Channel navigation based on channel attribute information
OwnerShan Xu, Peter T. Barrett +7inventors
InventorsShan Xu, Peter T. Barrett, Zhi-Guang Zhou, Zhi Zheng, Mingda Pan, Qin Hong, Youshun Liu, Yu Yang, Yurong Wang
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Abstract
A mechanism is provided which allows a user to navigate through channels with programs that share related attribute information, such as a common category. The channels can include at least one broadcast channel that presents programs at scheduled times, and at least one on-demand channel that presents programs for viewing at user-specified times.
Claims44
A method for advancing through channels containing programs, comprising:
- receiving an indication that a user has activated a channel advancement mechanism while playing an initial program in an initial channel;
- and
- playing another program in another channel in response to the activation of the channel advancement mechanism providing that the other program has attribute information which is related to attribute information of the initial program.
An apparatus for advancing through channels containing programs, comprising:
- interface logic configured to receive an indication that a user has activated a channel advancement mechanism while playing an initial program in an initial channel;
- and
- channel navigation logic configured to play another program in another channel in response to the activation of the channel advancement mechanism providing that the other program has attribute information which is related to attribute information of the initial program.
A system for advancing through channels containing programs, comprising:
- a client including:
- interface logic configured to receive an indication that a user has activated a channel advancement mechanism while playing an initial program in an initial channel;
- and
- channel navigation logic configured to play another program in another channel in response to the activation of the channel advancement mechanism providing that the other program has attribute information which is related to attribute information of the initial program;
- and
- a server, communicatively coupled to the client, configured to provide attribute information regarding programs to the client.
An apparatus for interacting with a system for advancing through channels containing programs, comprising:
- control logic for controlling the operation of the apparatus;
- a channel advancement mechanism coupled to the control logic, wherein the channel advancement mechanism includes an attribute-dependent channel advancement mechanism for navigating through programs in respective channels providing that the programs share related attribute information, and for generating control instructions in response thereto;
- and
- a communication interface for sending the control instructions to the system for use by the system in executing the control instructions.
A method for advancing through channels containing programs, comprising:
- defining attribute information;
- forming a channel list containing channels with programs having features which generally match the attribute information;
- receiving an indication that a user has activated a channel advancement mechanism;
- and
- advancing to a program provided by a channel in the channel list in response to the activation of the channel advancement mechanism.
An apparatus for advancing through channels containing programs, comprising:
- channel list formation logic configured to form a channel list containing channels with programs having features which generally match defined attribute information;
- channel list storage logic configured to store the channel list;
- interface logic configured to receive an indication that a user has activated a channel advancement mechanism;
- and
- channel advancement logic configured to advance to another program in the channel list upon an indication that the user has activated the channel advancement mechanism.
A method for forming a channel including multiple programs, comprising:
- receiving an input from a user which specifies attribute information;
- forming a channel including programs having attribute information which generally matches the attribute information specified by the user;
- receiving another input from a user which activates the channel;
- and
- in response to the other input, playing a program within the channel.
An apparatus for forming a channel including multiple programs, comprising:
- interface logic configured to receive an input from a user which specifies attribute information;
- channel formation logic configured to form a channel including programs having attribute information which generally matches the attribute information specified by the user;
- and
- program playing logic configured to play a program within the channel in response to a user activating the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.