Cross-platform interface for a television device

1. A method for providing a cross-platform interface for a television device, comprising:

receiving, over a network by a server computer, a request from the television device;

responsive to receiving the request, identifying, by the server computer, available services for consumption on the television device, wherein the available services include two or more of a broadcast television service, an on-demand video service, and an internet content service;

determining, by the server computer, a current date and time;

determining, by the server computer, content items available for consumption from each of the available services at the current date and time, by accessing listings data over a network from at least one listings source;

determining, by the server computer, an allocation of display locations in a cross-platform interface for content items from each of the available services, the allocation defining a relative amount of display locations for each of the available services based on a device profile associated with the television device, wherein determining the allocation includes accessing a setting of the device profile that identifies a relative recommendation amount for each of the available services, and applying the setting to determine an allotted number of display locations in the cross-platform interface for each of the available services;

assigning, by the server computer, content items to the display locations in accordance with the determined allocation, wherein content items of a given available service are assigned until the allotted number of display locations for the given available service are filled;

transmitting, by the server computer over the network to the television device, data identifying the assignment of the content items, to effect rendering of the cross-platform interface on the television device, the rendered cross-platform interface providing access to the assigned content items;

wherein the method is executed by at least one processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device profile defines time-dependent viewing preferences associated with the television device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the time-dependent viewing preferences define a recurring schedule of variable preference settings.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the device profile is defined from analysis of a viewing history of the television device to identify recurring patterns of content viewing from each of the available services, the identified recurring patterns of content viewing being processed to define the recurring schedule of variable preference settings for the device profile, wherein the recurring schedule of variable preference settings identifies time-dependent preferences for content from each of the available services.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the relative amount of display locations for each of the available services is determined from referencing a current time to the recurring schedule of variable preference settings to identify preferences for content from the available services at the current time.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising,

monitoring content consumption through the television device;

updating the device profile based on the monitored content consumption.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein updating the device profile based on the monitored content consumption is configured to change the allocation of display locations in the cross-platform interface for content items from each of the available services.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising,

determining a ranked order for the content items for each available service;

wherein assigning content items to the display locations is based on the ranked order.

9. The method of claim 8 ,

wherein an arrangement of the display locations defines a prioritized layout;

wherein assigning content items to the display locations is based on the prioritized layout.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions embodied thereon for providing a cross-platform interface for a television device, comprising:

program instructions for receiving, over a network by a server computer, a request from the television device;

program instructions for, responsive to receiving the request, identifying, by a server computer, available services for consumption on the television device, wherein the available services include two or more of a broadcast television service, an on-demand video service, and an internet content service;

program instructions for determining, by the server computer, a current date and time;

program instructions for determining, by the server computer, content items available for consumption from each of the available services at the current date and time, by accessing listings data over a network from at least one listings source;

program instructions for determining, by the server computer, an allocation of display locations in a cross-platform interface for content items from each of the available services, the allocation defining a relative amount of display locations for each of the available services based on a device profile associated with the television device, wherein determining the allocation includes accessing a setting of the device profile that identifies a relative recommendation amount for each of the available services, and applying the setting to determine an allotted number of display locations in the cross-platform interface for each of the available services;

wherein the device profile defines time-dependent viewing preferences associated with the television device, wherein the time-dependent viewing preferences define a recurring schedule of variable preference settings, wherein the device profile is defined from analysis of a viewing history of the television device to identify recurring patterns of content viewing from each of the available services, the identified recurring patterns of content viewing being processed to define the recurring schedule of variable preference settings for the device profile, wherein the recurring schedule of variable preference settings identifies time-dependent preferences for content from each of the available services, wherein the relative amount of display locations for each of the available services is determined from referencing a current time to the recurring schedule of variable preference settings to identify preferences for content from the available services at the current time;

program instructions for assigning, by the server computer, content items to the display locations in accordance with the determined allocation, wherein content items of a given available service are assigned until the allotted number of display locations for the given available service are filled;

program instructions for transmitting, by the server computer over the network to the television device, data identifying the assignment of the content items, to effect rendering of the cross-platform interface on the television device, the rendered cross-platform interface providing access to the assigned content items.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising,

program instructions for monitoring content consumption through the television device;

program instructions for updating the device profile based on the monitored content consumption.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein updating the device profile based on the monitored content consumption is configured to change the allocation of display locations in the cross-platform interface for content items from each of the available services.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising,

program instructions for determining a ranked order for the content items for each available service;

wherein assigning content items to the display locations is based on the ranked order.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 ,

wherein an arrangement of the display locations defines a prioritized layout;

wherein assigning content items to the display locations is based on the prioritized layout.

15. A system, comprising:

a television configured to render content from available services, the available services including two or more of a broadcast television service, an on-demand video service, and an internet content service;

a non-transitory memory connected to the television, comprising:

a device profile associated with the television, wherein the device profile defines time-dependent viewing preferences associated with the television, wherein the time-dependent viewing preferences define a recurring schedule of variable preference settings, wherein the device profile is defined from analysis of a viewing history of the television device to identify recurring patterns of content viewing from each of the available services, the identified recurring patterns of content viewing being processed to define the recurring schedule of variable preference settings for the device profile, wherein the recurring schedule of variable preference settings identifies time-dependent preferences for content from each of the available services; and

program logic, comprising

a clock supplying a date and time;

a recommendation engine that receives the date and time and the device profile and in response, determines an allocation of display locations in a cross-platform interface for content items from each of the available services, and assigns the content items to the display locations in accordance with the determined allocation, wherein the allocation defines a relative amount of display locations for the content items from each of the available services, wherein determining the allocation includes accessing a setting of the device profile that identifies a relative recommendation amount for each of the available services, and applying the setting to determine an allotted number of display locations in the cross-platform interface for each of the available services, wherein content items of a given available service are assigned until the allotted number of display locations for the given available service are filled.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising,

a content monitor for monitoring content consumption through the television device;

a profile manager for updating the device profile based on the monitored content consumption.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein updating the device profile based on the monitored content consumption is configured to change the allocation of display locations in the cross-platform interface for content items from each of the available services.

18. The system of claim 15 ,

wherein the recommendation engine determines a ranked order for the content items for each available service;

wherein assigning the content items to the display locations is based on the ranked order.

19. The system of claim 18 ,

wherein an arrangement of the display locations defines a prioritized layout;

wherein assigning content items to the display locations is based on the prioritized layout.