# US 2021/0345004 A1 · Channel bar user interface

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- Number: US 2021/0345004 A1
- Document ID: US20210345004A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/379,785
- Filed: 2021-07-19
- Published: 2021-11-04
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-10
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Gregory N. CHRISTIE; Alessandro SABATELLI; William M. BACHMAN; Imran CHAUDHRI; Jeffrey ROBBIN; Jim YOUNG; Joe HOWARD; Marcel VAN OS; Patrick L. COFFMAN; Stephen O. LEMAY; Jeffrey MA; Lynne KRESS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210345004A1

## CPC

- H04N 21/4823: {using a channel name}
- H04N 21/4383: {Accessing a communication channel}
- H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Systems and methods for a media content user interface. A media content provider includes storage for storing and serving video content to subscribers. The media content provider records and or otherwise stores video content from around the world. Subscribers are provided a user interface to the system that includes a channel bar. The channel bar is dynamically scoped responsive to interactions of a viewer with the system. Selectable elements within the channel bar provide direct access to related content regarding video content, such as television series information and cast information. In addition, the channel bar is operable in multiple modes. An EPG mode displays live video for multiple channels simultaneously. Themed modes permit channel bars that display content according to various themes which may be defined by a viewer, the provider, or both.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
at an electronic device in communication with a display device and one or more input devices:
concurrently displaying, via the display device:
a first content item that is playing; and
a content bar that includes a first plurality of representations of live content items, wherein:
the first plurality of representations of live content items is overlaid on the first content item, and
the live content items corresponding to the first plurality of representations are of a first category of content items;
while concurrently displaying the first content item that is playing and the content bar, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a first input corresponding to a request to update the content bar to correspond to live content items of a second category, different from the first category, of content items; and
in response to receiving the first input, updating the content bar to include a second plurality of representations of live content items, wherein:
the second plurality of representations of live content items is overlaid on the first content item, and
the live content items corresponding to the second plurality of representations are of the second category of content items.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the content bar comprises displaying an animation of the content bar switching from including the first plurality of representations to including the second plurality of representations.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the content bar is displayed at a respective location via the display device, and the animation comprises rotating the content bar while it remains displayed at the respective location via the display device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein updating the content bar includes ceasing display of the first plurality of representations of live content items.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein first plurality of live content items corresponds to media from channels.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:
playing first audio associated with a first respective representation of the first plurality of representations of live content items, wherein the first respective representation has a focus;
while playing the first audio, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second input changing the focus to a second respective representation of the first plurality of representations of live content items; and
in response to receiving the second input, ceasing the playing of the first audio and playing second audio associated with the second respective representation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
before the first respective representation of the first plurality of representations has the focus, playing third audio associated with the first content item;
while playing the third audio, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a third input moving the focus to the first respective representation; and
in response to receiving the third input, playing the first audio.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
while the focus is on the first respective representation and the first audio is playing, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a third input associated with switching audio playback from the content bar to the first content item; and
in response to receiving the third input, ceasing the playing of the first audio and playing the third audio.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of representations of live content items comprises a representation of the first content item, wherein the first content item is a live content item.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
while the first content item is playing, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second input selecting a respective representation of the first plurality of representations; and
in response to receiving the second input, ceasing the displaying of the first content item and displaying a second content item that is playing and that corresponds to the respective representation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one or more respective representations of the first plurality of representations of live content items comprise one or more live videos corresponding to the live content items.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one or more respective representations of the first plurality of representations of live content items comprise one or more titles associated with the live content items.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one or more respective representations of the first plurality of representations of live content items comprise one or more indications of sources of content associated with the live content items.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the content bar comprises live content items corresponding to content sources selected by a user of the electronic device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the content bar comprises live content items corresponding to content sources selected by a user other than a user of the electronic device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first input includes selection of a button dedicated to change the content bar to display the second category of live content items.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the content bar is associated with an ordered sequence of a plurality of categories, including the first category and the second category; and
the first input comprises a request to traverse the ordered sequence of the plurality of categories in a first direction, wherein the second category of content items is a next category in the sequence of the plurality of categories, the method further comprising:
while concurrently displaying the first content item that is playing and the content bar corresponding to the live content items of the first category of content items, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second input comprising a request to traverse the ordered sequence of the plurality of categories in a second direction, different from the first direction; and
in response to receiving the second input, updating the content bar to include live content items of a previous category of live content items in the sequence of the plurality of categories.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
while displaying the content bar associated with the first category of content items, displaying, in association with the content bar, a first indication corresponding to the first category; and
in response to receiving the second input, and while maintaining display of the first plurality of representations of live content items in the content bar, replacing display of the first indication corresponding to the first category with display of a second indication corresponding to the previous category of content items.

### Claim 19

The method of channel 18, the method further comprising:
in response to displaying the first plurality of representations of live content items in the content bar in association with the second indication corresponding to the previous category of content items for a predetermined amount of time, updating the content bar to include a third plurality of representations of live content items corresponding to the previous category of content items.

### Claim 20

The method of channel 19, wherein the amount of time is based upon activity of a user of the electronic device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein:
the first input is a swipe gesture detected on a touch-sensitive surface in a first direction, the method further comprising:
while concurrently displaying the first content item that is playing and the content bar, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a second input comprising a swipe gesture detected on the touch-sensitive surface in a second direction, different from the first direction; and
in response to receiving the second input, scrolling through the first plurality of representations of live content items.

### Claim 22

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device in communication with a display device and one or more input devices, cause the electronic device to:
concurrently display, via the display device:
a first content item that is playing; and
a content bar that includes a first plurality of representations of live content items, wherein:
the first plurality of representations of live content items is overlaid on the first content item, and
the live content items corresponding to the first plurality of representations are of a first category of content items;
while concurrently displaying the first content item that is playing and the content bar, receive, via the one or more input devices, a first input corresponding to a request to update the content bar to correspond to live content items of a second category, different from the first category, of content items; and
in response to receiving the first input, update the content bar to include a second plurality of representations of live content items, wherein:
the second plurality of representations of live content items is overlaid on the first content item, and
the live content items corresponding to the second plurality of representations are of the second category of content items.

### Claim 23

An electronic device in communication with a display device and one or more input devices, the electronic device comprising:
one or more processors;
memory; and
one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
concurrently displaying, via the display device:
a first content item that is playing; and
a content bar that includes a first plurality of representations of live content items, wherein:
the first plurality of representations of live content items is overlaid on the first content item, and
the live content items corresponding to the first plurality of representations are of a first category of content items;
while concurrently displaying the first content item that is playing and the content bar, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a first input corresponding to a request to update the content bar to correspond to live content items of a second category, different from the first category, of content items; and
in response to receiving the first input, updating the content bar to include a second plurality of representations of live content items, wherein:
the second plurality of representations of live content items is overlaid on the first content item, and
the live content items corresponding to the second plurality of representations are of the second category of content items.