of a series;

12. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer storage media having stored thereon multiple instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of a computing system, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

displaying, on a screen, a first video preview, the first video preview corresponding to a first video program;

phasing in display, on the screen, of metadata identifying content of the first video program;

displaying the metadata for a first amount of time after display of the first video preview begins;

phasing out the display of the metadata after the first amount of time elapses;

displaying, on the screen, the metadata a second amount of time before display of the first video preview ceases; and

13. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the multiple instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

identifying when it is time to transition from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview; and

14. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein transitioning comprises to transition from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview if the second video preview is available, and transitioning, if the second video preview is not available, from display of the first video preview to display of a still image for the second video program by sliding the first video preview off the screen while sliding the still image onto the screen, wherein at least a portion of the first video preview and at least a portion of the still image are displayed concurrently during the transition.

15. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the additional metadata includes a title of the second video program and box art for the second video program.

16. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the computing device includes the screen.

17. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein displaying of the first video preview ceases when playback of the first video preview finishes.

18. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the multiple instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, while the first video preview is being displayed, a user request to take an action regarding the first video program; and

displaying an acquisition interface for the first video program from which a user can request to rent and/or buy the first video program.

19. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the multiple instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

transitioning, in response to identification that it is time for the transition, from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview.

20. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the multiple instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

identifying a plurality of video previews associated with respective episodes of a series;

21. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying, on a screen, a first video preview, the first video preview corresponding to a first video program;

phasing in display, on the screen, of metadata identifying content of the first video program;

displaying the metadata for a first amount of time after display of the first video preview begins;

phasing out the display of the metadata after the first amount of time elapses;

displaying, on the screen, the metadata a second amount of time before display of the first video preview ceases; and

22. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 21 , further comprising:

identifying when it is time to transition from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview; and

23. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 22 , wherein transitioning comprises to transition from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview if the second video preview is available, and transitioning, if the second video preview is not available, from display of the first video preview to display of a still image for the second video program by sliding the first video preview off the screen while sliding the still image onto the screen, wherein at least a portion of the first video preview and at least a portion of the still image are displayed concurrently during the transition.

24. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the additional metadata includes a title of the second video program and box art for the second video program.

25. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the computing device includes the screen.

26. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 21 , wherein displaying of the first video preview ceases when playback of the first video preview finishes.

27. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 21 , further comprising:

receiving, while the first video preview is being displayed, a user request to take an action regarding the first video program; and

displaying an acquisition interface for the first video program from which a user can request to rent and/or buy the first video program.

28. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 21 , further comprising:

transitioning, in response to identification that it is time for the transition, from display of the first video preview to display of the second video preview.

29. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 21 , further comprising:

identifying a plurality of video previews associated with respective episodes of a series;

Assignments (2)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014

From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION

To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC

Reel/Frame 034544/0001 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2010

From: SCHWESINGER, MARK D.; ELSBREE, JOHN; FULMER, DAVID R.; LERER, EVAN J.; COMEAU, STEPHANE JOSEPH; HURD, SPENCER I.A.N.

To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION

Reel/Frame 025446/0366 →

Continuity (1)

Related Publication 20120141095A1 · Jun 7, 2012