US 2008/0168501 A1 · Media selection

Abstract

Various technologies for selecting media (e.g., television media) are described. A media selection method displays a tool for selecting a category, such as a television genre, to a user. Upon receiving a user selection, the selected category having a number of channels is visually illustrated on a channel selection spectrum (e.g., a circular arc channel selection spectrum). For example, if the selected category is sports, then a number of channels corresponding to sports channels are highlighted on the channel selection spectrum. Moreover, in one example, the channel selection spectrum works in conjunction with a touchscreen device. Thus, a user can navigate with his or her finger to quickly select and browse the available channels. Also, optionally, non-highlighted channels are automatically bypassed to assist user navigation. Additionally, upon receiving user selection of a channel, in one example, the media content corresponding to the selected channel is played.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

displaying a user interface having a category selection tool for selecting a particular category from a plurality of categories;
receiving a user selection of a category of said plurality of categories, wherein said selected category includes a plurality of channels;
displaying a channel selection spectrum divided into a plurality of discrete intervals, each discrete interval of said plurality of discrete intervals representing a channel;
displaying a subset of discrete intervals of said plurality of discrete intervals corresponding to said plurality of channels of said selected category, wherein a channel selection mechanism enables a user to navigate through said subset of discrete intervals to browse said plurality of channels of said selected category;
receiving a user selection of a channel of said plurality of channels of said selected category;
and
playing media content corresponding to a selected channel.

4 more elements

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:

displaying a selection mechanism for selecting a television genre of a plurality of television genres;
receiving a user selection for a television genre of said plurality of television genres, wherein said television genre includes a plurality of channels;
displaying a circular channel selection interface, wherein a channel spectrum occupies a portion of said circular channel selection interface, wherein said channel spectrum is divided into a number discrete sections, wherein at least one discrete section of said number of discrete sections correspond to a channel of said plurality of channels of said selected television genre, wherein said circular channel selection interface is configured to allow a user to easily navigate through said plurality of channels of said channel spectrum via radial motion based input;
displaying a first channel of said selected television genre;
receiving radial motion based input from a user;
and
in response to said radial motion based input, automatically transitioning to and displaying a second channel of said selected television genre.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Media selection

Life of this patent

Media selection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20