| Methods, systems, and products for sampled content -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Methods, systems, and products for sampled contentUSPTO Application #: 20060288368Title: Methods, systems, and products for sampled content Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, devices, and products provide sampled content. One such method receives a programming guide comprising a listing of available content. An ancillary stream of data is received and includes samples of content listed in the programming guide. A user input is received that selects a particular content from the programming guide. Unselected samples of content are filtered from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content. The sample is processed for preview of the selected particular content. (end of abstract) Agent: Scott P. Zimmerman, PLLC - Cary, NC, US Inventors: Nicholas Steven Huslak, Arnold C. McQuaide USPTO Applicaton #: 20060288368 - Class: 725046000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Interactive Video Distribution Systems, Operator Interface, To Facilitate Tuning Or Selection Of Video Signal, Electronic Program Guide, Content Arrangement, Based On Personal Preference, Profile, Or Viewing History (e.g., To Produce Redacted Listing) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060288368. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of the commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 11/156,190 (Attorney Docket BS040438), filed Jun. 17, 2005 and entitled "Methods, Systems, and Products for Providing Sample Content," which is incorporated herein by reference. NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION [0002] A portion of this disclosure and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. BACKGROUND [0003] This application generally relates to data processing and to interactive distribution systems and, more particularly, to content sampling. [0004] Interactive distribution of content is currently achieved using programming guides, e.g., electronic programming guides (EPGs). Current electronic programming guides are generally linear. That is, the subscribing user continuously scrolls along the electronic programming guide and views the programming available at different time slots (or "cells"). Digital cable or digital satellite subscribers might receive a slightly more sophisticated programming guide, but the subscriber still scrolls along the cells or watches a repeating "carrousel" loop of program offerings. The subscriber, regardless of the type of electronic programming guide, must decipher some abbreviated phrasing that cryptically describes the program (such as the name of the program or a brief description of the subject matter). The subscriber is forced to tune to a particular program to truly determine whether the program meets the subscriber's entertainment desires. [0005] What is needed, however, are improved methods, systems, devices, and products for providing a user with a fuller description of a particular program, thus helping the subscriber gain a better understanding of the subject matter of the program. Ideally, the subscriber would also be provided with a sample of the content, e.g., a video sample of some or all of the listed programs in a programming guide. SUMMARY [0006] The aforementioned problems, and other problems, are reduced, according to the exemplary embodiments, using methods, systems, apparatuses, and products that provide sampled content for electronic programming guides. The exemplary embodiments allow a user to view an electronic programming guide and select content for sampling. That is, the exemplary embodiments allow the user to browse, or sample, content listed in the electronic programming guide. As the user browses the electronic programming guide, the user may wish to sample some movie, program, or other content listed in the electronic programming guide. The exemplary embodiments permit the user to highlight, select, or otherwise input a selection that indicates the content to be sampled. The exemplary embodiments, however, deliver that sampled content to any communications address. That is, although the user may view the sample on a television, the exemplary embodiments permit the user to view the sample at any communications device. The exemplary embodiments, for example, allow the user to view the electronic programming guide on a television, while the sampled content is delivered to a communications address associated with a wireless cell phone. As the following paragraphs explain, the sampled content may be additionally or alternatively delivered to any communications device, such as a computer, a personal digital assistant, and/or a remote control. The user is thus not constrained to view both the electronic programming guide and the sampled content at the same device. The exemplary embodiments permit the user, if the user so chooses, to "split" the sampled content from the electronic programming guide and deliver the sampled content to any communications address. [0007] The exemplary embodiments describe a system for providing sample content. The system has at least one processor for receiving a programming guide and for receiving an ancillary stream of data. The programming guide comprises a listing of available content, and the ancillary stream of data comprises multiple samples of content listed in the programming guide. A user interface receives a user input that selects a particular content from the programming guide. The user interface communicates the user input to the processor. The processor filters unselected samples of content from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content as a preview of the selected particular content. [0008] In another of the embodiments, a method provides sample content. The method receives a programming guide comprising a listing of available content. An ancillary stream of data is received and includes samples of content listed in the programming guide. A user input is received that selects a particular content from the programming guide. Unselected samples of content are filtered from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content. The sample is processed for preview of the selected particular content. [0009] In yet another embodiment, a computer program product also provides sampled content. The computer program product includes a computer-readable medium on which instructions are encoded. The instructions command a device to receiving a programming guide and an ancillary stream of data. The programming guide comprises a listing of available content, and the ancillary stream of data comprises samples of content listed in the programming guide. A user input is received that selects a particular content from the programming guide. Unselected samples of content are filtered from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content. The sample is processed for preview of the selected particular content. [0010] Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to the exemplary embodiments will be or become apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the claims, and be protected by the accompanying claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the exemplary embodiments are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0012] FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematics illustrating a sampling application, according to the exemplary embodiments; [0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustrating a sample communicating to a remote control, according to more exemplary embodiments; [0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating an ancillary stream delivered to a communications device, according to even more exemplary embodiments; [0015] FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematics illustrating various routings for the ancillary stream of data, according to more exemplary embodiments; [0016] FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematics illustrating routings for an electronic programming guide, according to yet more exemplary embodiments; [0017] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustrating a preview command, according to still more exemplary embodiments; [0018] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the sampling application residing in a processor-controlled system, according to even more exemplary embodiments; [0019] FIGS. 11-17 are schematics illustrating the sampling application operating within various communications devices, according to more exemplary embodiments; and Continue reading... Full patent description for Methods, systems, and products for sampled content Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Methods, systems, and products for sampled content patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Methods, systems, and products for sampled content or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program Next Patent Application: Systems, methods and products for tailoring and bundling content Industry Class: Interactive video distribution systems ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Methods, systems, and products for sampled content patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.11264 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error |
||
