Claims
- 1. A method for generating a personalized menu promoting other video programs available from a video content delivery system, wherein the video content delivery system includes a plurality of channels of video content simultaneously, the method comprising steps of:
determining that a triggering event has occurred with a video content delivery conduit; gathering first information about one or more users, wherein the one or more users are associated with an account with the video content delivery system; determining alternative video programs personalized for the one or more users based, at least in part, upon the first information; analyzing context for the triggering event to produce second information; determining a configuration of the personalized menu based, at least in part, upon the second information; and formulating the personalized menu for presentment to the one or more users, wherein the personalized menu comprises links to the alternative video programs.
- 2. The method for generating the personalized menu promoting other video programs available from the video content delivery system, wherein the content delivery system provides the plurality Of channels of video content simultaneously as recited in claim 1, wherein the triggering event is chosen from a group consisting of:
stopping playback on the video content delivery conduit; pausing playback on the video content delivery conduit; ending playback on the video content delivery conduit; reaching a limit on viewing; detecting a parental control limitation on viewing; tuning to a new channel; determining a channel has been selected, but does not currently have a video content stream that is tunable; determining a channel or a program is not authorized for viewing; determining an aspect ratio mismatch between the video content stream and a display for the video content stream that results in unused portions of the display; and determining a periodic timer has expired.
- 3. The method for generating the personalized menu promoting other video programs available from the video content delivery system, wherein the content delivery system provides the plurality of channels of video content simultaneously as recited in claim 1, wherein the first information is derived from at least one of:
viewing habits of the one or more users, and expressed interest of the one or more users.
- 4. The method for generating the personalized menu promoting other video programs available from the video content delivery system, wherein the content delivery system provides the plurality of channels of video content simultaneously as recited in claim 1, wherein the first information can be resolved to an individual of the one or more users.
- 5. The method for generating the personalized menu promoting other video programs available from the video content delivery system, wherein the content delivery system provides the plurality of channels of video content simultaneously as recited in claim 1, wherein the second information includes at least one of:
full screen or partial screen personalized menu; transparent or opaque personalized menu; and ephemeral or persistent personalized menu.
- 6. The method for generating the personalized menu promoting other video programs available from the video content delivery system, wherein the content delivery system provides the plurality of channels of video content simultaneously as recited in claim 1, wherein the second information includes size and placement of the personalized menu.
- 7. The method for generating the personalized menu promoting other video programs available from the video content delivery system, wherein the content delivery system provides the plurality of channels of video content simultaneously as recited in claim 1, wherein the formulating step comprises determining alternative video programs to present to the one or more users.
- 8. The method for generating the personalized menu promoting other video programs available from the video content delivery system, wherein the content delivery system provides the plurality of channels of video content simultaneously as recited in claim 1, wherein the alternative video programs are either stored video programs or video programs playing on other channels.
- 9. The method for generating the personalized menu promoting other video programs available from the video content delivery system, wherein the content delivery system provides the plurality of channels of video content simultaneously as recited in claim 1, wherein the video content delivery conduit is delivering a stored video program or a video program in a linear schedule of video programs.
- 10. A method for generating a customized menu promoting other video programs available from a video content delivery system, the method comprising steps of:
determining that a triggering event has occurred while a content program is selected for playback; determining alternatives to the content program, wherein the alternatives are at least one of:
categories of video programs, and individual video programs; analyzing context for the triggering event; determining a configuration of the customized menu based, at least in part, upon the context; formulating the customized menu for presentment to the one or more users, wherein the customized menu comprises links to the alternatives; and causing display of the customized menu to the one or more users while the content program is selected for playback.
- 11. The method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system as recited in claim 10, wherein the second-listed determining step comprises determining alternatives similar to the content program.
- 12. The method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system as recited in claim 10, wherein the second-listed determining step comprises determining alternatives based, at least in part, upon past viewing habits of the one or more users.
- 13. The method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system as recited in claim 10, wherein the second-listed determining step comprises determining alternatives based, at least in part, upon stated preferences of the one or more users.
- 14. The method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system as recited in claim 10, wherein the triggering event is chosen from a group consisting of:
stopping playback on the video content delivery conduit; pausing playback on the video content delivery conduit; ending playback on the video content delivery conduit; reaching a limit on viewing; detecting a parental control limitation on viewing; tuning to a new channel; determining a channel has been selected, but does not currently have a video content stream that is tunable; determining a channel or a program is not authorized for viewing; determining an aspect ratio mismatch between the video content stream and a display for the video content stream that results in unused portions of the display; and determining a periodic timer has expired.
- 15. The method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system as recited in claim 10, wherein the formulating step comprises determining if a configuration of the customized menu is:
full screen or partial screen; transparent or opaque; and ephemeral or persistent.
- 16. The method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system as recited in claim 10, wherein the third-listed determining step includes determining a size and placement of the customized menu.
- 17. The method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system as recited in claim 10, wherein the alternatives are either stored video programs or video programs playing on other channels.
- 18. The method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system as recited in claim 10, wherein the content program is either a stored video program or a video program in a linear schedule of video programs.
- 19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system of claim 10.
- 20. A computer system adapted to perform the computer-implementable method for generating the customized menu promoting other video programs available from the content delivery system of claim 10.
- 21. A method for generating a personalized menu promoting other video programs available from a video content delivery system, wherein the video content delivery system provides a plurality of channels of video content simultaneously, the method comprising steps of:
determining that a triggering event has occurred with a video content delivery conduit, wherein the triggering event is chosen from a group consisting of:
stopping playback on the video content delivery conduit, pausing playback on the video content delivery conduit, ending playback on the video content delivery conduit, reaching a limit on viewing, detecting a parental control limitation on viewing, tuning to a new channel, determining a channel has been selected, but does not currently have a video content stream that is tunable, determining a channel or a program is not authorized for viewing, determining an aspect ratio mismatch between the video content stream and a display for the video content stream that results in unused portions of the display, and determining a periodic timer has expired; gathering first information about one or more users, wherein the one or more users are associated with an account with the video content delivery system, wherein the first information is derived from at least one of:
viewing habits of the one or more users, and expressed interest of the one or more users; determining alternative video programs personalized for the one or more users based, at least in part, upon the first information, wherein the alternative video programs are either stored video programs or video programs playing on other channels; analyzing context for the triggering event to produce second information; determining a configuration of the personalized menu based, at least in part, upon the second information; formulating the personalized menu for presentment to the one or more users, wherein:
the personalized menu comprises links to the alternative video programs, and the formulating step comprises determining alternative video programs to present to the one or more users; and causing display of the personalized menu to the one or more user while the video content delivery conduit is selected for playback.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/393,724 filed on Mar. 18, 2003, which is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/368,646 filed on Mar. 29, 2002, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
[0002] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on the same day as the present application, entitled “Video Advertising” (temporarily referenced by Attorney Docket No. 019281-002810US), which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60368646 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10393724 |
Mar 2003 |
US |
Child |
10460770 |
Jun 2003 |
US |