Method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsChristopher D. Williams, Jean M. Goldschmidt Iki, Anthony A. Shah-Nazaroff, Kenneth Alan Moore, David N. Hackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user.
Claims33
A method of choosing a preferences list comprising:
- receiving a user identification for a current user;
- identifying multiple preferences lists corresponding to the current user by searching a set of preferences lists, at least some of the preferences lists of the set of preferences lists corresponding to specific users, each of the preferences lists containing multiple entertainment programming channel identifiers;
- selecting one of the multiple identified preferences lists by receiving a user choice of one of the multiple identified preferences lists;
- and
- accessing the chosen preferences list.
A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a user identification for a current user;
- identifying multiple preferences lists corresponding to the current user by searching a set of preferences lists, at least some of the preferences lists of the set of preferences lists corresponding to specific users, each of the preferences lists containing multiple entertainment programming channel identifiers;
- selecting one of the multiple identified preferences lists by receiving a user choice of one of the multiple identified preferences lists;
- and
- accessing the chosen preferences list.
An apparatus comprising:
- a user interface to receive a user identification from the current user of the entertainment system;
- a preferences database to store a set of preferences lists, at least some of the preferences lists corresponding to specific users, and each of the preferences lists containing multiple entertainment programming channel identifiers;
- and
- a channel selector to identify multiple preferences lists corresponding to the current user by searching the set of preferences lists, to select one of the identified multiple preferences lists by giving the user a choice of one of the multiple identified preferences lists, and to access the chosen preferences list.
An entertainment system controller comprising:
- a remote control, operable by a user;
- a user interface to receive a user identification from the remote control;
- a preferences database to store a set of preferences lists, at least some of the preferences lists corresponding to specific users, and each of the preferences lists containing multiple entertainment programming channel identifiers;
- and
- a channel selector to identify multiple preferences lists by searching the set of preferences lists for the current user of the entertainment system, to select one of the identified multiple preferences lists by giving the user a choice of one of the multiple identified preferences lists, and to access the chosen preferences list;
- and
- a component controller to send a signal to a device of the entertainment system to tune the device to a channel from the accessed preferences list.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.