Patent Application
20130212616
The present disclosure relates generally to a receiving device and a user interface generated by the receiving device and, more specifically, to a method and system for configuring the user interface of the receiving device specifically for use with an auxiliary remote control device.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Content providers such as cable and satellite television providers provide a variety of programming to meet the interests of a variety of customers. This includes content provided in live television, recorded television, pay-per-view, and on-demand. Because of the wide variety of content, all of the content may not be suitable for all of the customers. For example, some programming may have mature themes not suitable for children.
Set top boxes typically provide a way to restrict access to content having a mature rating. Typically, a secret code must be entered in order to access the content. However, a grid guide, which is complex for young children, is typically provided. A grid guide may not be suitable for young children since many young children are unable to read. Set top boxes typically provide various settings that may be configured during the setup process. The settings are time-consuming to configure. One problem with multiple users is that settings may be inadvertently changed. Small children may press various buttons on the remote control device that allows the settings to be changed inadvertently. Resetting the settings may be time-consuming.
The present disclosure provides a system and method for providing a system and method for providing filtered content choices. The system is particularly suitable for children but may be applied to other contexts.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of operating a receiving unit comprises selecting a filter feature for filtering content data from a set of available content data for use with an auxiliary remote control device, receiving an auxiliary remote control device identifier from auxiliary remote control device at a receiving unit, in response to receiving the auxiliary remote control device identifier, filtering the set of available content data with the filter feature to form filtered available content data less than the set of available content data and displaying a user interface having the filtered available content data associated with the auxiliary remote control device on a display.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a system and method for controlling a user interface comprises an auxiliary remote control device having an auxiliary remote control device identifier associated therewith and a receiving unit comprising a filter module having a filter feature for filtering content data from a set of available content data in response to an auxiliary remote control device identifier received at the receiving unit. The filter module forms filtered available content data less than the set of available content data. The receiving unit displays the user interface having the filtered available content data associated with the auxiliary remote control device on a display associated with the receiving unit.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the term module refers to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical OR. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present disclosure.
While the following disclosure is made with respect to example DIRECTV® broadcast services and systems, it should be understood that many other delivery systems are readily applicable to disclosed systems and methods. Such systems include wireless terrestrial distribution systems, wired or cable distribution systems, cable television distribution systems, Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) radio frequency systems or other terrestrial broadcast systems (e.g., Multi-channel Multi-point Distribution System (MMDS), Local Multi-point Distribution System (LMDS), etc.), Internet-based distribution systems, cellular distribution systems, power-line broadcast systems, any point-to-point and/or multicast Internet Protocol (IP) delivery network, and fiber optic networks. Further, the different functions collectively allocated among a service provider and integrated receiver/decoders (IRDs) as described below can be reallocated as desired without departing from the intended scope of the present patent.
Further, while the following disclosure is made with respect to the delivery of content (e.g., television (TV), movies, games, music videos, etc.), it should be understood that the systems and methods disclosed herein could also be used for delivery of any media content type, for example, audio, music, data files, web pages, games, etc. Additionally, throughout this disclosure reference is made to data, information, programs, movies, assets, video data, etc., however, it will be readily apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art that these terms are substantially equivalent in reference to the example systems and/or methods disclosed herein. The content has content data associated therewith such as titles, channels, times, descriptions and other data that is used to form a program guide or other user interface. The program guide or user interface has a set of available content data which is a large set of data. The present disclosure filters the set of available content data to form a filtered available content data set less than the entire available set.
Referring now to
The network operations center 12 generates wireless communication signals 15 through a transmitting antenna 14 which are received by a receiving antenna 16 of a high altitude device such as a spaced-based satellite 18. The wireless communication signals, for example, may be digital, digital video, data or digital audio. As will be described below, the wireless communication signals may be entertainment content, live content, traffic, weather, hazardous material warning areas or advertising marketing. The wireless signals 15 may be referred to as uplink signals.
Wireless communication signals 17 such as downlink signals may be generated from the satellite 18. The downlink signal corresponds in content to the uplink signals.
A transmitting antenna 20 of the satellite 18 communicates the downlink signals 17 to various receiving systems including a mobile receiving system 22A such as those in a vehicle and stationary system 22B such as those in a home 21. The wireless signals may also have various video and audio information associated therewith. The home 21 represents a building that may be a single family dwelling or multi-dwelling unit. The home 21 may also represent commercial building such as a hotel. Home 21 may include a plurality of receiving units that are each in communication with the antenna 26B.
The mobile receiving system 22A is disposed within an automotive vehicle 24. Several mobile receiving systems 22A may be incorporated into a network. The mobile receiving system 22A includes a receiving antenna 26A that receives the wireless signals 17 from the satellite 18 and processes the signals in a receiving unit 28A.
As mentioned above, the satellite system may be replaced with terrestrial wireless systems or wired (optical or electrical) and thus content may be received at the receiving unit through terrestrial wireless signal or signals through a wire or optical fiber.
The satellites 18 may also be replaced with another high altitude device such as a stratospheric platform 34 for transmitting content to the mobile device, transmitting communication signals, transmitting lost content segments and transmitting location-specific signals. Stratospheric platforms 34 are manned or unmanned airplanes, airships, or the like that fly above commercial airspace. It is envisioned that stratospheric platforms may fly at altitudes between 60,000 and 100,000 feet (in the stratosphere) from the surface of the earth. Thus, the stratospheric platforms are in a significantly lower position than even low earth orbit satellites.
The stratospheric platforms 34 may also include a transponding unit 36 that is used to receive and retransmit signals from the satellite 18. The transponding unit 36 may be referred to as a stationary unit since the stratospheric platform maintains a particular position above the earth. The receiving unit 36 may be used to transfer content segments or packets to another node of the device.
The home 21 may include a user receiving unit 28B that communicates with the satellite 18 through the antenna 26B. The receiving unit 28B may also be in communication with a display 42 such as a television.
An advanced program guide (APG) system 44 may provide available content data to or may be incorporated into the network operation center 12. The program guide system 44 organizes the set of available content data regarding the programming channels and organizes the data for ultimate transmission to the receiving devices including 28A, 28B. The receiving devices 28A, 28B may receive the available content data and display a grid guide using available content data. The program guide data may be referred to as program objects and may include a title, description, channel and time of broadcast. The program objects may also include identifiers for the type of program (movie, sports, series), a series or short identifier and an episode number for a series. As will be further described below, a content identifier, a Tribune Media Services® ID, a program information packet or another identifier may be used as an identifier for a particular program. These may be found in the data corresponding to the program guide system 44. The same or equivalent program or event may have the same or similar packet identifier, program-associated data, Tribune Media Services® ID or content identifier.
The APG system 44 may also provide various types of metadata as well as content posters. Posters are images that are provided to visually describe the content. For example, a movie poster is an image of a scene or a visual representation of the movie. Typically, a poster has a main character as well. A title may also be associated with an image and may be provided separately or just below an image.
The APG system 44, as mentioned above, provides metadata with the content. The metadata may also include ratings, such as television or motion picture association ratings, a channel identifier associated with a channel used for broadcasting, and other data such as actor data, producer data, a description and other information about a particular content. The metadata may also include a dollar amount for pay-per-view or on-demand content.
It should be noted that the APG 44 and NOC 12 may all be physically located in the network operations center 12 or other central location. The NOC 12 may also be referred to as a head end.
Referring now to
The receiving unit 28 may include or be associated with the display 42 associated therewith. The display 42 may be incorporated into the unit 28 or may be external to the receiving unit such as part of a vehicle 24 or television. The display 42 may have output drivers 56 used for generating the desired audio and video outputs suitable for the particular display 42.
A controller 60 may be a general processor such as a microprocessor. The controller 60 may be used to coordinate and control the various functions of the receiving unit 28. Some modules within the controller are described further below. These functions may include but are not limited to controlling a tuner 64, a demodulator 66, a forward error correction decoder 68 and any buffers and other functions. The tuner 64 receives the signal or data from the individual channel. The demodulator 66 demodulates the signal or data to form a demodulated signal or data. The decoder 68 decodes the demodulated signal to form decoded data or a decoded signal. The controller 60 may be similar to that found in current DIRECTV® set top boxes which employ a chip-based multifunctional controller.
It should be noted that more than one tuner 64, demodulator 66 and forward error correction decoder 68 may be provided in the system. In this example, a second tuner 64′, a second demodulator 66′ and a second forward error correction decoder 68′ may be provided in the receiving unit 28. Of course, various numbers of tuners may be incorporated into a receiving unit 28.
The controller 60 may include or be coupled to a local bus 70. The local bus 70 may be used to couple a memory including dynamic memory 72 such as RAM which changes often and whose contents may be lost upon the interruption of power or boot up. The bus 70 may also be coupled to a non-volatile memory 74. The non-volatile memory 74 may be an in-circuit programmable type memory. One example of a non-volatile memory is an EEPROM. One specific type of EEPROM is flash memory. Flash memory is suitable since it is sectored into blocks of data segments that may be individually erased and rewritten. The non-volatile memory may include configuration settings for a remote control device.
A digital video recorder (DVR) 76 may also be coupled to the local bus 70 as part of the memory 62. The digital video recorder 76 may be within the receiving device 28 or coupled to the receiving device. The digital video recorder 76 may be used to store programming content or sub-contents.
Other memory devices 78 may also be coupled to local bus 70. The other memory devices may include other types of dynamic memory or non-volatile memory. The display 42 may be changed under the control of controller 60 in response to the data in the dynamic memory 72 or non-volatile memory 74. Part of the memory 62 may be used as a buffer.
The controller 60 may also be coupled to an input device 80 such as a keyboard, a stand-alone button or a touch screen. Should the unit 28 be incorporated into a vehicle, the input device 80 may be located external to the mobile receiving unit such as dial buttons, voice activated system, or the like incorporated into the vehicle and interface with the receiving unit. By performing an action with the input device 80, such as selecting a button, an action on the screen display may result. This includes changing the screen display, the menu in the screen display, selecting an item in the screen display and the like. The input device 80 may provide inputs for configuring a remote control device as will be described below.
A conditional access module 82 (CAM) may also be incorporated into the receiving unit. The access module 82 may include software to allow the receiving unit 28 access to various channels and wireless signals generated by the system. Not having an access card or not having an up-to-date access card 82 may prevent the user from receiving or displaying various content from the system.
One specific type of input device is a primary remote control device 98. The primary remote control device 98 may include various buttons such as numerical buttons, colored buttons, arrowed buttons and the like. The primary remote control device 98 may have an identifier (ID) memory 100 associated therewith. Upon the activation of one or more of the keys, dials, or devices, a primary remote control device identifier may be communicated to the receiving unit together with a key value that identifies a function to be performed by the receiving unit. One or more auxiliary remote control devices 102 may also be associated with a receiving unit 28. The auxiliary remote control device includes an auxiliary remote control device identifier memory 104. The remote control device identifier memory 104 has a different identifier than the identifier in the primary remote control device memory. The functions accessible within the receiving unit 28 may be limited for the auxiliary remote control device 102. Also, the number of buttons and dials may also be reduced from the primary remote control device 98.
A user interface control module 120 is incorporated into the controller 60. The user interface control module 120 is used for controlling the user interface or guide differently when inputs from different remote control devices are used. The user interface control module 120 is described in detail below.
Referring now to
A select button 350 is used to choose or select a highlighted item in a menu or in a program guide. A back button 352 may be used to return to a previously displayed screen. A menu button 354 may be used to display a menu. An information button 356 may be used to display the current channel and program information when watching live television or in the guide. Color buttons 358 may be used to cycle through various available alternative audio tracks. The colored buttons may also give various functionality and various menus within the receiving unit.
A volume switch 360 may be used for increasing or decreasing the volume. The volume switch 360 may be a rocker switch. A channel or page button 362 may also be a rocker switch. The channel or page button 362 may be used to select the next higher or lower channel or higher or lower page in a program guide menu. A mute button 364 may also be provided. The mute button 364 may turn the sound from the receiving unit on or off. A previous button 366 may be used to return to the last viewed channel. Numerical buttons 368 may have a number and a letter assigned thereto. By selecting a number, a number key value may be provided to the receiving unit for inputting a particular number into a menu when making a selection. The number buttons 368 may also be used for providing letters into the receiving unit. For example, the “2” button may also have “A B C” associated therewith. A keypad for a telephone is similarly configured. A dash key 370 may be provided for inputting a dash for a sub-channel number. An enter button 372 may be used for entering the code in a menu.
Referring now to
In a manufacturing environment, one common remote control circuit board (not shown) may be formed in the same way with the same circuitry. Each of the key values or codes corresponding to the positions of buttons may be identical in the primary and auxiliary remotes. As is illustrated, a guide button 410 is also provided. The guide button 410 is in the place of the back button 352 illustrated in
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A time filter 714 may also be included as a filter feature within the filter module. The time filter 714 may filter the available content data for a predetermined or set time. Should the auxiliary remote control device be associated with a child, the filter time may be the bed time of the child after which no content is available. The filter time may define what times are to be included for viewing content for the particular auxiliary remote. The filter time may be set at different times for different days. For example, on Friday night or Saturday night the filter time may be set to 10:00 and the filter time on Sunday through Thursday nights may be set at 9:00 corresponding to the child's bed time. Thus, filter times may correspond to a day, time, or may be set generally to apply the same time “every day.” Content data out of the “allowed” times is excluded for being displayed in the user interface associated with the auxiliary remote.
The filter features of the filter module 710 may also include a non-local channel filter 716. The non-local channel filter 716 may allow the primary remote control device to select various channels to be available when the auxiliary remote control device is operated. Any channel not on a non-local channel list may be filtered from being displayed in the user interface generated by the receiving unit when the auxiliary remote control device is used.
The filter features of the filter module 710 may also include a local channel filter 718. The local channel filter 718 may filter out any local channels not selected by the operator of the primary remote control device when displaying the user interface associated with the auxiliary remote control device. Any local channel not selected will have the content data excluded from display in the user interface associated with the auxiliary remote.
Of course, other filters 720 may be incorporated into the filter module 710. Other filters may be provided for different uses or different groups.
The memory 62 illustrated in
The APG data memory 732 may include the program guide data that is received from the network operations center or head end. The program guide data, as mentioned above, has various types of metadata and other types of identifiers associated therewith that make the data suitable for filtering at the filter module 710. A poster data memory 734 may also be included within the memory 62. Poster data memory 734 may include data corresponding to poster data associated with the content available at the program guide data. Although the poster data memory 734 is illustrated as a separate memory, the poster data memory 734 may be incorporated into the program guide data memory 732.
The memory 62 may also have the DVR data memory therein. The DVR data may include content data for content recorded within the DVR 76. A recording list memory 736 has a recording list of the content data available for the content recorded within the DVR 76.
A filter data memory 738 may also be incorporated into the memory 62. The filter data memory 738 includes various filter settings corresponding to the auxiliary remote control devices. As mentioned above, a plurality of different remote control devices may be associated with a receiving unit.
A key value data memory 740 includes a table corresponding to key values for the different remote control devices. For example, a primary remote control device and an auxiliary remote control device may have different functions associated with the key or button value. Referring back to
An input parsing module may also be disposed within the controller 60. The input parsing module receives the control words from the remote control devices 98, 102. The input parsing module 760 may separate the remote identifier and the key value. The remote identifier may be used to select a filter configuration using the filter selection module 762. The filter selection module 762 may communicate with the filter data memory 738 so that the proper filter data is provided within the filter module 710 for the respective remote control device.
A key value module 764 may also receive input from the input parsing module 760. The key value module 764 may receive key values from within the control word and using the key value data memory 740, determined the function associated therewith. The key value module 764 may provide the function to the controller so that other functions 766 may be performed. The key value module 764 may also prevent functions from being performed. For example, the use of the auxiliary remote control device may block various functions such as the programming of the filter features, changing receiving unit settings or accessing other receiving unit defaults and controls.
A remote control setup module 770 may also be disposed within the controller 60. The remote control setup module 770 may initiate screen displays for configuring the various filter features. The various filter features may be configured using the primary remote control device. After the remote control setup module 770 configures the controller 60 to recognize the auxiliary remote control, the filter data memory 738 is stored with the various values for the respective remote control device.
Referring now to
In step 814, a rating filter may be set. By setting the rating filter, content data having ratings higher than a predetermined rating may not be provided to the user of the auxiliary remote control device.
In step 816, a time filter may also be associated with an auxiliary remote control device. The time filter may have various times for various days associated therewith. A particular time may also be associated with a remote control device for each day. Content data and content in excluded times may not be displayed in the user interface.
In step 818, the non-local channel filters may be set. The non-local channel filters allow the user of the primary remote control device to select channels from which content may be viewed by the user of the auxiliary remote control device.
In step 820, the local channel filters may also be set. Local channel filters allow the user to select various local channels whose content will be made available to the user of the auxiliary remote control device.
After the filter settings are set in steps 814-820, the filter settings are stored in the filter data memory 738.
It should be noted that a rating filter, a time filter, a non-local channel filter, and a local channel filter are illustrated, more or fewer may be set. Of course, other types of filters may also be set during this process depending on various system design requirements.
Referring now to
Referring back to step 914, when the remote control device identifier is equal to an auxiliary remote control device, the receiving unit enters an auxiliary mode in step 918. The auxiliary mode is used to change the user interface from the standard program guide to an auxiliary user interface and block or prevent access of selected features of the receiving device. In step 920, the available content data is filtered with the filter feature or features selected for the auxiliary remote control device. As mentioned above, one or more of the filter features set forth above may be used in combination. The available content data is filtered. The available content data is obtained from the program guide data. The available content data corresponds to programs, movies and other types of content that is currently being broadcasted.
In step 922, recorded content data may also be filtered with the filter features. That is, content recorded in the digital video recorder may also be selected by the operator of the auxiliary remote. The recorded content data may be filtered using the same filter features used in step 920. Alternatively, a lesser number of filter features may be used. For example, the rating filter 712 may be used and the channel filter may not be used. In some embodiments, however, the originating channel may also be used for filtering the recorded content.
In step 924, a filtered available content list is generated from the currently broadcasted content data (filtered) and recorded content data. In step 926, an auxiliary interface template is retrieved from the memory. The auxiliary template may provide a different type of screen display as will be described below. In step 928, posters corresponding to the filtered available content list are also retrieved. In step 930, the display is generated using the auxiliary user interface template and the posters retrieved in step 928. A name may also be displayed.
As mentioned above, the screen displays may vary depending upon particular system requirements. For example, words rather than posters may be used to represent content. Other types of pictures or thumbnails may also be used to represent content.
Referring now to
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After step 1114, if the remote control device is an auxiliary remote control device, step 1118 obtains the key value from the control word. In step 1120, the function corresponding to the key value is obtained in the auxiliary key value table. In step 1122, the controller of the receiving unit performs the function for the key value obtained in step 1120.
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In
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A screen name 1732 that corresponds to the name entered when programming the remote may also be displayed.
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The computer 1810 is in communication with a receiving unit 1820. The receiving unit is also in communication with a television 1822. The television 1822 may also be a monitor or other type of screen display. When generating a new user interface, it is often difficult to change screen displays provided by the receiving unit 1820. The present configuration allows a web page 1810 to be generated so that different configurations may be generated or experimented with in a testing environment. The receiving unit 1820 generates data such as the programs currently available and collects poster data in a similar manner to the receiving unit described above. Although, in a testing environment the receiving unit 1820 may have a predetermined set of content stored therein. The receiving unit 1820 may also have a digital video recorder 1830 therein for storing recorded content therein.
When content is selected at the computer 1810, a control command is processed by the receiving unit and generates a screen display on the television 1822. In this manner, the channel or content may be selected at the computer 1810 and the content may be watched on the television 1822.
Referring now to
Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61521257 | Aug 2011 | US |
