Playlists and bookmarks in an interactive media guidance application system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 10908761
  • Patent Number
    10,908,761
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, August 3, 2017
    7 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 2, 2021
    3 years ago
Abstract
Systems and method are provided for providing a playlist transport bar. The playlist transport bar provides an overlay which graphically represents assets (e.g., programs) of a playlist in a manner that enables a user to simultaneously ascertain a playback position within the playlist and a particular asset. The playlist transport may include asset regions which each correspond to an asset in a playlist and a position indication region which may provide information relating to a playback position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for providing playlists and bookmarks in interactive media guidance application systems.


Playlists are known and may be used to determine the order in which assets (e.g., television programs, songs, etc.) are played. As defined herein, an asset refers to any type of media that may be played. Such media may include all the variants of television media, music media, interactive games, and other audio and/or video media. Assets may be added to a playlist, deleted from a playlist, or rearranged in a playlist. Various user interfaces are provided to enable a user to make such modifications to playlists.


Playlists may include several assets of similar or different media types ranging, for example, from two to several hundreds or thousands of assets. Thus, when the playtime of each asset is totaled, a substantial amount of time may be required to playback the entire playlist. Since playlists may include several assets, a user may wish to be provided with information related to the playback of assets in a particular playlist. For example, a user may be interested in knowing how much time has elapsed during playback of a playlist or an asset, or how much time is remaining in the playlist or the asset. Known systems may be able to provide information as to how much time has elapsed and give an indication as to how much time remains for a given asset, but these systems are limited to providing such information for only that one given asset and are further unable to simultaneously provide information that gives a user a sense of position within a playlist. Moreover, some of these systems require a full screen display to display such information, thereby preventing a user from simultaneously viewing programming and information related to a playlist.


Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods for providing information in a manner that enables a user to easily ascertain a playback position within a playlist and a particular asset.


It is also desirable to provide systems and methods for playlist and bookmark related features.


It is further desirable to provide systems and method for providing VOD program information screens that provide access to playlist and bookmark features.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for providing a playlist transport bar. The playlist transport bar provides an overlay which graphically represents assets of a playlist in a manner that enables a user to simultaneously ascertain a playback position within the playlist and a particular asset. As defined herein, a playback position is the position corresponding to a particular position in the playlist, including a particular asset, being accessed (e.g., played, paused, rewinded, fast-forwarded, skipped to the beginning of next asset, etc.). For example, if a program is paused at the half-way point of an asset (e.g., a VOD program), the playback position is at the half-way point of that asset. As another example, if the user is viewing the third hour of five hours of total programming for a playlist, the playback position is at the three-hour elapsed time position for all programming in the playlist (even though the playlist position may also be at, for example, a twenty minute elapsed time position for a currently playing asset).


The playlist transport bar may include several asset regions each corresponding to an asset in the playlist and a position indication region that provides an indication of the playback position. The manner in which asset regions are displayed may vary, depending on a number of factors. In one embodiment, an asset region for each asset in the playlist may be displayed in the playlist transport bar. In this approach, the interactive media guidance application may appropriately size each asset region to fit within the playlist transport bar. The interactive media application may apportion each asset region to be the same size, regardless of the playback time for the assets. Alternatively, the interactive media application may apportion a size to each asset region based on its playback time relative to the playback times of other assets in the playlist, while taking into account the limited display space provided in the playlist transport bar. For example, a two-hour long asset may be apportioned a larger size than a half-hour long asset.


In another embodiment, the playlist transport bar may display a limited number of asset regions so as to not saturate the playlist transport bar with asset regions corresponding to all the potential assets of a playlist. By limiting the number of asset regions displayed in the playlist transport bar at any given time, this allows the interactive media guidance application to appropriate a predetermined minimum amount of space to each displayed region. The spacing allotted to each region may accurately reflect the length of a particular asset with respect to the other shown assets. For example, a two-hour program may be presented in an asset region that is two times larger than an hour long program. In addition, in this embodiment, information may be provided that provides an indication of the playback position within the playlist.


The position indication region may serve as a visual indicator that moves along the transport bar and provides information relating to a playback position within the playlist and/or a particular asset. The position indication region may include a position needle and an information region. The position needle may provide a visual indication of a playback position within the playlist and/or a particular asset. For example, in one embodiment, the position needle may indicate both the playback position within a particular asset and the playlist. In another embodiment, the position needle may only indicate the position within an asset. In this latter embodiment, the information region may provide information relating to the playback position within the playlist. The information region may display other information such as the elapsed time of the currently accessed asset, which action (e.g., pausing, fast-forwarding, resuming play, etc.) the user is implementing, or any other information relating to the playback of assets in a playlist.


In one embodiment, the user may “drag and drop” the position indication region to a desired location using, for example, cursor arrows of a remote device. This allows a user to manually position the position indication region at any playback position on the transport bar, thereby providing a user with the ability to resume playback of any asset in the playlist at a particular playback position. In another embodiment, the interactive media guidance application may permit a user to “skip to the next” asset region. This may permit a user to skip to the beginning of an adjacent asset region.


The playlist transport bar may allow a user to navigate a highlight region to various elements within the transport bar, and, if desired, select the highlighted regions. For example, a user may navigate a highlight region to the asset regions, the position indication region, and other areas of the transport bar such as a playlist name region. Additional information or menus may be displayed depending on which elements of the transport bar are highlighted or selected.


The playlist transport bar may allow a user to modify (e.g., delete an asset) the playlist without requiring the user to access interactive media guidance application features specifically dedicated to allowing a user to modify a playlist. In addition, the playlist transport bar may allow a user to switch to another playlist, thereby enabling the user to playback assets of a different playlist.


In other embodiments, systems and methods are provided for playlist and bookmark related features. In addition, systems and method are also provided for providing VOD program information screens that provide access to playlist and bookmark features.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:



FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative interactive media guidance system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 2 shows an illustrative VOD menu with a “My Playlists” option for providing a user with access to playlist features in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 3 shows an illustrative no playlists set overlay that may be displayed when the user selects the My Playlist option from the VOD menu of FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 4 shows an illustrative screen that may be displayed when the user selects a Set up Playlist button on the No Playlist Set Overlay of FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 5 shows an illustrative playlists list in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 6 shows an illustrative playlist with programs screen showing a highlighted program in accordance with embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 7 shows an illustrative playlist with programs screen showing an option for allowing a user to change the order the programs in the playlist in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 8 shows an illustrative playlist with programs screen showing a highlight region that can be navigated to a checkbox in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 9 shows an illustrative playlist with programs screen showing that a checkbox of FIG. 8 can be selected to indicate that the program associated with the selected checkbox is to be deleted from the playlist in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 10 shows an illustrative keyboard overlay in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 11 shows an illustrative overlay that allows a user to select a playlist from a list of playlists in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 12 shows an illustrative overlay informing a user that additional playlists cannot be created in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 13 shows an illustrative overlay informing a user that additional programs cannot be added to a playlist in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 14 shows an illustrative overlay indicating that a program has been successfully added to a playlist in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 15 shows an illustrative overlay providing a user with various deletion options in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 16 shows an illustrative overlay confirming deletion of a playlist in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 17 shows an illustrative overlay that may be displayed when a user selects a lock action icon in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 18 shows an illustrative search screen that may be provided when a user selects a search action icon in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 19 shows an alternative search screen that may be provided when a user selects a search action icon in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 20 shows an illustrative clear all programs confirmation overlay that may be displayed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 21 shows an illustrative bookmark a VOD program confirmation display in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 22 shows an illustrative previously bookmarked confirmation overlay that may be displayed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 23 shows an illustrative saved programs listing screen in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 24 shows an alternative illustrative saved programs listings screen in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 25 shows an illustrative delete video confirmation overlay in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 26 shows an illustrative transport bar for playing back programs in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 27 shows an alternative illustrative transport bar for playing back programs in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 28 shows an illustrative playlist transport bar that displays a region for each asset in the playlist in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 29 shows an illustrative playlist transport bar in which the number of regions displayed are limited in number in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 30 shows an example of the playlist transport bar of FIG. 29 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 31 shows a playlist transport toolbar that may be displayed when the user is implementing a command that affects playback of an asset in the playlist in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIGS. 32, 33, 34A-B, 35A-B, and 36 show several illustrative playlist transport bars in which a user may navigate a highlight region within the playlist transport bar, and, if desired, cause a particular action to occur in accordance with embodiments of the invention;



FIG. 37 shows a flowchart of illustrative steps in displaying a playlist transport bar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;



FIG. 38 shows an illustrative VOD program information screen that may be displayed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and



FIG. 39 shows an alternative illustrative VOD program information screen that may be displayed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This document is divided into five major Sections. Section I describes an illustrative system architecture for an interactive media guidance application system in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Section II describes playlist-related features in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Section III describes bookmark-related features in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Section IV describes an illustrative transport bar for playback of programs from playlists in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Section V describes illustrative VOD program information screens for providing access to playlist and bookmark features in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.


Section I. Illustrative System Architecture


An illustrative interactive media system in accordance with the principles of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. User equipment 10 receives content in the form of signals from media source 20 over communications path 22.


Media source 20 may be any suitable content source such as, for example, a cable system headend, satellite television distribution facility, television broadcast facility, or any other suitable facility for originating or distributing content. Media source 20 may be configured to transmit signals over any suitable communications path 22 including, for example, a satellite path, a fiber-optic path, a cable path, or any other suitable wired or wireless path. The signals may carry any suitable content such as, for example, television programs, internet, music, news, television program listings, or any other suitable media.


VOD server 26 provides on-demand programs and associated VOD program data (e.g., VOD titles, VOD descriptions, VOD prices (if applicable), VOD viewing window data and other VOD metadata). VOD server 26 stores the VOD program data in, and retrieves the data from, database 28. As discussed below, VOD server 26 may also, in some embodiments, store playlists and saved program lists for users of user equipment 10 in database 28. VOD server 26 exchanges messages and media with user equipment 10 over communications path 22, but in other embodiments communications may be exchanged over a separate path (not shown). VOD server 26 may reside, for example, in a cable system headend. If desired, VOD server may also be a media source.


User equipment 10 may include any suitable equipment including, for example, computer equipment (e.g., a personal computer with a television card (PCTV)), television equipment, or any other suitable equipment. The television equipment may include a television, set-top box, recording device, video player, user input device (e.g., remote control, keyboard, mouse, touch pad, touch screen, voice recognition interface, etc.) or any other device suitable for providing an interactive television experience having features described in the various embodiments below. In the example of FIG. 1, user equipment 10 includes at least control circuitry 18, display device 12 and recording device 14, and user input device 16, which may be implemented as separate devices or as a single device. An interactive media guidance application may be implemented on the user equipment to display, on display device 12, the content transmitted by media source 20 over path 22, and to provide interactive media guidance application features. The interactive media guidance application may also provide users with access to VOD content and VOD data from VOD server 26.


Recording device 14 may be any of a personal video recorder, digital video recorder (DVR), video cassette recorder (VCR), DVD-recorder, or any other suitable video recorder. Recording device 14 may include one or more tuners. Recording device 14 may record programs under the control of the interactive media guidance application that resides on user equipment 10.


Display device 140 may be any suitable device including, for example, a television monitor and a computer monitor. Display device 140 may also be configured to provide for the output of audio.


The user equipment may include control circuitry 18 adapted to receive user instructions and execute the operations of an interactive media guidance application, such as an interactive program guide application. Control circuitry 18 may include one or more tuners (e.g., analog or digital tuners), decoders (e.g., MPEG decoders) processors, memory (e.g., RAM and hard disks), communications circuitry (e.g., cable modem circuitry for two-way communications with VOD server 26), input/output circuitry (e.g., graphics circuitry), and connections to the various devices of user equipment 10, and any other suitable component for providing analog or digital television programming, program recording, and interactive media guidance features. Control circuitry 18 may be configured to execute the instructions of the interactive media guidance application from memory. In one embodiment, control circuitry 18 may be included as part of one of the devices of user equipment 10 such as, for example, part of recording device 14, display 12, or any other device (e.g., a set-top box, television, video player, etc.).


User equipment 10 may receive interactive media guidance application data from one or more data sources 24. The number of data sources 24 may depend on the number of interactive media guidance applications. For example, one data source 24 may provide interactive media guidance data for non-on-demand assets (e.g., non-pay and pay-per-view television programs), and another may provide data for home shopping application data. In some embodiments VOD data (e.g., VOD programs) and program guide data may be provided to user equipment 10 by a data source 24. In such embodiments VOD server 26 may still provide VOD content.


In some embodiments, data sources 24 may provide data to the interactive media guidance application using a suitable client/server approach. There may be one server per data source or, in some embodiments, a single server may communicate as a proxy between user equipment 10 and various data sources 24.


The playlist and bookmark features described below are described as provided in embodiments where user equipment 10 provides an interactive media guidance application such as interactive television program guide. In such embodiments, user equipment 10 may include a Motorola DCT series settop box. Program guide instructions are executed by control circuitry 18 (FIG. 1). Program guide data is received from a data source 24 and stored by control circuitry 18. Control circuitry 18 executes program guide instructions and retrieves program guide data from memory when displaying program guide screens on display device 12. The displays may be provided in response to user instructions received by an input device 16, such as a remote control.


In these embodiments, the program guide may be programmed with extensions for communicating with a vendor-specific VOD server 26. The program guide extensions may call VOD-vendor-specific objects that may contain vendor-specific code for requesting VOD data from a VOD server 26, and for accessing content from VOD server 26. VOD server 26 may store data for some features provided by the interactive media guidance application such as, for example, playlist and saved program list data.


For purposes of clarity, the following discussion may sometimes describe an embodiment in which the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide or interactive television application. It will be understood, however, that the following discussion and the features discussed may be applied to any interactive media guidance application such as, for example, an online program guide or a Website.


Section II. Playlists


Some embodiments of the present invention provide features for creating and managing playlists. Playlists are lists of programs that an interactive television application will play back sequentially for the user. Users may select one or more programs for inclusion in a playlist. After creating a playlist, the user can select the playlist for playback. Each program in the playlist is played back for the user, one after another in time. In some embodiments, real-time features such as pause, stop, fast-forward and rewind may be provided to allow the user to control playback of programs in the playlist. In some embodiments, the interactive application may recommend programs for inclusion in a playlist, or provide pre-made playlists.


An illustrative set of playlist features in an embodiment where users create and manage playlists of free VOD programs using an interactive television program guide (IPG) is described below. This is only illustrative, as such features may be incorporated in embodiments in which playlists include other types of programs (e.g., recorded programs (such as programs recorded on recording device 14 of FIG. 1), and non-free on-demand programs), and in which the interactive television application is not an IPG.



FIG. 2 below shows an illustrative VOD menu with a “My Playlists” option for providing a user with access to playlist features. In other embodiments, users may access playlist features from other menus or displays, such as an IPG main menu or VOD program information screen (see Section V below) for example. In this layout, the VOD menu includes a barker window for video clips.



FIG. 3 shows an illustrative No Playlists Set Overlay that may be displayed when the user selects My Playlists from the VOD Main Menu of FIG. 2, or other IPG menus or screens, and no playlists have been created. Tables 1 and 2 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 1







Illustrative No Playlists Set Overlay System Description








No.
Description











1.0
The Guide may display the No Playlists Set Overlay when the user selects



My Playlists from the VOD Main Menu or other menus or screens provided



by the Guide and no playlists have been created.


1.1
The Guide may display the title “NO PLAYLISTS SET” on the No



Playlists Set Overlay in the language specified by the user in the Guide



setup, in yellow text.


1.2
The Guide may display the prompt “Would you like to set up a playlist



now?” on the No Playlists Set Overlay in the language specified by the user



in Guide setup, in white text.


1.3
The Guide may display the OK/Yes icon on the No Playlists Set Overlay



with the label “Set up Playlist” in the language specified by the user in the



Guide setup, in white text.


1.4
The Guide may display the Cancel icon on the No Playlists Set Overlay



with the label “Don't set up Playlist” in the language specified by the user



in the Guide setup, in white text.


2.0
The default highlight may be the OK/Yes icon.


3.0
Except as specified in this section, this confirmation screen may follow the



description provided in the Common Confirmation Overlay section in the



Appendix.


4.0
New “default” playlists may be named automatically according to the



following format: “Playlist <lowest positive integer not already used to



name a playlist>”.
















TABLE 2







Illustrative No Playlists Set Overlay Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description





1.0
Set up
Always
Creates a new, empty playlist and



Playlist
present
displays the Default Playlist Screen





for the new playlist.


2.0
Don't set up
Always
Dismisses the No Playlists Set Overlay.



Playlist
present










FIG. 4 shows an illustrative screen that may be displayed when the user selects the Set up Playlist button on the No Playlists Set Overlay, selects the Add Icon on the Playlists List, or accesses an existing playlist that contains no programs. The Default Playlist screen shows default information for a playlist when it is empty. Tables 3-9 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such a screen.









TABLE 3







Illustrative Default Playlist Screen Instant Information










No.
Line
Format
Description





1.0
1
Left Justified
The default playlist name, in the form





“Playlist <lowest positive integer not





already used to name a playlist>”,





displayed in yellow


1.1
1
Right Justified
The text “Contains 0 programs” in the





language specified by the user at Guide





setup, displayed in white


2.0
2
Left Justified
The text “0min” in the language specified





by the user at Guide setup, displayed in





white


3.0
3
Left Justified
The text “Select below to name, delete,





and lock your Playlist.” in the language





specified by the user at Guide setup,





displayed in white
















TABLE 4







Illustrative Default Playlist Screen Reader Box Display










No.
Line
Format
Description





1.0
1
Left
The text “To add programs to this Playlist:” in




Justified
the language specified by the viewer in Guide





setup, displayed in yellow


2.0
2

Blank


3.0
3
Left
The text “1) Find a program you would like to




Justified
add.” in the language specified by the viewer





in Guide setup, displayed in white


4.0
4
Left
The text “2) Go to the information screen and




Justified
select <Playlist Icon>.” in the language





specified by the viewer in Guide setup,





displayed in white


5.0
5
Left
The text “3) Select the Playlist to add the




Justified
program to.” in the language specified by the





viewer in Guide setup, displayed in white


6.0
6

Blank


7.0
7
Left
The text “Also select <Search Icon> below to




Justified
search for programs to add.” in the language





specified by the user at Guide setup, displayed





in white
















TABLE 5







Illustrative Default Playlist Screen Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description





1.0
Last
Always present
Displays the previous screen


2.0
Keyboard
Always present
Displays the Playlist Keyboard





Overlay


3.0
Search
Always present
Displays the Playlist Search Screen.


4.0
Lock
Always present
Displays the Lock Playlist Overlay


5.0
Delete
Always present
Displays the Delete Playlist





Confirmation Overlay
















TABLE 6







Illustrative Default Playlist Screen Input Key Processing










No.
Key
Screen Focus
Behavior













1.0
Power
Any
Normal


2.0
Volume
Any
Normal



Up


3.0
Volume
Any
Normal



Down


4.0
Mute
Any
Normal


5.0
Channel
Any
Normal



Up


6.0
Channel
Any
Normal



Down


7.0
Bypass
Any
Normal


8.0
Menu
Any
Normal


9.0
Guide
Any
Normal


10.0
Music
Any
Normal


11.0
Themes
Any
Normal


12.0
Search
Any
Normal


13.0
Settings
Any
Normal


14.0
Exit
Any
Normal


15.0
Last
Any
Normal


16.0
Right
Any action icon
Normal



Arrow
but farthest right


16.1
Right
Farthest right
The Guide may move the



Arrow
action icon
highlight to the farthest left





action icon.


17.0
Left
Any action icon
Normal



Arrow
but farthest left


17.1
Left
Farthest left
The Guide may move the



Arrow
action icon
highlight to the farthest right





action icon.


18.0
Up Arrow
Any
Inactive


19.0
Down
Any
Inactive



Arrow


20.0
OK
Any
See Table 5


21.0
Digits 0-9
Any
Normal


22.0
Scroll Up
Any
Inactive


23.0
Scroll
Any
Inactive



Down


24.0
Day
Any
Inactive



Forward


25.0
Day Back
Any
Inactive


26.0
Help
Any
Inactive


27.0
Info
Any
Inactive


28.0
Favorite
Any
Inactive


29.0
Lock
Any
Displays the Lock Playlist





Overlay


30.0
Record
Any
Inactive


31.0
Stop
Any
Inactive


32.0
Pause
Any
Inactive


33.0
Play
Any
Inactive


34.0
Rewind
Any
Inactive


35.0
Fast
Any
Inactive



Forward


36.0
PPV
Any
Normal


37.0
Letters A-Z
Any
Inactive


38.0
VOD
Any
Inactive


39.0
Return to
Any
Inactive



Live TV


40.0
Skip
Any
Inactive



Forward


41.0
Replay
Any
Inactive


42.0
A
Any
Inactive


43.0
B
Any
Inactive


44.0
C
Any
Inactive


45.0
Digital
Any
Normal



Recordings


46.0
Swap
Any
Inactive
















TABLE 7







Illustrative Default Playlist Screen Other Event Handling









No.
Event
Conditions/Comments





1.0
Screen Timeout
Normal


2.0
Reminder
Normal


3.0
Scheduled Recording Fires
Normal


4.0
Ordered PPV Start
Normal


5.0
PPV Purchase Window
Inactive



Expires


6.0
Current Program Ends
Normal


7.0
Data added, deleted or
Normal



modified in database
















TABLE 8







Illustrative Default Playlist Screen Screen/Mode Entry









No.
Functionality
Description





1.0
Guide
The Default Playlist Screen may be available



Initialization
as soon as the VOD feature is available.


2.0
Highlight
The default highlight may be the Last icon on




the Action Icon Bar


3.0
Display Inclusion
Not applicable



Criteria


4.0
Sorting/Grouping
Not applicable



Criteria


5.0
Customization
The OnDemand icon may be




MSO-configurable.


6.0
Other Entry
Not applicable



Actions
















TABLE 9







Illustrative Default Playlist Screen Formatting









No.
Functionality
Description





1.0
Program Title
Not applicable


2.0
Time
Normal


3.0
Channel
Not applicable


4.0
Other Text
Not Applicable


5.0
Colors
Normal


6.0
Indicators
Not applicable


7.0
Branding
Not Applicable


8.0
Audio
Normal


9.0
LEDs
Normal










FIG. 5 shows an illustrative playlists list. The Playlists List displays the user's current playlists. It is displayed when the user selects My Playlists from the VOD Main Menu or other menus or screens, and one or more playlists have already been created. Playlists can be added and accessed from this screen. Tables 10-17 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such a screen.









TABLE 10







Illustrative Playlists List Screen System Description








No.
Description





1.0
VOD server 26 may maintain a list of playlists for each



distinct subscriber household.


1.1
The list of playlists may be ordered according to the date and



time of playlist creation, beginning with the most recently



created playlist.


2.0
When the Guide requests the list of playlists, and if more than



one playlist has been created, VOD server 26 may provide the



list of playlists to the Guide.


2.1
VOD server 26 will page up or down within the Playlist List screen



to allow viewing additional playlist list pages.


3.0
VOD server 26 may maintain at least the following metadata for



each playlist in the playlist list:



Playlist name



Number of programs in playlist



Total duration of playlist


4.0
VOD server 26 may add a new playlist in response to requests



from the Guide to add a new playlist.


4.1
VOD server 26 may allow the creation of up to, e.g., 24 playlists



per STB.


4.2
VOD server 26 may communicate an error to the Guide if a request



is made to add a new playlist, and the maximum number of



playlists has been reached for the STB.


5.0
VOD server 26 may provide an existing playlist in response to



requests from the Guide to access an existing playlist.


6.0
VOD server 26 may maintain and transfer playlist specifications



across STB replacements.
















TABLE 11







Illustrative Playlists List General Description








No.
Description





1.0
The Playlists List may display the Playlists icon, followed by the



title “My Playlists” in the language specified by the user at



Guide setup, centered in white text in the screen header area.


2.0
The maximum number of playlists that can be created



may be, e.g., 24.
















TABLE 12







Illustrative Playlists List Instant Information










No.
Line
Format
Description





1.0
1
Left
The name of the highlighted playlist if there




Justified
are existing playlists when the screen is





invoked, displayed in yellow


1.1
1
Right
The text “Contains <number> Programs” in




Justified
the language specified by the user at Guide





setup, displayed in white, if there are existing





playlists when the screen is invoked, where





<number> is the number of videos in the





highlighted playlist


1.2
1
Left
The text “No Playlists have been created” in




Justified
the language specified by the user at Guide





setup, displayed in yellow, if no playlists





currently exist when the screen is invoked


1.3
1

Blank if there are existing playlists when the





screen is invoked and no playlist is highlighted


2.0
2
Left
Runtime of the highlighted playlist (total




Justified
runtime of all programs in the playlist) if there





are existing playlists when the screen is





invoked


2.1
2

Blank if no playlists currently exist when the





screen is invoked or no playlist is highlighted


3.0
3

The text “Select <Add Action Icon> below to





create a new Playlist.” in the language





specified by the user at Guide setup, displayed





in white
















TABLE 13







Illustrative Playlists List Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description





1.0
Last
Always present
Displays the previous screen


2.0
VOD
Always present
Displays the VOD Main Menu


3.0
Down
Always present
Displays the next page of



Arrow
playlist listings


3.1
Down
Always present
Inactive if no additional pages



Arrow

are available below the current





page of playlists.


4.0
New
Always present
Displays the Default Playlist screen if



Playlist

the maximum number of playlists has





not been reached


4.1
New
Always present
Displays the Maximum Playlists Notice



Playlist

if the maximum number of playlists





has been reached
















TABLE 14







Illustrative Playlists List Input Key Processing










No.
Key
Screen Focus
Behavior













1.0
Power
Any
Normal


2.0
Volume
Any
Normal



Up


3.0
Volume
Any
Normal



Down


4.0
Mute
Any
Normal


5.0
Channel
Any
Normal



Up


6.0
Channel
Any
Normal



Down


7.0
Bypass
Any
Normal


8.0
Menu
Any
Normal


9.0
Guide
Any
Normal


10.0
Music
Any
Normal


11.0
Themes
Any
Normal


12.0
Search
Any
Normal


13.0
Settings
Any
Normal


14.0
Exit
Any
The Guide may return to Idle Mode and





display and Flip Banner.


15.0
Last
Any
Normal


16.0
Right
List Cell
Inactive



Arrow


16.1
Right
Any action icon
Normal



Arrow
but farthest




right


16.2
Right
Farthest right
The Guide may move the highlight to the



Arrow
action icon
farthest left action icon.


17.0
Left
List Cell
Inactive



Arrow


17.1
Left
Any action icon
Normal



Arrow
but farthest left


17.2
Left
Farthest left
The Guide may move the highlight to the



Arrow
action icon
farthest right action icon.


18.0
Up Arrow
Top list cell on
Inactive




first page


18.1
Up Arrow
Top list cell,
The Guide may display the previous page and




any but first
highlight the lowest selectable list cell.




page


18.2
Up Arrow
Any list cell but
The Guide may move the highlight to the next




the top on the
higher list cell.




page


18.3
Up Arrow
Any Action
The Guide may move the highlight to the




Icon
lowest list cell on the current page.


19.0
Down
Any list cell but
The Guide may move the highlight to the next



Arrow
the last on the
lower list cell on the page.




page


19.1
Down
Last list cell on
The Guide may move the highlight to the



Arrow
the page
default action icon.


19.2
Down
Any Action
Inactive



Arrow
Icon except




Down Arrow


19.3
Down
Down Arrow
The Guide may display the next page and



Arrow
action icon, any
highlight the highest selectable list cell.




page but the




last


19.4
Down
Down Arrow
Inactive



Arrow
action icon, last




page


20.0
OK
Any list cell
If the highlighted playlist contains at least one





program, is not locked and does not contain





any programs that are locked, the Guide may





request data for the highlighted playlist from





VOD server 26 and display the Playlist





Information Screen.


20.1
OK
Any list cell
If the highlighted playlist contains at least one





program, and is locked or contains any





programs that are locked, the Guide may





display the Lock PIN Overlay.


20.2
OK
Any list cell
If the highlighted playlist does not contain any





programs, the Guide may request data for the





highlighted playlist from VOD server 26 and





display the Default Playlist screen.


20.3
OK
Any action icon
See Table 13.


21.0
Digits 0-9
Any
Normal


22.0
Scroll Up
Any
Normal


23.0
Scroll
Any
Normal



Down


24.0
Day
Any
Inactive



Forward


25.0
Day Back
Any
Inactive


26.0
Help
Any
Inactive


27.0
Info
Any list cell
If the highlighted playlist contains at least one





program, is not locked and does not contain





any programs that are locked, the Guide may





request data for the highlighted playlist from





VOD server 26 and display the Playlist





Information Screen.


27.1
Info
Any list cell
If the highlighted playlist contains at least one





program, and is locked or contains any





programs that are locked, the Guide may





display the Lock PIN Overlay.


27.2
Info
Any list cell
If the highlighted playlist does not contain any





programs, the Guide may request data for the





highlighted playlist from VOD server 26 and





displays the Default Playlist screen.


27.3
Info
Any action icon
Inactive


28.0
Favorite
Any
Inactive


29.0
Lock
Any
Inactive


30.0
Record
Any
Inactive


31.0
Stop
Any
Inactive


32.0
Pause
Any
Inactive


33.0
Play
Any
Inactive


34.0
Rewind
Any
Inactive


35.0
Fast
Any
Inactive



Forward


36.0
PPV
Any
Normal


37.0
Letters A-Z
Any
Inactive


38.0
VOD
Any
Inactive


39.0
Return to
Any
Normal



Live TV


40.0
Skip
Any
Inactive



Forward


41.0
Replay
Any
Inactive


42.0
A
Any
Inactive


43.0
B
Any
Inactive


44.0
C
Any
Inactive


45.0
DVR
Any
Normal


46.0
Swap
Any
Inactive
















TABLE 15







Illustrative Playlists List Other Event Handling









No.
Event
Conditions/Comments





1.0
Screen Timeout
Normal


2.0
Reminder
Normal


3.0
Scheduled Recording Fires
Normal


4.0
Ordered PPV Start
Normal


5.0
PPV Purchase Window
Inactive



Expires


6.0
Current Program Ends
Normal
















TABLE 16







Illustrative Playlists List Screen/Mode Entry









No.
Functionality
Description





1.0
Guide
The Playlists List Screen may be available as



Initialization
soon as the VOD feature is available.


2.0
Highlight
If there are existing playlists, the default




highlight may be the first playlist on the page.


2.1
Highlight
If there are no existing playlists, the default




highlight may be the Add Action Icon.


2.2
Highlight
If the user navigates from a list cell to the




action icons, the default action icon may be




the Down Arrow Action Icon.


3.0
Display
Display all existing playlists.



Inclusion Criteria


4.0
Sorting/
The playlists may be displayed in order of



Grouping Criteria
creation time, from newest to oldest.


5.0
Customization
The OnDemand icon may be MSO-




configurable.
















TABLE 17







Illustrative Playlists List Screen Formatting









No.
Functionality
Description





1.0
Program Title
Not applicable


2.0
Time
Normal


3.0
Channel
Not applicable


4.0
Other Text
Not applicable


5.0
Colors
Normal


6.0
Indicators
Not applicable


7.0
Branding
Not applicable


8.0
Audio
Normal


9.0
LEDs
The Guide may display the last user channel




or current time on the LED according to the




description provided in the Appendix for




time/channel display on the LED.










FIGS. 6-9 show illustrative Playlist with Programs Screens that may be displayed when the user selects a playlist from the Playlist List and the playlist contains one or more programs, or when the user selects the Add action icon on the Select a Playlist overlay. Tables 18-25 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such screens.









TABLE 18







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen


System Description








No.
Description











1.0
VOD server 26 may maintain the playlists contents for each playlist stored for a STB.


1.1
Playlist contents may only include VOD programs that are free for all users



without any subscription or purchase.


1.2
VOD server 26 may maintain the sequence of VOD programs within a



VOD playlist.


2.0
VOD server 26 may include up to, e.g., 24 distinct VOD assets within a



VOD playlist.


3.0
VOD server 26 may reposition individual VOD assets within the VOD



playlist sequence.


4.0
VOD server 26 may automatically delete programs from a VOD playlist if



they reach the end of their licensing window.


4.1
VOD server 26 may delete expired programs from a VOD playlist on a



periodic, scheduled basis.


5.0
VOD server 26 may automatically delete programs from a VOD playlist if



they not longer meet the eligibility criteria for inclusion in a playlist.


5.1
VOD server 26 may delete ineligible programs from a VOD playlist on a



periodic, scheduled basis.


6.0
VOD server 26 may maintain and transfer playlist specifications across



STB replacements.


7.0
VOD server 26 may allow users to delete VOD programs from a VOD



playlist.


8.0
VOD server 26 may maintain a record of the last playback position from



the last time the playlist was played.


8.1
If the VOD program encompassing the last playback position is deleted



from the playlist, the playback position may be moved to the beginning of



the next asset in the playlist.


8.2
If the VOD program encompassing the last playback position is deleted



from the playlist, and was the last asset in the playlist, the playback position



may be moved to the beginning of the playlist.


9.0
VOD server 26 may play back a VOD playlist from the beginning.


10.0
VOD server 26 may play back a VOD playlist from the last playback



position.


11.0
VOD server 26 may page up or down within the Playlist with Programs



screen, to allow additional program listing pages within the playlist to be



viewed.
















TABLE 19







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen


General Description








No.
Description





1.0
The Playlist with Programs screen may include:



a screen header area



an instant information area



a playlist sequence area



an action icon area


2.0
The playlist sequence area may include:



a sequence number column



a program title column



a deletion checkbox column.


2.1
Each of the columns in the playlist sequence area may have a header row.


2.1.1
The Guide displays the heading text “Order” in the header row of the



sequence number column, center justified, in the language specified by the



user at Guide setup, in white.


2.1.2
The Guide displays the heading text “Program Titles” in the header row of



the program title column, left justified, in the language specified by the user



at Guide setup, in white.


2.1.3
The Guide may display a checkbox in a “checked” state in the header row



of the deletion checkbox column, left justified, in white.


3.0
If the user plays a playlist, any program within the playlist that is no longer



available from VOD server 26 may be skipped over with no notification to



the user1.


4.0
If the user plays a playlist, any program within the playlist that is no longer



free for all users, without any subscription or purchase, may be skipped



over with no notification to the user2.


5.0
Each distinct row within the playlist sequence area may represent a distinct



program within the playlist.


5.1
The cell in the sequence number column, on a specific row in the playlist



sequence area, may include the program's sequence number, centered in



black text.


5.2
The cell in the program title column, on a specific row in the playlist



sequence area, may include the full program title, left justified in white



text.


5.3
The cell in the deletion checkbox column, on a specific row in the playlist



sequence area, may include a checkbox that is in either a checked or an



unchecked state, left justified.


5.3.1
The default state of all checkboxes in the deletion checkbox column may be unchecked.












    • 1 While VOD server 26 may automatically delete such programs, a playlist containing such a program may be played before the deletion is performed.


    • 2 While VOD server 26 may automatically delete such programs, a playlist containing such a program may be played before the deletion is performed.












TABLE 20







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen


Instant Information










No.
Line
Format
Description





1.0
1
Left
The name of the playlist, displayed in yellow




Justified


1.1
1
Right
The text “Contains <number> Programs” in




Justified
the language specified by the user at Guide





setup, displayed in white, where <number> is





the number of programs in the playlist.


2.0
2
Left
Runtime of the playlist (total runtime of all




Justified
programs in the playlist)


3.0
3
Left
If a row in the Order column is highlighted,




Justified
the text “Press <up/down arrows> on your





remote to change your Playlist's order.” is





displayed in the language specified by the user





in Guide setup and displayed in white text.


3.1
3
Left
If the program title is highlighted, the text




Justified
“Press <left arrow> to reorder programs, or





press <right arrow> to delete programs.” is





displayed in the language specified by the user





in Guide setup and displayed in white text.


3.2
3
Left
If a row in the checkmark column is




Justified
highlighted, the text “<checkmark> a <box





symbol> and then select <X symbol> below to





delete programs.” is displayed in the language





specified by the user at Guide setup and





displayed in white text.
















TABLE 21







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen Action


Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description





1.0
Last
Always present
Displays the screen from which it was





displayed


2.0
Resume
Always present
Sends the video play request to VOD server 26





instructing the server to begin playing at the





last playback position in the playlist.


2.1
Resume
Always present
If the last playback position in the playlist is a





VOD program for which trick mode is not





available, VOD server 26 may resume





playback at the beginning of that VOD





program.


3.0
Restart
Always present
Sends the video play request to VOD server 26





instructing the server to begin playing at the





beginning of the playlist.


4.0
Down
Always present
Displays the next page of VOD programs in



Arrow

the playlist if there is a next page


4.1
Down
Always present
Inactive if there is no next page



Arrow


5.0
Keyboard
Always present
Displays the Playlist Keyboard Overlay


6.0
Search
Always present
Displays the Playlist Search Screen


7.0
Lock
Always present
Displays the Lock Playlist Overlay


8.0
Delete
Always present
Displays the Playlist Deletion Options Overlay
















TABLE 22







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen


Input Key Processing










No.
Key
Screen Focus
Behavior













1.0
Power
Any
Normal


2.0
Volume
Any
Normal



Up


3.0
Volume
Any
Normal



Down


4.0
Mute
Any
Normal


5.0
Channel
Any
Normal



Up


6.0
Channel
Any
Normal



Down


7.0
Bypass
Any
Normal


8.0
Menu
Any
Normal


9.0
Guide
Any
Normal


10.0
Music
Any
Normal


11.0
Themes
Any
Normal


12.0
Search
Any
Normal


13.0
Settings
Any
Normal


14.0
Exit
Any
Normal


15.0
Last
Any
Normal


16.0
Right
Sequence
The Guide may move the highlight to the



Arrow
number column
program title column within the same row.


16.1
Right
Program title
The Guide may move the highlight to the



Arrow
column
deletion checkbox column within the same





row.


16.2
Right
Deletion
Inactive



Arrow
checkbox




column


16.3
Right
Any action icon
Normal



Arrow
but farthest




right


16.4
Right
Farthest right
The Guide may move the highlight to the



Arrow
action icon
farthest left action icon.


17.0
Left Arrow
Sequence
Inactive




number column


17.1
Left Arrow
Program title
The Guide may move the highlight to the




column
sequence number column within the same





row.


17.2
Left Arrow
Deletion
The Guide may move the highlight to the




checkbox
program title column within the same row.




column


17.3
Left Arrow
Any action icon
Normal




but the farthest




left


17.4
Left Arrow
Farthest left
The Guide may move the highlight to the




action icon
farthest right action icon.


18.0
Up Arrow
Top row within
Inactive




playlist




sequence area,




first page


18.1
Up Arrow
Any row except
The Guide may move the highlight to the next




top row within
higher row, within the same column.




playlist




sequence area,




any column




except




sequence




number column


18.2
Up Arrow
Any row except
The Guide may send a request to VOD




top row within
server 26 to move the currently highlighted




playlist
program up one position within the playlist




sequence area,
sequence, and refresh the playlist sequence




sequence
area display.




number column


18.3
Up Arrow
Top row within
The Guide may display the previous page and




playlist
highlight the bottom row, within the same




sequence area,
column.




any column




except




sequence




number




column, any




but first page


18.4
Up Arrow
Top row within
The Guide may:




playlist
send a request to VOD server 26 to move the




sequence area,
currently highlighted program up one position




sequence
within the playlist sequence




number
display the previous page




column, any
highlight the bottom row, within the same




but first page
column.


18.5
Up Arrow
Any action icon
The Guide may highlight the bottom row of





the playlist sequence area, program title





column.


19.0
Down
Bottom row
Inactive



Arrow
within playlist




sequence area,




last page


19.1
Down
Any row except
The Guide may move the highlight to the next



Arrow
bottom row
lower row, within the same column.




within playlist




sequence area,




any column




except




sequence




number column


19.2
Down
Any row except
The Guide may send a request to VOD server



Arrow
bottom row
26 to move the currently highlighted program




within playlist
down one position within the playlist




sequence area,
sequence, and may refresh the playlist




sequence
sequence area display.




number column


19.3
Down
Bottom row
The Guide may display the next page and



Arrow
within playlist
highlight the top row, within the same column.




sequence area,




any column




except




sequence




number




column, any




but last page


19.4
Down
Bottom row
The Guide may:



Arrow
within playlist
send a request to VOD server 26 to move the




sequence area,
currently highlighted program down one




sequence
position within the playlist sequence




number
display the next page




column, any
highlight the top row, within the same column.




but last page


19.5
Down
Any action icon
Inactive



Arrow
except Down




Arrow action




icon


19.6
Down
Down Arrow
The Guide may display the next page and



Arrow
action icon, any
highlight the top row, within the same column.




but last page


19.7
Down
Down Arrow
Inactive



Arrow
action icon, last




page


20.0
OK
Any action icon
See Table 21.


20.1
OK
Program title
The Guide may display the VOD Program




column
Information Screen for the highlighted





program.


20.2
OK
Sequence
Inactive




number column


20.3
OK
Deletion
The Guide may toggle the check symbol on or




checkbox
off inside the checkbox on the current row.




column


21.0
Digits 0-9
Any
Normal


22.0
Scroll Up
Any page but
The Guide may display the previous page and




first
highlight the top row, within the same column.


22.0
Scroll Up
First page
Inactive


23.0
Scroll
Any page but
The Guide may display the next page and



Down
last
highlight the top row, within the same column.


23.0
Scroll
Last page
Inactive



Down


24.0
Day
Any
Inactive



Forward


25.0
Day Back
Any
Inactive


26.0
Help
Any
Inactive


27.0
Info
Program title
The Guide may display the VOD Program




column
Information Screen for the highlighted





program.


27.1
Info
Playlist
Inactive




sequence area,




any column but




program title




column


27.2
Info
Any action
Inactive




Icon


28.0
Favorite
Any
Inactive


29.0
Lock
Any
Displays the Lock Playlist Overlay


30.0
Record
Any
Inactive


31.0
Stop
Any
Inactive


32.0
Pause
Any
Inactive


33.0
Play
Any
Inactive


34.0
Rewind
Any
Inactive


35.0
Fast
Any
Inactive



Forward


36.0
PPV
Any
Normal


37.0
Letters A-Z
Any
Inactive


38.0
VOD
Any
Inactive


39.0
Return to
Any
Inactive



Live TV


40.0
Skip
Any
Inactive



Forward


41.0
Replay
Any
Inactive


42.0
A
Any
Inactive


43.0
B
Any
Inactive


44.0
C
Any
Inactive


45.0
Digital
Any
Normal



Recordings


46.0
Swap
Any
Inactive
















TABLE 23







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen Other Event Handling









No.
Event
Conditions/Comments












1.0
Screen Timeout
Normal


2.0
Reminder
Normal


3.0
Scheduled Recording Fires
Normal


4.0
Ordered PPV Start
Normal


5.0
PPV Purchase Window
Inactive



Expires


6.0
Current Program Ends
Normal


7.0
Data added, deleted or
Normal



modified in database
















TABLE 24







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen/Mode Entry









No.
Functionality
Description












1.0
Guide Initialization
The Playlist Screen - Not Empty may be




available as soon as the VOD feature is




available.


2.0
Highlight
The default highlight may be on the first




listing in the playlist.


3.0
Display Inclusion
Display all VOD programs in the playlist.



Criteria


4.0
Sorting/Grouping
Programs within the playlist may be ordered



Criteria
as specified in the VOD data.


4.1
Sorting/Grouping
Programs may be placed at the end of the



Criteria
playlist when they are added, by default.


4.2
Sorting/Grouping
See arrow key description in Table 22 for



Criteria
reordering of programs in the playlist.


5.0
Customization
The OnDemand icon may be MSO-




configurable.


6.0
Other Entry Actions
Not applicable
















TABLE 25







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen Formatting









No.
Functionality
Description












1.0
Program Title
Normal


2.0
Time
Normal


3.0
Channel
Not applicable


4.0
Other Text
Not Applicable


5.0
Colors
Normal


6.0
Indicators
Not applicable


7.0
Branding
Not Applicable


8.0
Audio
Normal


9.0
LEDs
Normal










FIG. 10 shows an illustrative keyboard overlay. Tables 26-27 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 26







Illustrative Playlist Keyboard Overlay General Description








No.
Description











1.0
The guide may provide an on screen Playlist Keyboard overlay for naming



distinct VOD playlists.


1.1
The Playlist Keyboard overlay may include a keyboard component and a



string entry field.


2.0
The keyboard component may facilitate entry of all capital letters of the



English alphabet, digits 0-9 and the space character within the string entry



field.


2.1
The string entry field may allow the user to see characters in the character



string as they are entered.


2.1.1
Entry of characters may be sequential from left to right.


2.1.2
The character entry position may be maintained after the rightmost



character in the string entry field.


2.1.3
The character entry position may be represented by a character entry



cursor.


2.2
The keyboard component may facilitate deletion of the rightmost character



in the string entry field via the Delete/Backspace selectable item.


2.3
The keyboard component may allow entry of up to, e.g., 25 characters



within the string entry field.


2.3.1
If the number of characters, together with the character entry cursor,



exceeds the display capacity of the string entry field, one or more leftmost



characters may be shifted beyond the left edge of the string entry field, as



required to maintain the character entry cursor within the right edge of the



string entry field.


2.3.2
If any characters remain shifted beyond the left edge of the string entry



field, and the user deletes the rightmost character using the



Delete/Backspace key, one or more first characters may be shifted back



into the string entry field display, provided the character entry cursor may



maintain its position within the right edge of the string entry field.


2.3.3
If no characters remain shifted beyond the left edge of the string entry



field, and the user deletes the rightmost character using the



Delete/Backspace key, the characters may remain fixed within the string



entry field, and the character entry cursor may move to the left.


3.0
The space character option in the keyboard component may include the



text “Sp” in white text.


4.0
The delete/backspace option in the keyboard component may include the



text “Del” in white text.


5.0
The save option in the keyboard component may include the text “Save” in



white text.


5.1
The “Save” selectable item may be grayed out if no non-space characters



have been entered in the string entry field.


6.0
The default highlight on entry may be the “A” character in the keyboard



component.


7.0
The string entry field may be empty on entry.
















TABLE 27







Illustrative Playlist Keyboard Overlay Input Key Processing










No.
Key
Screen Focus
Behavior













1.0
Power
Any
Normal


2.0
Volume Up
Any
Normal


3.0
Volume Down
Any
Normal


4.0
Mute
Any
Normal


5.0
Channel Up
Any
Normal


6.0
Channel Down
Any
Normal


7.0
Bypass
Any
Normal


8.0
Menu
Any
Normal


9.0
Guide
Any
Normal


10.0
Music
Any
Normal


11.0
Themes
Any
Normal


12.0
Search
Any
Normal


13.0
Settings
Any
Inactive


14.0
Exit
Any
Normal


15.0
Last
Any
The Guide may dismiss the Playlist





Keyboard overlay and redisplay the screen it





was accessed from.


16.0
Right Arrow
Anywhere in
Move the highlight to the next key to the




keyboard
right in the keyboard component.




component




except rightmost




keys.


16.1
Right Arrow
Rightmost keys
Inactive




in keyboard




component, or




string entry field


17.0
Left Arrow
Anywhere in
Move the highlight to the next key to the left




keyboard
in the keyboard component.




component




except leftmost




keys.


17.1
Left Arrow
Leftmost keys in
Inactive




keyboard




component, or




string entry field.


18.0
Up Arrow
Alphanumeric
Move the highlight to the next higher key in




keys in keyboard
the keyboard component.




component, not




including top




row.


18.1
Up Arrow
“A” or “B” key
Move highlight to the “Delete” option.




in keyboard




component.


18.2
Up Arrow
“C” or “D” key
Move highlight to the “Spacebar” option.




in keyboard




component.


18.3
Up Arrow
“E” or “F” key
Move highlight to the “Save” option.




in keyboard




component.


18.4
Up Arrow
Delete, Space or
Move the highlight to the string entry field.




Save option in




the keyboard




component.


18.5
Up Arrow
String entry
Inactive




field.


19.0
Down Arrow
String entry
Move highlight to the “Delete” option.




field.


19.1
Down Arrow
Delete option in
Move the highlight to the “A” key in the




the keyboard
keyboard component.




component.


19.2
Down Arrow
Space option in
Move the highlight to the “C” key in the




the keyboard
keyboard component.




component.


19.3
Down Arrow
Save option in
Move the highlight to the “E” key in the




the keyboard
keyboard component.




component.


19.4
Down Arrow
Alphanumeric
Move the highlight to the next lower key in




keys in keyboard
the keyboard component.




component, not




including bottom




row.


19.5
Down Arrow
Bottom row of
Inactive




alphanumeric




keys in keyboard




component.


20.0
OK
String entry
The Guide may rename the current favorite




field, string
list using the character string in the string




contains at least
entry field, dismiss the Playlist Keyboard




one non-space
overlay and redisplay the screen it was




character.
accessed from.


20.1
OK
String entry
Inactive




field, string




contains no non-




space characters.


20.2
OK
Any
If fewer than, e.g., 25 characters have been




alphanumeric
entered, append the corresponding character




key, or space
to the character string, and shift the string




key, in the
entry field display as required.




keyboard




component.


20.2.1
OK
Any
Inactive if, e.g., 25 characters have been




alphanumeric
entered.




key, or space




key, in the




keyboard




component.


20.4
OK
Delete/backspace
Delete the rightmost search character in the




key in keyboard
search string entry field, and shift the search




component.
string entry field display as required.


20.4.1
OK
Delete/backspace
Inactive if there are no characters in the




key in keyboard
string entry field.




component.


20.5
OK
“Save” option in
The Guide may rename the current favorite




keyboard
list using the character string in the string




component,
entry field, dismiss the Playlist Keyboard




string contains at
overlay and redisplay the screen it was




least one non-
accessed from.




space character.


20.6
OK
“Save” option in
Inactive




keyboard




component,




string contains




no non-space




characters.


21.0
Digits 0-9
Any
If fewer than, e.g., 25 characters have been





entered, append the corresponding number to





the character string, and shift the string entry





field display as required.


21.1
Digits 0-9
Any
Inactive if, e.g., 25 characters have been





entered.


22.0
Scroll Up
Any
Inactive


23.0
Scroll Down
Any
Inactive


24.0
Day Forward
Any
Inactive


25.0
Day Back
Any
Inactive


26.0
Help
Any
Inactive


27.0
Info
Any
Inactive


28.0
Favorite
Any
Inactive


29.0
Lock
Any
Inactive


30.0
Record
Any
Inactive


31.0
Stop
Any
Inactive


32.0
Pause
Any
Inactive


33.0
Play
Any
Inactive


34.0
Rewind
Any
Inactive


35.0
Fast Forward
Any
Inactive


36.0
PPV
Any
Normal


37.0
Letters A-
Any
If fewer than, e.g., 25 characters have been



Z

entered, append the corresponding character





to the character string, and shift the string





entry field display as required.


37.1
Letters A-
Any
Inactive if, e.g., 25 characters have been



Z

entered.


38.0
VOD
Any
Normal


39.0
Return to
Any
Normal



Live TV


40.0
Skip Forward
Any
Inactive


41.0
Replay
Any
Inactive


42.0
A
Any
Inactive


43.0
B
Any
Inactive


44.0
C
Any
Inactive


45.0
Digital
Any
Normal



Recordings


46.0
Swap
Any
Inactive










FIG. 11 show an illustrative Select a Playlist Overlay that may be displayed when the user selects the Add to a Playlist Icon on the VOD Program Information screen. The user selects a playlist to which the program will be added. Tables 28-34 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 28







Illustrative Select a Playlist Overlay System Description








No.
Description











1.0
VOD server 26 may maintain a list of playlists for each distinct STB.


1.1
The list of playlists may be ordered according to the date and time of



playlist creation, beginning with the most recently created playlist.


2.0
When the Guide requests the list of playlists, and if more than one playlist



has been created, VOD server 26 may provide the list of playlists to the



Guide.


2.1
VOD server 26 pages up or down within the Select a Playlist overlay to



allow viewing of additional playlist list pages.


3.0
VOD server 26 responds to requests from the Guide to add a new playlist.


3.1
VOD server 26 may create up to, for example, 24 playlists per STB.


3.2
VOD server 26 may communicate an error to the Guide if a request is made



to add a new playlist, and the maximum number of playlists has been



reached for the STB.


4.0
VOD server 26 responds to requests from the Guide to add a VOD program



to an existing playlist.


4.1
VOD server 26 may include up to, for example, 24 programs per VOD



playlist.


4.2
VOD server 26 may communicate an error to the Guide if a request is made



to add a program to a playlist, and the maximum number of programs has



been reached for the selected playlist.
















TABLE 29







Illustrative Select a Playlist Overlay General Description








No.
Description











1.0
The Guide may display the Select a Playlist Overlay when the user selects



the Add Video to Playlist Icon on the VOD Program Information screen.


2.0
The Select a Playlist Overlay may include:



an overlay title area



a playlist list area



an action icon area


3.0
The title of the Select a Playlist Overlay may be “Select a Playlist to add



this program to.” in the language specified by the user in the Guide setup,



displayed in yellow text, centered in the overlay title area.


4.0
The playlist list area may include a header row and a vertical list of



playlists.


4.1
The header row may include, left justified, the Playlist icon, followed by



the text “Playlists” in white text, in the language specified by the user in



Guide setup.


4.2
Each list cell in the vertical list of playlists may include the playlist name,



left justified in white text.


5.0
If no playlists have been created, the vertical list of playlists may include



the text “No playlists have been created” in the language specified by the



user at Guide setup, displayed in yellow,
















TABLE 30







Illustrative Select a Playlist Overlay Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description













1.0
Last
Always
Displays the screen from which it was




present
displayed


2.0
Down Arrow
Always
Displays the next page of VOD playlists




present


2.1
Down Arrow
Always
Inactive if the current page is the last or only




present
page.


3.0
New Playlist
Always
If the maximum number of playlists has not




present
been reached, the Guide may:





Send a request to VOD server 26 to create a





new playlist, assigning a default playlist name





in the form “Playlist <lowest positive integer





not already used to name a playlist>“, and





with the VOD program from the underlying





VOD Program Information screen as its sole





asset.





Display the Playlist with Programs screen for





the new playlist.


3.1
New Playlist
Always
If the maximum number of playlists has been




present
reached, the Guide may display the Maximum





Playlists Notice
















TABLE 31







Illustrative Select a Playlist Overlay Input Key Processing










No.
Key
Screen Focus
Behavior













1.0
Power
Any
Normal


2.0
Volume Up
Any
Normal


3.0
Volume Down
Any
Normal


4.0
Mute
Any
Normal


5.0
Channel Up
Any
Normal


6.0
Channel Down
Any
Normal


7.0
Bypass
Any
Normal


8.0
Menu
Any
Normal


9.0
Guide
Any
Normal


10.0
Music
Any
Normal


11.0
Themes
Any
Normal


12.0
Search
Any
Normal


13.0
Settings
Any
Normal


14.0
Exit
Any
Normal


15.0
Last
Any
Normal


16.0
Right Arrow
Any list cell
Inactive


16.1
Right Arrow
Any action icon
Normal




but farthest




right


16.2
Right Arrow
Farthest right
The Guide may move the highlight to the




action icon
farthest left action icon.


17.0
Left Arrow
Any list cell
Inactive


17.1
Left Arrow
Any action icon
Normal




but the farthest




left


17.2
Left Arrow
Farthest left
The Guide may move the highlight to the




action icon
farthest right action icon.


18.0
Up Arrow
Top list cell on
Inactive




first page


18.1
Up Arrow
Any list cell
The Guide may move the highlight to the next




except top on
higher list cell.




page


18.2
Up Arrow
Top list cell on
The Guide may display the previous page and




any page but
highlight the bottom list cell.




first


18.3
Up Arrow
Any action icon
The Guide may highlight the bottom list cell





on the page.


19.0
Down Arrow
Any list cell
The Guide may move the highlight to the next




except bottom
lower list cell.




on page


19.1
Down Arrow
Bottom list cell
The Guide may move the highlight to the





Down Arrow Action Icon.


19.2
Down Arrow
Down Arrow
The Guide may display the next page of




action icon
listings and highlight the top list cell.


19.3
Down Arrow
Any action icon
Inactive




except Down




Arrow


20.0
OK
Any action icon
See Table 30.


20.1
OK
Any list cell
Send a request to VOD server 26 to add the





program from the underlying VOD Program





Information screen to the selected playlist. If





successful, dismiss the Select a Playlist





Overlay and display the Program Added





Overlay.


20.2
OK
Any list cell
Send a request to VOD server 26 to add the





program from the underlying VOD Program





Information screen to the selected playlist. If





the playlist has reached the maximum number





of programs, display the Maximum Programs





notice over the Select a Playlist Overlay.


21.0
Digits 0-9
Any
Normal


22.0
Scroll Up
Any
Normal


23.0
Scroll Down
Any
Normal


24.0
Day Forward
Any
Inactive


25.0
Day Back
Any
Inactive


26.0
Help
Any
Inactive


27.0
Info
Any list cell
The Guide may display the Playlist





Information Screen for the highlighted





Playlist.


27.1
Info
Any action Icon
Inactive


28.0
Favorite
Any
Inactive


29.0
Lock
Any
Inactive


30.0
Record
Any
Inactive


31.0
Stop
Any
Inactive


32.0
Pause
Any
Inactive


33.0
Play
Any
Inactive


34.0
Rewind
Any
Inactive


35.0
Fast Forward
Any
Inactive


36.0
PPV
Any
Normal


37.0
Letters A-
Any
Inactive



Z


38.0
VOD
Any
Inactive


39.0
Return to
Any
Inactive



Live TV


40.0
Skip
Any
Inactive



Forward


41.0
Replay
Any
Inactive


42.0
A
Any
Inactive


43.0
B
Any
Inactive


44.0
C
Any
Inactive


45.0
Digital
Any
Normal



Recordings


46.0
Swap
Any
Inactive
















TABLE 32







Illustrative Select a Playlist Overlay Other Event Handling









No.
Event
Conditions/Comments












1.0
Screen Timeout
Normal


2.0
Reminder
Normal


3.0
Scheduled Recording Fires
Normal


4.0
Ordered PPV Start
Normal


5.0
PPV Purchase Window
Inactive



Expires


6.0
Current Program Ends
Normal


7.0
Data added, deleted or
Normal



modified in database
















TABLE 33







Illustrative Select a Playlist Overlay Screen/Mode Entry









No.
Functionality
Description












1.0
Guide
The Select a Playlist Overlay may be available



Initialization
as soon as the VOD feature is available.


2.0
Highlight
The default highlight may be on the first




playlist in the list.


2.1
Highlight
If no playlists have been created, the default




highlight may be on the “Add Playlist” action




icon.


3.0
Display Inclusion
Display all existing playlists.



Criteria


4.0
Sorting/Grouping
The playlists may be displayed in order of



Criteria
creation time, from newest to oldest.


5.0
Customization
The OnDemand icon may be MSO-




configurable.


6.0
Other Entry
Not applicable



Actions


7.0
VOD Program
The Guide may retain the context of the VOD



context
program from the underlying VOD Program




Information screen.
















TABLE 34







Illustrative Select a Playlist Overlay Screen Formatting









No.
Functionality
Description












1.0
Program Title
Not applicable


2.0
Time
Normal


3.0
Channel
Not applicable


4.0
Other Text
Not Applicable


5.0
Colors
Normal


6.0
Indicators
Not applicable


7.0
Branding
Not Applicable


8.0
Audio
Normal


9.0
LEDs
Normal










FIG. 12 shows an illustrative Maximum Playlists Overlay. The Maximum Playlists overlay may be displayed when the maximum number of playlists (e.g., 24) has been created, and the user makes a request to add a new playlist. Table 35 describes illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 35







Illustrative Maximum Playlists Overlay General Descriptions








No.
Description











1.0
This overlay may be displayed when the user selects the New Playlist icon



on the Playlists List Screen or the Select a Playlist Overlay and the



maximum number of 24 playlists has already been created.


1.0
The Maximum Playlists Overlay may include the Playlist icon followed by



the title “MAXIMUM PLAYLISTS CREATED” in yellow text, centered at



the top of the overlay.


2.0
The Maximum Playlists Overlay may include the text “The maximum



number of Playlists has been reached. You must delete an existing Playlist



to continue.” in white text, centered below the title and in the language



specified by the user in Language Setup.


3.0
All key presses may follow the Common Input Key Processing definition



for Notice Overlays in the Appendix.


4.0
The Maximum Playlists Overlay may follow the Common Other Event



Handling definition for Notice Overlays in the Appendix.










FIG. 13 shows an illustrative Maximum Programs Notice. This notice may be displayed when the user attempts to add a program to a playlist that already contains the maximum number of programs. Table 36 describes illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 36







Illustrative Maximum Programs Notice General Description








No.
Description











1.0
This notice may be displayed when the user selects a playlist



from the Select a Playlist Overlay, or attempts to



“toggle a program on” within the Playlist



search screen, but the playlist already



contains the maximum number of, e.g., 24 programs.


2.0
Notice text may be “You cannot add any more



programs to this Playlist.” displayed in yellow in



the language selected by the user in Guide Setup.


3.0
This notice may follow the description as defined



for Overlay Notice screens, except as specified in this section.










FIG. 14 shows an illustrative Program Added Overlay. The Program Added Overlay may be displayed when the Guide has successfully added a program to a playlist. Tables 37-38 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 37







Illustrative Program Added Overlay General Description








No.
Description











1.0
The title of the Program Added Overlay may be



“PROGRAM ADDED” in the language specified by



the viewer in the Guide setup, displayed in yellow.


1.1
The Guide may display the text, “This program has been added to



the following play list.”, on the Program Added Overlay in the



language specified by the viewer in the Guide setup,



displayed in white.


2.0
The Guide may display the OK/Yes Icon with the label “Confirm”



on the overlay, in the language specified by



the user in Guide setup.


2.1
When the OK key is pressed with the “Confirm” option



highlighted, the Guide dismisses the overlay.


3.0
The default highlight on the Program Added Overlay may be the



Confirm Icon.


4.0
Except as otherwise specified here, this overlay may follow the



description for Single Action Overlays in the Appendix).
















TABLE 38







Illustrative Playlist with Programs Screen Instant Information










No.
Line
Format
Description













1.0
1
Left
The name of the playlist, displayed in yellow




Justified


1.1
1
Right
The text “Contains <number> programs” in




Justified
the language specified by the user at Guide





setup, displayed in white, where <number> is





the number of programs in the playlist.


2.0
2
Left
Runtime of the playlist (total runtime of all




Justified
programs in the playlist)










FIG. 15 shows an illustrative Playlist Deletion Options Overlay. The Playlist Deletion Options Overlay may be displayed when the user selects the Delete Action Icon on the Playlist with Programs Screen. Tables 39-40 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 39







Illustrative Playlist Deletion Options Overlay General Description








No.
Description











1.0
The Guide may display the Playlist Deletion Options Overlay when the



user selects the Delete Action Icon on the Playlist with Programs Screen.


1.1
The title of the Playlist Deletion Options Overlay may be “DELETION



OPTIONS” in the language specified by the viewer in the Guide setup,



displayed in yellow text.


2.0
If the user has checked the deletion checkbox for at least one program in



the Playlist with Programs screen, the Guide may display the Delete Icon



on the Playlist Deletion Options Overlay with the label “Delete programs



with a <checkmark/box> only” in the language specified by the user in the



Guide setup.


2.1
The Guide may display the Delete Icon on the Playlist Deletion Options



Overlay with the label “Delete all programs” in the language specified by



the user in the Guide setup.


2.2
The Guide may display the Delete Icon on the Playlist Deletion Options



Overlay with the label “Delete the entire playlist” in the language specified



by the user in the Guide setup.


2.3
The Guide may display the Last/Back Icon on the Playlist Deletion Options



Overlay with the label “Cancel” in the language specified by the user in the



Guide setup.


3.0
The Deletion Options may be displayed in the following order:



Delete programs with a <checkmark/box> only (if present)



Delete all programs



Delete the entire Playlist



Don't do anything


4.0
The default highlight may be the “Delete programs with a



<checkmark/box> only” option, if present.


4.1
If the “Delete programs with a <checkmark/box> only” option is not



present, the default highlight may be the “Delete all programs” option.


5.0
Except as specified in this section, this overlay may follow the description



in the Common Action Overlay section of the Appendix.
















TABLE 40







Illustrative Playlist Deletion Options Overlay Action Icon Description









No.
Action Icon
Function When Selected












1.0
Delete programs with a
If all of the programs are checked on the



checkmark only (if present)
underlying Playlist with Programs Screen, the




Guide may:




send a request to VOD server 26 to delete all




programs from the playlist




dismiss the overlay, and display the Default




Playlist Screen with the playlist name in place




of the default playlist name.


1.1
Delete programs with a
If not all of the programs are checked on the



checkmark only (if present)
underlying Playlist with Programs Screen, the




Guide may:




send a request to VOD server 26 to delete all




checked programs from the playlist




dismiss the overlay, and display the




underlying Playlist with Programs Screen




updated to reflect the deletions.


2.0
Delete all programs
The Guide may:




send a request to VOD server 26 to delete all




programs from the playlist




dismiss the overlay, and display the Default




Playlist Screen with the playlist name in place




of the default playlist name.


3.0
Delete the entire Playlist
The Guide may dismiss the overlay and




display the Delete Playlist Confirmation




Overlay.


4.0
Don't do anything
The Guide may dismiss the overlay.










FIG. 16 shows an illustrative Delete Playlist Confirmation Overlay that may be displayed when the user selects the Delete Action Icon on the Default Playlist Screen or selects the Delete Entire Playlist option on the Playlist Deletion Options Overlay. Tables 41-42 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 41







Illustrative Delete Playlist Confirmation


Overlay General Description









No.
Description
Rationale











1.0
The Guide may display the Delete Playlist



Confirmation Overlay when the user selects



the Delete Action Icon on the Default Playlist



Screen or selects the Delete Entire Playlist



option on the Playlist Deletion Options



Overlay.


1.1
The Guide may display the Delete Icon on the



Delete Playlist Confirmation Overlay with the



label “Delete Playlist” in the language



specified by the user in the Guide setup.


1.2
The Guide may display the Cancel Icon on the



Delete Playlist Confirmation Overlay with the



label “Don't delete Playlist” in the language



specified by the user in the Guide setup.


2.0
The default highlight may be the Delete Icon.


3.0
Except as specified in this section, this



confirmation screen may follow the



description provided in the Common



Confirmation Overlay section of the



Appendix.
















TABLE 42







Illustrative Delete Playlist Confirmation Overlay Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description













1.0
Delete
Always
The Guide may:



Playlist
present
send a request to VOD server 26 to





delete the playlist with all of





its contents





dismiss the overlay and display the screen





from which the playlist was accessed.


2.0
Don't
Always
The Guide may dismiss the overlay.



delete
present



Playlist










FIG. 17 shows an illustrative overlay that may be displayed when the user selects the Lock Action Icon on the Default Playlist Screen or Playlist with Programs Screen and enters the proper PIN on the Enter Locks PIN Overlay. If a playlist is locked, anyone without the correct PIN will not be able to access the Playlist for playback, editing, or deleting. Tables 43-44 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 43







Illustrative Lock Playlist Overlay General Description








No.
Description











1.0
This overlay may be displayed when the user selects the Lock Action Icon



on the Default Playlist Screen or Playlist with Programs Screen and enters



the proper PIN on the Enter Locks PIN Overlay.


2.0
Title text for the Lock Playlist Overlay may be “LOCK



CONFIRMATION” displayed in yellow.


2.1
Descriptive text under the title text may be “Locking will restrict access to



this playlist.”, displayed in white.


3.0
If the playlist is currently unlocked, the Guide may display the Unlocked



Icon on the Lock Playlist Overlay with the label “Lock this playlist” in the



language specified by the user in the Guide setup.


3.1
If the playlist is currently locked, the Guide may display the Locked Icon



on the Lock Playlist Overlay with the label “Unlock this playlist” in the



language specified by the user in the Guide setup.


4.0
The Guide may display the OK/Yes Icon on the Lock Playlist Overlay with



the label “Confirm this Lock” in the language specified by the user in the



Guide setup.


5.0
The default highlight for this overlay may be the “Confirm this lock”



option.


6.0
Except as specified in this section, this overlay may follow the description



provided in the Common Action Overlay section of the Appendix.
















TABLE 44







Illustrative Lock Playlist Overlay Action Icon Description









No.
Action Icon
Function When Selected












1.0
Lock this playlist
The Guide may update the playlist lock state




to locked, updates the action icon to the




Locked Icon, and updates the label to




“Unlock this playlist”.


1.1
Unlock this playlist
The Guide may update the playlist lock state




to unlocked, updates the action icon to the




Unlocked Icon, and updates the label to




“Lock this playlist”.


2.0
Confirm this lock
The Guide may dismiss the overlay.










FIGS. 18 and 19 show illustrative Playlist Search Screens that may be displayed when the user selects the Search action icon on the Default Playlist Screen or the Playlist with Programs Screen. These screens may contain free VOD listing search results available to add to a playlist. Tables 45-50 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such screens.









TABLE 45







Illustrative Playlist Search Screen General Description Table








No.
Description











1.0
The Guide may display the Playlist Search Screen when the user selects the



Search Icon on the Default Playlist Screen or the Playlist with Programs



Screen.


2.0
The Playlist Search screen may include:



a screen header area



an instant information area



a playlist candidate area



an action icon area


3.0
The playlist candidate area may include a header row and a vertical list of



playlist candidates.


3.1
The header row in the playlist candidate area may include the Search icon,



followed by the text “<Playlist name> Search”, left justified, where the text



“Search” is in the language specified by the user in the Guide setup.


3.2
The header row in the playlist candidate area may include the text “Select



to add or delete”, right justified, and in the language specified by the user in



the Guide setup.


4.0
The vertical list of playlist candidates may include all VOD programs that



are available to the user for free, without any subscription or purchase.


4.1
The listing cell for any VOD program that is currently included in the



playlist may display the Playlist icon, right justified in the listing cell.


5.0
The Guide may not permit inclusion of more than, e.g., 24 distinct VOD



programs for the playlist.


5.1
If the user has toggled the playlist indicator “on” for, e.g., 24 programs, and



attempts to toggle the playlist indicator “on” for an additional program, the



Guide may display the Maximum Programs Notice.


6.0
Programs may be added to/deleted from a playlist immediately when



toggled on/off within the Playlist Search screen.
















TABLE 46







Illustrative Playlist Search Screen Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description













1.0
Last
Always
Displays the screen from which it was




present
displayed


2.0
Down
Always
Displays the next page of search results



Arrow
present
if there is a next page


2.1
Down
Always
Inactive if there is no next page



Arrow
present


4.0
Confirm
Always
Displays the Default Playlist Screen if




present
there are no programs marked as





included in the playlist


4.1
Confirm
Always
Displays the Playlist with Programs




present
Screen if there are one or more





programs marked as included





in the playlist


8.0
Delete
Always
Displays the Clear All Programs




present
Confirmation Overlay
















TABLE 47







Illustrative Playlist Search Screen Input Key Processing










No.
Key
Screen Focus
Behavior













1.0
Power
Any
Normal


2.0
Volume Up
Any
Normal


3.0
Volume Down
Any
Normal


4.0
Mute
Any
Normal


5.0
Channel Up
Any
Normal


6.0
Channel Down
Any
Normal


7.0
Bypass
Any
Normal


8.0
Menu
Any
Normal


9.0
Guide
Any
Normal


10.0
Music
Any
Normal


11.0
Themes
Any
Normal


12.0
Search
Any
Normal


13.0
Settings
Any
Normal


14.0
Exit
Any
Normal


15.0
Last
Any
Normal


16.0
Right Arrow
Any list cell
Inactive


16.1
Right Arrow
Any action
Normal




icon but




farthest right


16.2
Right Arrow
Farthest right
The Guide may move the




action icon
highlight to the farthest





left action icon.


17.0
Left Arrow
Any list cell
Inactive


17.1
Left Arrow
Any action
Normal




icon but the




farthest left


17.2
Left Arrow
Farthest left
The Guide may move the




action icon
highlight to the farthest





right action icon.


18.0
Up Arrow
Top list cell on
Inactive




first page


18.1
Up Arrow
Any list cell
The Guide may move the




except top on
highlight to the next higher




page
list cell.


18.2
Up Arrow
Top list cell on
The Guide may display the




any page but
previous page and highlight




first
the bottom list cell.


18.3
Up Arrow
Any action
The Guide may highlight




icon
the bottom list cell on





the page.


19.0
Down Arrow
Any list cell
The Guide may move the




except bottom
highlight to the next




on page
lower list cell.


19.1
Down Arrow
Bottom list cell
The Guide may move the





highlight to the





Down Arrow Action Icon.


19.2
Down Arrow
Down Arrow
The Guide may display the




action icon
next page of listings and





highlight the top list cell.


19.3
Down Arrow
Any action
Inactive




icon except




Down Arrow


20.0
OK
Any action
See Table 46.




icon


20.1
OK
Any list cell
The Guide may add/remove





the program from the playlist





and toggle the Playlist





Indicator on or off, right





justified in the list cell.


21.0
Digits 0-9
Any
Normal


22.0
Scroll Up
Any
Normal


23.0
Scroll Down
Any
Normal


24.0
Day Forward
Any
Inactive


25.0
Day Back
Any
Inactive


26.0
Help
Any
Inactive


27.0
Info
Any list cell
The Guide may display the





VOD Program Information





Screen for the highlighted





program.


27.1
Info
Any action
Inactive




Icon


28.0
Favorite
Any
Inactive


29.0
Lock
Any
Inactive


30.0
Record
Any
Inactive


31.0
Stop
Any
Inactive


32.0
Pause
Any
Inactive


33.0
Play
Any
Inactive


34.0
Rewind
Any
Inactive


35.0
Fast Forward
Any
Inactive


36.0
PPV
Any
Normal


37.0
Letters A-Z
Any
Inactive


38.0
VOD
Any
Inactive


39.0
Return to Live
Any
Inactive



TV


40.0
Skip Forward
Any
Inactive


41.0
Replay
Any
Inactive


42.0
A
Any
Inactive


43.0
B
Any
Inactive


44.0
C
Any
Inactive


45.0
Digital
Any
Normal



Recordings


46.0
Swap
Any
Inactive
















TABLE 48







Illustrative Playlist Search Screen Other Event Handling









No.
Event
Conditions/Comments












1.0
Screen Timeout
Normal


2.0
Reminder
Normal


3.0
Scheduled Recording Fires
Normal


4.0
Ordered PPV Start
Normal


5.0
PPV Purchase Window
Inactive



Expires


6.0
Current Program Ends
Normal


7.0
Data added, deleted or
Normal



modified in database
















TABLE 49







Illustrative Playlist Search Screen/Mode Entry









No.
Functionality
Description












1.0
Guide Initialization
The Playlist Search Screen may be available




as soon as the VOD feature is available.


2.0
Highlight
The default highlight may be on the first




listing in the playlist candidate area.


3.0
Display Inclusion
Display all VOD programs that are free



Criteria
without any subscription or purchase.


4.0
Sorting/Grouping
Programs may be sorted in ascending



Criteria
alphanumeric order.


5.0
Customization
The OnDemand icon may be MSO-




configurable.


6.0
Other Entry Actions
Not applicable


7.0
Playlist context
The Playlist Search screen may retain the




context of the VOD playlist in the Playlist




Information screen from which this screen




was invoked.
















TABLE 50







Illustrative Playlist Search Screen Formatting









No.
Functionality
Description












1.0
Program Title
Normal


2.0
Time
Normal


3.0
Channel
Not applicable


4.0
Other Text
Not Applicable


5.0
Colors
Normal


6.0
Indicators
Not applicable


7.0
Branding
Not Applicable


8.0
Audio
Normal


9.0
LEDs
Normal










FIG. 20 shows an illustrative Clear All Programs Confirmation Overlay that may be displayed when the user selects the Delete action icon on the Playlist Search Screen. Tables 51-52 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 51







Illustrative Clear All Programs Confirmation


Overlay General Description








No.
Description











1.0
The Guide may display the Clear All Programs Overlay when the



user selects the Delete action icon on the Playlist Search Screen.


1.1
The Guide may display the title “CLEAR ALL PROGRAM



SELECTIONS” on the Clear All Programs Overlay in the language



specified by the user in the Guide setup, in yellow text.


1.2
The Guide may display the prompt “Are you sure you want to clear



all program selections for this playlist?” on the Clear



All Programs Overlay in the language specified by the user



in Guide setup.


1.3
The Guide may display the OK/Yes icon on the Clear All Programs



Overlay with the label “Clear all program selections” in the



language specified by the user in the Guide setup.


1.4
The Guide may display the Cancel icon on the Clear All Programs



Overlay with the label “Don't clear” in the language



specified by the user in the Guide setup.


2.0
The default highlight may be the OK/Yes icon.


3.0
Except as specified in this section, this confirmation screen may



follow the description provided in the Common Confirmation



Overlay section of the Appendix.
















TABLE 52







Illustrative Clear All Programs Confirmation


Overlay Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description





1.0
Clear all
Always
Dismisses the Clear All Programs



program
present
Overlay, clears all programs from



selections

the playlist, and displays the





underlying Playlist Search Screen





updated with all playlist





indicators removed.


2.0
Don't clear
Always
Dismisses the Clear All Programs




present
Overlay.










Section III. Bookmarks


The Bookmark feature allows the user to save any programs in the combined Bookmarked/Suspended Programs List (collectively referred to herein as the Saved Programs List). In the embodiment described below, only On Demand programs are included. In other embodiments, Non-On Demand programs may be included.


In this embodiment, any On Demand program can be bookmarked regardless of whether it is always free, free with a subscription, or requires a purchase. The user may select a Bookmark Icon from, for example, an On


Demand Program Information Screen.



FIG. 21 shows an illustrative Bookmark a VOD Program Confirmation Overlay that may be displayed when the user selects the Bookmark Icon in a VOD program information screen, and the program has not already been bookmarked. Tables 53-55 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 53







Illustrative Bookmark a Program Confirmation Overlay System Description








No.
Description





1.0
VOD server 26 may maintain a list of bookmarked programs for each



distinct STB.


2.0
VOD server 26 may add the program shown in the information screen to



the list of bookmarked programs if the Guide makes a set bookmark request



based on user selection of the “Bookmark this program” action icon.


2.1
VOD server 26 may bookmark any VOD asset that is accessible to the



subscriber.


2.2
If VOD server 26 already has a maximum, e.g., 20 bookmarked programs



for a STB, and if the Guide requests an additional bookmarked program,



VOD server 26 may delete the oldest bookmarked program from the



bookmarked programs list for the STB.
















TABLE 54







Illustrative Bookmark a Program Confirmation Overlay General Description








No.
Description





1.0
The Guide may display the Bookmark a Program Confirmation Overlay



when the user selects the Bookmark Icon in any VOD program information



screen.


1.1
The Guide may display the Bookmark button on the Bookmark a Program



Confirmation Overlay with the label “Bookmark this program” in the



language specified by the user in the Guide setup.


1.2
The Guide may display the Cancel button on the Bookmark a Program



Confirmation Overlay with the label “Don't bookmark this program” in the



language specified by the user in the Guide setup.


2.0
The default highlight may be the Bookmark this program action icon.


3.0
Except as specified in this section, this confirmation screen may follow the



description provided in the Common Confirmation Overlay section of the



Appendix.
















TABLE 55







Illustrative Bookmark a Program Confirmation


Overlay Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description





1.0
Bookmark
Always
Request that VOD server 26 add the



this
present
bookmark, dismiss the Bookmark a



program

Program Confirmation Overlay, and





update the instant information





display in the underlying VOD





program information screen.


2.0
Don't
Always
Dismiss the Bookmark a Program



bookmark
present
Confirmation Overlay



this





program










FIG. 22 shows an illustrative Previously Bookmarked Confirmation Overlay that may be displayed when the user selects the Bookmark Icon on a VOD program information screen for a program that has already been bookmarked. Tables 56-58 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.









TABLE 56







Illustrative Previously Bookmarked Confirmation


Overlay System Description








No.
Description





1.0
VOD server 26 may maintain a list of bookmarked



programs for each distinct STB.


2.0
VOD server 26 may delete the program shown in the



information screen from the Saved Programs List if



the Guide makes a remove Bookmark request based on



user selection of the “Don't keep this program



bookmarked” action icon.
















TABLE 57







Illustrative Previously Bookmarked Confirmation Overlay General Description








No.
Description





1.0
The Guide may display the Previously Bookmarked Confirmation Overlay



when the user selects the Bookmark Icon in a VOD program information



screen for a program that has already been bookmarked.


1.1
The Guide may display the title “This program is already bookmarked.” on



the Previously Bookmarked Confirmation Overlay in the language



specified by the user in the Guide setup, in yellow text.


1.2
The Guide may display the Bookmark button on the Previously



Bookmarked Confirmation Overlay with the label “Keep this program



bookmarked” in the language specified by the user in the Guide setup.


1.3
The Guide may display the Cancel button on the Previously Bookmarked



Confirmation Overlay with the label “Don't keep this program



bookmarked” in the language specified by the user in the Guide setup.


2.0
The default highlight may be the “Bookmark” Icon.


3.0
Except as specified in this section, this confirmation screen may follow the



description provided in the Common Confirmation Overlay section of the



Appendix.
















TABLE 58







Illustrative Previously Bookmarked Confirmation


Overlay Action Icon Table










No.
Name
Condition
Description





1.0
Keep this
Always
Dismiss the Previously Bookmarked



program
present
Confirmation Overlay.



bookmarked




2.0
Don't keep
Always
Request that VOD server 26 remove



this program
present
the bookmark, dismiss the



bookmarked

Previously Bookmarked Confirmation





Overlay, and update the instant





information display in the underlying





VOD program information screen.










FIGS. 23 and 24 shows illustrative Saved Programs Listing Screens that contain a list of programs the user has either bookmarked or suspended after selecting the Buy or Watch action icon on an On Demand program information screen. VOD server 26 (FIG. 1) may provides a link to the Saved Programs Listing Screen through the On Demand Main Menu or a VRN screen by defining a category on the screen for the saved programs. From this screen the user can access the On Demand information screen for a saved program and begin or resume watching that program. Tables 59-65 describe illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such overlays.









TABLE 59







Illustrative Saved Programs Listing Screen System Description








No.
Description











1.0
VOD server 26 may maintain a list of suspended programs for each distinct



subscriber household.


2.0
VOD server 26 may maintain a list of bookmarked programs for each



distinct STB.


3.0
When the Guide requests the saved programs list, VOD server 26 may



provide a combined list including: bookmarked programs for the STB



suspended programs for the subscriber household.


3.1
The combined saved programs list may be sorted to include all suspended



programs first, followed by all bookmarked programs.


3.2
Suspended programs and bookmarked programs may not be intermingled



within the saved programs list.


3.3
Suspended programs may be sorted alphanumerically within the suspended



programs section of the saved programs list.


3.4
Bookmarked programs may be sorted alphanumerically within the



suspended programs section of the saved programs list.


3.5
VOD server 26 may identify each individual program within the combined



saved programs list as being either suspended or bookmarked.


3.6
VOD server 26 may provide, as required, page up or down within the



Saved Programs Listing screen to view additional saved program listing



pages.


4.0
VOD server 26 may provide up to, e.g., 20 suspended programs per



subscriber household.


4.1
The VOD server 26 configuration may determine whether a program can be



suspended (i.e. added to the suspended programs list).


4.2
If VOD server 26 already has, e.g., 20 suspended programs for a subscriber



household, and if the Guide requests an additional suspended program, the



On Demand system may delete the oldest3 suspended program from the



suspended programs list for the subscriber household.


4.3
VOD server 26 may automatically delete suspended programs from the



saved programs list when the rental or viewing period has expired.


4.4
VOD server 26 may automatically delete suspended programs from the



saved programs list if they reach the end of their licensing window.


5.0
VOD server 26 may support up to, e.g., 20 bookmarked programs per STB.


5.1
VOD server 26 may bookmark any On Demand asset that is accessible to



the subscriber.


5.2
If VOD server 26 already has, e.g., 20 bookmarked programs for a STB,



and if the Guide requests an additional bookmarked program, VOD server



26 may delete the oldest bookmarked program from the bookmarked



programs list for the STB.


5.3
VOD server 26 may automatically delete bookmarked programs from the



saved programs list if they reach the end of their licensing window.


6.0
If the Guide requests suspension of a program that has already been



bookmarked, VOD server 26 may change the status of the program from



bookmarked to suspended.


6.1
If the Guide requests purchase and/or playback of a bookmarked program



that cannot be suspended, the program may be removed from the saved



programs list.


7.0
The system may provide an On Demand icon to the Guide.


7.1
The On Demand icon may be configurable to the individual headend level.


8.0
The VOD Server 26 may provide a screen title for the Saved Programs



Listing screen to the Guide.


9.0
The VOD Server 26 may indicate whether a Barker Window should be



displayed in the Saved Programs Listing screen.


10.0
The VOD Server 26 may provide the following metadata as applicable, for



each program in the Saved Programs list:



Short program title



Suspended or Bookmarked flag



Expiration date (for suspended programs)



Licensing window data (for bookmarked programs)



Adult flag



Price string



Closed caption flag



HDTV flag



Dolby digital audio flag



Widescreen flag



TV Rating/MPAA Rating



In a Playlist flag



Program duration



Year



Actor1, Actor2



Free flag



Last chance flag


11.0
The system may provide an On Demand brand to the Guide.


11.0
The On Demand brand may be configurable to the headend level.






3The “oldest” suspended program is the suspended program with the earliest expiration date/time.














TABLE 60







Illustrative Saved Programs Listing Screen Instant Information Display











Highlight




No.
Location
Line
Description





1.0
Any Program,
1
Short program title, left justified in yellow



if video barker

text, as specified in the On Demand data.



is present




1.0
Any Program,
1
Full program title, left justified in yellow text,



if video barker

as specified in the On Demand data.



is not present




2.0
Any Program
1
Price string, right justified in yellow text, as



marked as

specified in the On Demand data.



“Free”, if video





barker is not





present.




2.1
Any Program
1
Price string, right justified in white text, as



not marked as

specified in the On Demand data.



“Free”, if video





barker is not





present.




2.2
Any Program
2
Price string, left justified in yellow text, as



marked as

specified in the On Demand data.



“Free”, if video





barker is





present.




2.3
Any Program
2
Price string, left justified in white text, as



not marked as

specified in the On Demand data.



“Free”, if video





barker is





present.




3.0
Any Program
2
Program indicators, right justified, as specified





in Table 65.


4.0
Any Program,
2
Program duration, left justified in white text,



if video barker

in the format “<duration in minutes>min”.



is not present




4.1
Any Program,
3
Program duration, left justified in white text,



if video barker

in the format “<duration in minutes>min”.



is present




5.0
Any Program
3
Year, right justified in white text, in the format





“(<year>)”.


6.0
Any
3
The text “Ends <last date of licensing



bookmarked

window>”, left justified in white text, in the



program, if Last

language specified by the user in guide setup.



Chance flag is

Date format is “<mm/dd/yyyy>”, or



set and video

“<yyyy/dd/mm>” for DLA.



barker is not





present.




6.1
Any
3
“<Actor 1>, <Actor 2>”, left justified in white



bookmarked

text.



program, if Last





Chance flag is





not set and





video barker is





not present.




6.2
Any suspended
3
The text “Expires <expiration date/time for



program, if

suspended program>”, left justified in white



video barker is

text, in the language specified by the user in



not present.

guide setup. Date/time format is “<mm/dd> at





<hh:mm><a/p>”, or “<dd/mm> at





<hh:mm><a/p>” for DLA.


6.3
Any
4
The text “Ends <last date of licensing



bookmarked

window>”, left justified in white text, in the



program, if Last

language specified by the user in guide setup.



Chance flag is

Date format is “<mm/dd/yyyy>”, or



set and video

“<yyyy/dd/mm>” for DLA.



barker is





present.




6.4
Any
4
“<Actor 1>, <Actor 2>”, left justified in white



bookmarked

text.



program, if Last





Chance flag is





not set and





video barker is





present.




6.5
Any suspended
4
The text “Expires <expiration date/time for



program, if

suspended program>”, left justified in white



video barker is

text, in the language specified by the user in



present.

guide setup. Date/time format is “<mm/dd> at





<hh:mm><a/p>”, or “<dd/mm> at





<hh:mm><a/p>” for DLA.
















TABLE 61







Illustrative Saved Programs Listing Screen General Description








No.
Description











1.0
The Saved Programs Listing screen may include:



a screen header area



an instant information area



a saved programs listing area


1.1
The saved programs listing area may include a header row and a vertical



saved programs list.


1.2
The saved programs listing area header row may include the On Demand



icon, followed by the screen title specified in the On Demand data, left



justified in white text.


2.0
The Guide may obtain a list of suspended and/or bookmarked programs



for display on the Saved Programs Listing Screen.


2.1
The Guide may display between, e.g., zero and seven listing cells on the



Saved Programs Listing screen.


2.1.1
When a Barker Window is present, the Guide may display between, e.g.,



zero and six listing cells on the Saved Program Listing Screen.


2.2
The listing cells may be displayed by the Guide on the Saved Programs



Listing screen in a vertical column, below the header row in the saved



programs listing area.


2.3
The Guide may display one listing cell for each distinct asset that is



returned in the On Demand data.


2.4
The label of each listing on the Saved Programs Listing screen may be the



short title of the program, as specified by the On Demand data, unless the



video is rated Adult and the Hide Adult Titles option is enabled in the



Parental Control Setup.


2.5
The label of a listing cell on the Saved Programs Listing Screen may be



“Adult Programming” in the user-selected language, if the rating of the



video is Adult and the user has enabled the Hide Adult Titles option in the



Parental Control Setup.


2.6
The Guide may display the Bookmarked icon on the listing cell if the On



Demand data indicates that the program is bookmarked.


2.6.1
The Guide may display the text “Ends” in the user-selected text language,



followed by the last date of the program's licensing window, right justified



in the listing cell, directly to the left of the bookmarked icon, if the On



Demand data indicates that the program is bookmarked, and that the



program is a last chance video.



Example: “Ends 6/25” (i.e. June 25)


2.6.2
In a DLA environment, the Guide may display “Ends” in the user-selected



text language, followed by the last date of the program's licensing window



in international date format, right justified in the listing cell, directly to the



left of the bookmarked icon, if the On Demand data indicates that the



program is bookmarked, and that the program is a last chance video.



Example: “Ends 25/6” (i.e. June 25)


2.7
The Guide may display the Checkmark icon on the listing cell if the On



Demand data indicates that the program is suspended.


2.7.1
The Guide may display the text “Expires” in the user-selected text



language, followed by expiration date and time, right justified in the listing



cell, directly to the left of the checkmark icon, if the On Demand data



indicates that the program is suspended.



Example: “Expires 11/12 at 8:05p” (i.e. November 12)


2.7.2
In a DLA environment, the Guide may display “Expires” in the user-



selected text language, followed by the expiration date and time in



international date format, right justified in the listing cell, directly to the



left of the checkmark icon, if the On Demand data indicates that the



program is suspended.



Example: “Expires 12/11 at 8:05p” (i.e. November 12)


2.8
The Guide may display the program listing cells on the screen in the order



programs are specified in the On Demand data, beginning with the top cell



and proceeding to the bottom cell.


2.9
The color of the listing cells on the Saved Programs Listing Screen may be



blue.


3.0
The Guide may highlight the screen item that currently has focus.


4.0
The Guide may provide a mechanism to page up and down to view



additional saved program listing pages.


4.1
Navigation across multiple saved program listing pages may not be



circular, navigation above the top of the list or below the bottom of the list



may be disabled.


5.0
The Guide may control the display of the Saved Programs Listing Screen



elements.


5.1
The Guide may postpone display of the listing cells until the listing data is



available.


5.2
The Guide may display the No Listings Available Screen if the server



returns an indication that no suspended or bookmarked programs are



currently available.


6.0
The Guide may support an optional barker window on the Saved Programs



Listings screen as specified in the On Demand data.


6.1
The Guide may remove the on-screen display of the Saved Programs



Listing Screen between sets of coordinates using a scale of e.g.,



1000x1000 screen pixels when the Saved Programs Listing Screen is



displayed and the On Demand data indicates that the barker is enabled in



particular positions.


6.2
The Guide may not remove the on-screen display to accommodate the



barker window when the Saved Programs Listing screen is displayed and



the On Demand data indicates that the barker window is not enabled or the



barker window is enabled in various positions.
















TABLE 62







Illustrative Saved Programs Listing Screen Input Key Processing Table










No.
Key
Screen Focus
Behavior













1.0
Power
Any
Normal


2.0
Volume Up
Any
Normal


3.0
Volume Down
Any
Normal


4.0
Mute
Any
Normal


5.0
Channel Up
Any
Normal


6.0
Channel Down
Any
Normal


7.0
Bypass
Any
Normal


8.0
Menu
Any
Normal


9.0
Guide
Any
Normal


10.0
Music
Any
Normal


11.0
Themes
Any
Normal


12.0
Search
Any
Normal


13.0
Settings
Any
Normal


14.0
Exit
Any
The Guide may return to Idle Mode and





display Flip Banner.


15.0
Last
Any
Normal if the previous screen was not an





On Demand video.


15.1
Last
Any
The Guide may display the top-level





categories of the On Demand Main Menu





and place the focus on the top-left category





bar if the previous screen was an On





Demand video.


16.0
Right Arrow
Any
Inactive


17.0
Left Arrow
Any
Inactive


18.0
Up Arrow
Top Listing
The Guide may display the previous page




Cell, any but
of listings with lowest selectable listing cell




First Page
highlighted.


18.1
Up Arrow
Top Listing
Inactive




Cell, First or





Only Page



18.2
Up Arrow
Other
Normal


19.0
Down Arrow
Bottom listing
The Guide may display the next page of




cell, any but
listings with top listing highlighted.




last page



19.1
Down Arrow
Bottom listing
Inactive




cell, last page



19.2
Down Arrow
Other
Normal


20.0
OK
Listing Cell
The Guide may display the On Demand





Program Information - Not Suspended





Screen for the program if the listing cell





represents a bookmarked program.


20.1
OK
Listing Cell
The Guide may display the On Demand





Program Information - Suspended Screen





for the program if the listing cell represents





a suspended program.


21.0
Digits 0-9
Any
Normal


22.0
Scroll Up
Any
Normal


23.0
Scroll Down
Any
Normal


24.0
Day Forward
Any
Inactive


25.0
Day Back
Any
Inactive


26.0
Help
Any
Inactive


27.0
Info
Listing Cell
The Guide may display the On Demand





Program Information - Not Suspended





Screen for the program if the listing cell





represents a bookmarked program.


27.1
Info
Listing Cell
The Guide may display the On Demand





Program Information - Suspended Screen





for the program if the listing cell represents





a suspended program.


28.0
Favorite
Any
Inactive


29.0
Lock
Program
Normal




Listing



30.0
Record
Any
Inactive


31.0
Stop
Any
Inactive


32.0
Pause
Any
Inactive


33.0
Play
Any
Inactive


34.0
Rewind
Any
Inactive


35.0
Fast Forward
Any
Inactive


36.0
PPV
Any
Normal


37.0
Letters A-Z
Any
Inactive


38.0
VOD
Any
Inactive


39.0
Return to Live
Any
Normal



TV




40.0
Skip Forward
Any
Inactive


41.0
Replay
Any
Inactive


42.0
A
Any
Inactive


43.0
B
Any
Inactive


44.0
C
Any
Inactive


45.0
Digital
Any
Normal



Recordings




46.0
Swap
Any
Inactive
















TABLE 63







Illustrative Saved Programs Listings


Screen Other Even Handling Table









No.
Event
Conditions/Comments





1.0
Screen Timeout
This screen may time out in 2




minutes to the underlying screen.


2.0
Reminder
Normal


3.0
Scheduled Recording Fires
Normal


4.0
Ordered PPV Start
Normal


5.0
PPV Purchase Window
Inactive



Expires



6.0
Current Program Ends
Inactive with Barker window,




Normal without Barker window


7.0
Data added, deleted or
Not Applicable



modified in database
















TABLE 64







Illustrative Saved Programs Listings Screen/Mode Entry Table









No.
Functionality
Description





1.0
Guide Initialization
The Saved Programs Listing Screen may be




immediately available after startup.


2.0
Highlight
The default highlight may be the first listing




on the page.


2.1
Highlight
The highlight position may not be




remembered when this screen is exited


3.0
Display Inclusion Criteria
Refer to the system and general description




above.


4.0
Sorting/Grouping Criteria
The items on the screen may be displayed in




the order received from VOD server 26.


5.0
Customization
Refer to Table 61.
















TABLE 65







Illustrative Saved Programs Listings Screen Formatting









No.
Functionality
Description





1.0
Program Title
The label of each listing on the Saved




Programs Listing Screen may be the short title




of the video as returned by the VOD Server 26




unless the video is rated Adult and the Hide




Adult Titles option is enabled in the Parental




Control Setup.


1.1
Program Title
The label of a listing cell on the Saved




Programs Listing Screen may be “Adult




Programming” in the user-selected language if




the rating of the video is Adult and the user




has enabled the Hide Adult Titles option in the




Parental Control Setup.


2.0
Time
Normal


3.0
Channel
Not Applicable


4.0
Other Text
Not Applicable


5.0
Colors
The color of the listing cells may be blue.


6.0
Indicators
Program Indicators may be displayed as




applicable, right justified within the instant




information area in the following order of




priority (displayed left to right):




Lock/Un-Lock




Closed Caption




HDTV




Dolby Digital Audio




Wide Screen




TV Rating/Movie Rating




Purchase or Checkmark Indicator




Bookmarked




In a Playlist




If the full title and all active indicators do not




fit within the Instant Information area, then




one or more of the lowest priority indicators




may be omitted as necessary.


6.1
Indicators
The icon associated with the menu option used




to access the Saved Programs Listing screen




may be displayed to the left of the screen title




in the saved program listing area header.


6.2
Indicators
An up or down arrow icon may be displayed




to indicate the availability of additional pages




of listings.


7.0
Branding
The On Demand brand provided by the system




may be displayed left-justified within the




screen header area.


8.0
Audio
If a video barker is provided, the audio may




correspond to that barker.


8.1
Audio
If no video barker window is displayed, the




audio may be normal.


9.0
LEDs
The Guide may display the last user channel




or current time on the LED according to the




description provided in the Appendix for




time/channel display on the LED.









When the viewer elects to delete a video from the Saved Programs Listing Screen, the Guide may display a confirmation overlay explaining the operation that they are about to perform and requesting confirmation before proceeding. FIG. 25 shows an illustrative Delete Video Confirmation Overlay. Table 66 describes illustrative behaviors of the IPG and/or VOD server 26 in connection with providing such an overlay.


For the purposes of the Delete Confirmation Overlay the “Delete Rental” option is also referred to as the “YES” option and the “Don't Delete Rental” option is also referred to as the “NO” option.









TABLE 66







Illustrative Delete a Video Confirmation Overlay








No.
Description





1.0
The Guide may display the Delete a Video Confirmation Overlay when the



user selects the Delete option from a Rented Video Information screen.


1.1
The Guide may display the title, “DELETE CONFIRMATION” in yellow



text on the Delete a Video Confirmation Overlay in the language specified



by the viewer in the guide setup.


1.2
The Guide may display the instruction text, “Deleting this video will



remove it from your saved video list. You will have to order the video



again if you wish to watch it, which may result in additional charges



Proceed with deletion?” In white text on the Delete a Video Confirmation



Overlay in the language specified by the viewer in the guide setup.


1.3
The Delete Rental (Yes) button may be displayed on the Delete a Video



Confirmation Overlay by the Guide with the label “Delete Rental” in the



language specified by the viewer through the guide setup.


1.4
The Don't Delete Rental (No) button may be displayed on the Delete a



Video Confirmation Overlay by the Guide with the label “Don't Delete



Rental” in the language specified by the viewer through the guide setup.


2.0
The default highlight may be the Don't Delete Rental (No) option.


3.0
If the user selects the Yes button, the Guide may send a request to the VOD



Server 26 to delete the video, remove the Delete a Video Confirmation



Overlay, query the VOD Server 26 for the current saved programs, and



display the Saved Programs Listing Screen with the current saved programs



returned by the server and the top listing bar highlighted.


4.0
If the user selects the No button, the Guide may remove the Delete a Video



Confirmation Overlay and highlight the Delete button.


5.0
Except as specified in this section, this confirmation screen may follow the



description provided in the Common Confirmation Overlay section of the



Appendix.


6.0
If the user pressed the Info key while this overlay is displayed, the Guide



may remove the Delete a Video Confirmation Overlay and highlight the



Delete button.










Section IV. Illustrative Playlist Transport Bar


A playlist transport bar according to the invention provides an overlay which graphically represents assets of a playlist in a manner that enables a user to easily ascertain a playback position within the playlist and within a particular asset.


A playlist transport bar may be displayed in response to any number of different user inputs. For example, a user input device may have a playlist transport bar button which causes the playlist transport bar to be displayed when pressed. The transport bar may be removed when the button is pressed again. The playlist transport bar may be displayed when the user issues a stop, pause, fast-forward, rewind, play, resume, or any other command that affects playback of an asset. For example, the playlist transport bar may be displayed for a predetermined period of time in response to a pause or stop command. After the predetermined period of time expires, the interactive media application may substitute other content in place of the pause or stopped media to prevent screen burn-in. As another example, the playlist transport bar may be displayed while the user is issuing a fast-forward or rewind command. When the user resumes playback of assets in the playlist, the playlist transport toolbar may be displayed for a predetermined period of time before it is removed from the screen. In yet another example, the playlist transport bar may be displayed when the user is navigating among various elements of the transport bar (discussed below in more detail in connection with FIGS. 32-36).



FIGS. 26 and 27 show illustrative transport bars for playing back assets of a playlist. FIG. 26 shows an illustrative transport bar 2602 that the interactive television application (e.g., IPG) may display on screen 2600 when the user begins playing back a program from a playlist (such as by, for example, selecting the resume or restart icons of FIGS. 6-9).



FIG. 27 shows an illustrative playlist transport bar that may be displayed when a user pauses playback in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, users may stop playback, which may result in having an illustrative playlist transport bar be displayed. In other embodiments, the interactive television application may stop playback automatically after the playlist has been paused for a period of time. Users may resume playback of a paused or stopped program by, for example, selecting the resume icon of FIGS. 6-9 or by pressing a play button on a remote device.


Playlist transport bar 2602 may display information such as the title of the currently playing program (shown here as Lost, Episode 2), the name of the playlist (shown here as Jane's Playlist), and the total amount of time of programming in the entire playlist (shown here as 4:54). Playlist transport bar 2602 may include position indication region 2610 and asset regions 2622, 2624, and 2626.


Position indication region 2610 may provide a visual indicator of the playback position and may include position needle 2612 and information region 2614. Position needle 2612 may be a graphical object (e.g., a vertical bar) overlaying a portion of one of the asset regions. As shown in FIG. 26, position needle 2612 is at the beginning of asset region 2622, and in this particular embodiment, is also shown at the beginning of the playlist. As a particular asset is played back, position indication region 2610 may advance, from left-to-right, through the asset region corresponding to that asset, and as multiple assets are played back from the playlist, position indication region 2610 may advance through one asset region and then advance through the next.


Information region 2614 may display time information indicating, for example, how much time has elapsed in a currently playing asset, how much playback time is remaining in the currently playing asset, how much time has elapsed in playback of the playlist, how much playback time is remaining in the playlist, or any combination thereof. Note that the elapsed time is meant to represent the time it takes for normal speed, uninterrupted, playback of assets in the playlist. Thus, if a user fast-forwards through or skips an asset, the time displayed in information region 2614 is indicative of the time it would have taken to reach the new playback position at a normal uninterrupted speed. However, it will be appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment to the foregoing, the actual time spent accessing (e.g., viewing) assets in the playlist may be displayed. Information region 2614 also includes the playback action indicator, shown here as a play indicator. The playback action indicator may change to a pause indicator while the playback of the playlist is paused, to a reverse play indicator while the playlist is being played in the reverse direction, to a fast-forward indicator while the playlist is being fast-forwarded, and to a rewind indicator while the playlist is being rewound. If desired, different indicators may be used for different speeds of play, reverse play, rewind, and fast-forward.


As playback of an asset progresses, both position needle 2612 and information region 2614 may move concomitantly. This is illustrated in FIG. 27 in which both position needle 2712 and information region 2714 are shown connected together even though two hours and fifty-six minutes of programming has played back. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments the information region may remain in a fixed location (e.g., the far left-hand side of the transport bar), while the position needle advances in connection with playback of the programming in the playlist. In other embodiments, the position needle and information region may remain stationary, while the asset regions move to the left as playback progresses.


Referring now back to FIG. 26, each of asset regions 2622, 2624, and 2626 may correspond to an asset (e.g., program) in a playlist (e.g., Jane's Playlist). For example, asset region 2622 may correspond to a first asset (e.g., Lost, Episode 2, which is shown being played back on screen 2600) in the playlist. Asset region 2624 may correspond to the next asset (e.g., Men In Black) in the playlist to be played back, and asset region 2626 may correspond to the asset following the asset corresponding to asset region 2624.


A number of different approaches may be taken with respect to the display of the asset regions. The asset regions may be displayed in a rectangular fashion, where the regions are attached end-to-end, and where the regions are clearly delineated to clearly indicate where one asset region ends and another begins. Moreover, the regions may exhibit certain attributes (e.g., colors or highlighting) to further distinguish one region from another. For example, the region currently being played back may be colored different than the other regions. As another example, the regions may be colored to represent the theme or genre of the asset. It is understood that many various ways of presenting the regions may be implemented and that such presentation techniques are largely a matter of design choice. Therefore, various display techniques (e.g., asset region shapes, coloring, and highlighting, etc.) not specifically mentioned herein may be applied to the playlist transport bar.



FIG. 26 is merely an illustrative of such a display screen including a playlist transport control bar. Other suitable arrangements may be used. For example, information such as asset title, channel, any other suitable programming-related information, advertisements, logos, or any combination thereof may be displayed within or in association with the playlist transport bar.


Any number of different approaches may be practiced in determining the number of asset regions displayed in the playlist transport bar at a given time and the space occupied by each displayed asset region. FIG. 28 shows an illustrative playlist transport bar 2802 that displays an asset region for each asset in the playlist. This approach ensures that playlist transport bar 2802 includes regions representative of the entire playlist. Thus, when a user views playlist transport bar 2802, the user can quickly determine how far along he is in the playback of the playlist.


If the playlist includes, for example, five assets, the playlist transport bar displays five asset regions corresponding to those five assets. The interactive media guidance application may allocate an appropriate size for each asset region, while optionally taking into account factors such as the run-length of each asset, in order to simultaneously display regions for each asset in the playlist. As shown, playlist transport bar 2802 includes five regions, regions 2821, 2822, 2823, 2824, and 2825, each of which are apportioned space based on their relative lengths. For example, asset regions 2822, 2823, and 2825 may represent half-hour shows, asset region 2821 may represent an hour show, and region 2824 may represent a two-hour show.



FIG. 29 shows an illustrative playlist transport bar 2902 in which the number of regions displayed are limited in number so as to not saturate transport bar 2902 with regions corresponding to all the potential assets of a playlist, thereby potentially making it difficult for users to quickly and easily differentiate different regions. In this approach a relatively small number of regions (e.g., 2-6) may be displayed in the playlist transport bar. This way, if the playlist includes a large number of assets, playlist transport bar 2902 may display just a few regions such as, for example, the regions centered around the region currently being played back.


Moreover, by limiting the number of regions displayed in playlist transport bar 2902 at any given time, this allows the interactive media guidance application to allocate an appropriate predetermined minimum amount of space to each displayed region. In FIG. 29, playlist transport bar 2902 corresponds to a playlist having nine hours and forty-five minutes of programming, but is only able to display, for example, four hours of programming at any given time. For example, regions 2921 and 2923 may represent hour long programs and region 2922 may represent a two hour long program. As can be seen, the spacing allotted to each region accurately reflects the length of a particular asset with respect to the other shown assets. That is, region 2922 (a two hour asset) occupies approximately twice the space as region 2921 (an hour long asset).


The interactive media guidance application may position the currently played back region 2922 in the center of playlist transport bar and place other regions or portions thereof on either side of the currently played region. In FIG. 29, position indication region 2910 is positioned at region 2922, indicating that the asset corresponding to region 2922 is being played back. Because region 2922 is the current region, region 2921 may be placed before it, and region 2923 may be placed after it. When position indication region 2910 advances to region 2923, the interactive media guidance application may position region 2923 in the center of playlist transport bar 2902, resulting in playlist transport bar 2904 of FIG. 30. FIG. 30 shows region 2923 positioned near the center, with a portion of region 2922 located left of region 2923 and regions 2924 and 2925 located right of region 2923. As shown with region 2922, a region at the start or end of the display may be truncated, showing only a portion of its allocated length. In some embodiments, a truncated asset region may be displayed differently than a whole asset region, for example with a ragged edge or an arrowhead-shaped end.


As an alternative to the embodiment discussed in connection with FIGS. 29 and 30, the playlist transport bar may only be able to display up to a predetermined number of hours of programming. Thus, if the number of hours of programming in the playlist exceeds the number of hours that can be displayed at any given time, the playlist transport bar may display only regions or portions thereof totaling the number of hours that can be displayed at any give time. In embodiments in which the entire playlist length is not shown on screen, an indicator may be shown at the start and/or end of the playlist transport bar to inform the user that additional assets are available. For example, an arrow or an ellipsis may be used to indicate additional assets prior to or subsequent to the displayed asset regions.



FIG. 31 shows a playlist transport bar 3102 that may be displayed when the interactive media guidance application executes a command that affects playback of an asset in the playlist such as fast-forward, rewind, skip asset, replay asset, or any other function which may or may not be directly supported by a remote device (e.g., remote control). For example, when a user initiates a fast-forward command through an asset, playlist transport toolbar 3102 may be displayed for at least the duration of the fast-forward. While fast-forwarding, position indication region 3110 may be shown rapidly progressing from left-to-right and the time displayed in information region 3114 may be shown elapsing at a fast-forwarded pace. In addition, information region 3114 may display a conventional fast-forward symbol to signify to the user that a fast forward command is being implemented. It will be appreciated that information region 3114 may indicate a current action status (e.g., play, rewind, fast-forward, pause, or any other suitable mode) in the form of an icon, as illustrated in FIG. 31, text, or any other suitable form.



FIGS. 32, 33, 34A-B, 35A-B, and 36 show several illustrative playlist transport bars in which a user may navigate a highlight region within the playlist transport bar, and, if desired, cause a particular action to occur in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Referring now to FIG. 32, the user may navigate a highlight region 3218 (currently highlighting asset region 3221) to various elements of transport bar 3202. For example, a user may navigate highlight region 3218 to any one of asset regions 3221, 3222, 3223, or, in some embodiments (such as an embodiment in which a limited number of regions can be displayed), to regions not currently displayed. The user may navigate highlight region 3218 to position indication region 3210 or playlist name 3230. The interactive media guidance application may execute a predetermined function in response to a user navigating an element in the playlist transport bar or user selection of a highlighted element. For example, the interactive media guidance application may display an information overlay 3240 containing information related to the asset corresponding to asset region 3221 when the user highlights asset region 3221. If the user highlights an asset region and selects the asset, for example by pressing a Select key on the remote control, the interactive media guidance application may immediate commence playback of the selected asset.



FIG. 33 shows an illustrative playlist transport bar 3302 in which a highlight region 3318 has been navigated to playlist name 3330. As shown in FIG. 33, after the user navigates a highlight region to or selects playlist name 3330, several names of playlists may be displayed. These playlists may include playlists previously created by a user or playlists provided by a system operator. Displaying the available playlists gives the user the option to load in a different playlist by navigating to and selecting a particular playlists. When a new playlist is selected, the user may be prompted with a confirmation screen, and upon confirmation, the interactive media guidance application may commence playback of the selected playlist and display a playlist transport bar tailored to the selected playlist.



FIGS. 34A-B show before and after screen shots, respectively, illustrating how a user may manually drag and drop a position indication region to any desired location in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 34A shows position needle 3412 highlighted with highlight region 3418. Note that information region 3414 specifies a time of forty-five minutes. When the user selects the highlighted position needle, the interactive television program guide may enter a “drag and place mode” that permits the user to manually move position indication region 3410 to another location (e.g., another region) using, for example, pressing buttons (e.g., left and right cursor buttons) on a remote device. FIG. 34B shows that the user moved position indication region 3410 back five minutes (as indicated by information region 3414) with respect to the location of position indication region 3410 in FIG. 34A.


When the user has placed position indication region 3410 in a desired location, the user may exit the drag and place mode in any number of different ways. For example, the user may deselect position indication region 3410 by pressing a particular button (e.g., an exit button or a play button or a select button) or by navigating away from position indication region 3410. Note that as position indication region 3402 is moved, the time information may change accordingly, and the displayed name of assets in playlist may change as needle position 3412 is positioned at different regions. When the new playback position is selected, the interactive media guidance application may commence playback at the newly selection asset and time.



FIGS. 35A-B show before and after screen shots, respectively, illustrating how a user may use a “skip to next region” function to move the location of position indication region 3510 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The “skip to next region” function may advance position indication region 3510 to the beginning of an adjacent asset region. The skip to next region function may be invoked when position needle 3512 is selected, as shown in FIG. 35A. When the user presses a button (e.g., up/down arrow buttons, next/previous page buttons, or dedicated next/previous buttons) on a remote device, position indication region may skip to the next region.



FIG. 35B illustrates the result of the skip function when the user presses, for example, a right arrow button once. As shown, position indication region skips from region 3521 to the beginning of region 3522. If the user presses the right arrow button again, position indication region may skip to the beginning of region 3523.


If the user presses the left arrow button, position indication region 3510 may either advance to the beginning of the region in which position indication region 3510 is currently overlaying or to the beginning of the region adjacent to the region in which position indication region 3510 is currently overlaying. As an alternative embodiment, position indication region 3510 may advance to the beginning of a previous region only if position indication region 3510 is at the beginning of the region it is currently positioned at.



FIG. 36 shows an illustrative screen shot of playlist transport bar 3602 that may be displayed when a user navigates a highlight region to, for example, information region 3614 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, when information region 3614 is highlighted with highlight region 3618, playlist options menu 3640 may be displayed. Playlist options menu 3640 may provide a user with an opportunity to execute one of many different functions with respect to the asset associated with the region currently indicated by position indication region 3610, or with respect to the current position in that asset. The user may execute one of these functions by navigating highlight region to a desired function and select a pre-determined button on a remote device.


The functions included in playlist options menu 3640 may provide added flexibility in manipulating playback of assets in the playlist, to edit the playlist, or to access information on various assets in the playlist. For example, a user may select delete asset 3641 to delete an asset from the playlist, select skip asset 3642 to skip playback of the asset, select repeat asset 3643 to repeat play of the asset, or select information for this asset 3644 to view additional information on the asset.


In addition, play this asset next 3645 may be selected to have this asset play next, regardless of the order it appears in the playlist. Selection of play this asset 3645 may result in a re-ordering of the playlist. Furthermore, play this asset now 3646 may be selected to cause this asset to begin substantially immediate playback. Note that the functions included in playlist options menu 3640 are largely a matter of design choice and are not limited to the specific examples discussed herein. More detailed information and additional examples of functions that may be included in a playlist options menu may be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/324,191, filed Dec. 29, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Examples of other functions that may be accessed from such a menu include setting a mark at the current location in the current asset that can be jumped to easily at a later time, jumping to a previously selected marked location; selecting a specific asset to begin playing, selecting a specific playback offset in the current asset at which to begin playback, and jumping forward or backwards in the playlist by a user-specified number of seconds or minutes.


Note, playlist options menu 3640 may be displayed or accessed in ways other than that mentioned herein. For example, a remote device may include a button which when pressed may cause playlist options menu 3640 to be displayed, regardless of whether a highlight region has been navigated to information region 3614. In another approach, playlist options menu 3640 may be displayed only after the user selects highlighted information region 3614 using, for example a remote device.



FIG. 37 is a flow chart illustrating the display of a playlist transport bar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Beginning at step 3702, a playlist is provided. This playlist may be one of many playlists available which the interactive media guidance application may use for displaying a playlist transport bar according to the invention. At step 3704, the interactive media guidance application may display a playlist transport bar for the playlist. The playlist transport bar may include asset regions that correspond to assets in the playlist and a position indication region to provide an indication of a playback position within the playlist. When the playlist transport bar is displayed, several different actions may be taken. For example, the position indication region may be moved (e.g., manually by a user) to a new position in the playlist transport bar. Another example action may include navigating a highlight region to access additional information relating to an asset or other features available in connection with the playlist transport bar (e.g., playlist options menu of FIG. 36).


Section V. VOD Information Screen


In some embodiments, the interactive television application (e.g., IPG), may provide users with access to playlist and bookmark features from a VOD program information screen. FIGS. 38 and 39 show illustrative VOD information screens that may be provided in response to, for example, a user selecting a VOD program listing from a VOD program listings display.


In FIG. 38, the selected program is a free VOD program and an illustrative playlist icon is highlighted. In this embodiment, only free VOD programs may be added to playlists. In other embodiments, non-free VOD programs and other types of programs may be added to playlists.


In FIG. 39, the selected program is a non-free VOD program and an illustrative bookmark icon is highlighted. In other embodiments, free VOD programs and other types of programs may be bookmarked.


In response to a user selecting the playlist icon of FIG. 38, the interactive television application may present an overlay allowing a user to select a playlist to which the program will be added, such as the Select A Playlist Overlay of FIG. 11 for example. If no playlists are set, the interactive television application may instead present an overlay that indicates no playlists are set, such as the Illustrative No Playlists Set Overlay of FIG. 3 for example.


In response to a user selecting the bookmark icon of FIG. 39, the interactive television application may present an overlay allowing the user to confirm the marking of the program, such as the Bookmark a Program Confirmation Overlay of FIG. 21.


The above described embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims
  • 1. A method for displaying a playlist of media assets using an interactive media guidance application, the method comprising: receiving a user input to display a first media asset from a playlist including a first media asset, a second media asset, and a third media asset;generating for display, the first media asset at user equipment;generating for display, a transport bar overlaying the first media asset, wherein the transport bar includes a first portion representing the first media asset, a second portion representing the second media asset, and a third portion representing the third media asset based on a determination that a total number of media assets in the playlist is less than a threshold maximum number of portions of the transport bar;monitoring playback progression of the first media asset to display a playback position indicator within the first portion at the transport bar, the playback position indicator providing access to a playlist options menu when selected;generating for display, the second media asset when the first media asset is finished; andin response to generating for display the second media asset when the first media asset is finished, moving the playback position indicator from the first portion to the second portion to indicate playback progression of the second media asset; andin response to receiving a user selection of a delete option in the playlist option menu:removing the second portion from the transport bar.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating for display, at least one of an elapsed playback time of the playlist and an elapsed playback time of one of the first media asset and the second media asset.
  • 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a user request to move the playback position from a first position within the first portion to a second position within the second portion; andin response to the user request:switching from playing back the first media asset to the second media asset; andplaying back the second media asset from the second position that the playback position was moved to.
  • 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a command to select one or more portions to be displayed at the transport bar, wherein the one or more portions correspond to one or more media assets from the playlist; andin response to the command, arranging the selected one or more portions within the transport bar.
  • 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating for display, at least one of:a name of the playlist in a playlist information region in proximity to the transport bar;a name of a media asset being played back corresponding to a location of the playback position in proximity to the transport bar; ora total playtime of all media assets in the playlist in the playlist information region.
  • 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: allowing a user to load a different playlist while accessing the playlist transport bar.
  • 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: allowing a user to modify the playlist while accessing the playlist transport bar.
  • 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating the interactive media guidance application running selected from a group consisting of an interactive television program guide, an online television program guide, and a Website.
  • 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the playlist options menu comprises options for adding and removing media assets in the playlist.
  • 10. A system for displaying a playlist of media assets using an interactive media guidance application, the system comprising: user interface circuitry configured to receive a user input to display a first media asset from a playlist including a first media asset, a second media asset and a third media asset;control circuitry configured to:generate for display, the first media asset at user equipment;generate for display, a transport bar overlaying the first media asset, wherein the transport bar includes a first portion representing the first media asset a second portion representing the second media asset, and a third portion representing the third media asset based on a determination that a total number of media assets in the playlist is less than a threshold maximum number of portions of the transport bar;monitor playback progression of the first media asset to display a playback position indicator within the first portion at the transport bar, the playback position indicator providing access to a playlist options menu when selected;generate for display the second media asset when the first media asset is finished; andin response to generating for display, the second media asset when the first media asset is finished, move playback position indicator from the first portion to the second portion to indicate playback progression of the second media asset; andin response to receiving a user selection of a delete option in the playlist option menu:remove the second portion from the transport bar.
  • 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: generate for display, at least one of an elapsed playback time of the playlist and an elapsed playback time of one of the first media asset and the second media asset.
  • 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the user interface circuitry is further configured to receive a user request to move the playback position from a first position within the first portion to a second position within the second portion, and the control circuitry is further configured to: in response to the user request:switch from playing back the first media asset to the second media asset; andplay back the second media asset from the second position that the playback position was moved to.
  • 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: receive a command to select one or more portions to be displayed at the transport bar, wherein the one or more portions correspond to one or more media assets from the playlist; andin response to the command, arrange the selected one or more portions within the transport bar.
  • 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: generate for display, at least one of:a name of the playlist in a playlist information region in proximity to the transport bar;a name of a media asset being played back corresponding to a location of the playback position in proximity to the transport bar; ora total playtime of all media assets in the playlist in the playlist information region.
  • 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: allow a user to load a different playlist while accessing the playlist transport bar.
  • 16. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: allow a user to modify the playlist while accessing the playlist transport bar.
  • 17. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: initiate the interactive media guidance application running selected from a group consisting of an interactive television program guide, an online television program guide, and a Website.
  • 18. The system of claim 10, wherein the playlist options menu comprises options for adding and removing media assets in the playlist.
Parent Case Info

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/918,478, filed Jun. 14, 2013 (now allowed), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/366,863, filed Mar. 2, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,489,990, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/667,870 and 60/658,270, filed Apr. 1, 2005 and Mar. 2, 2005, respectively, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

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Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20180107307 A1 Apr 2018 US
Provisional Applications (2)
Number Date Country
60667870 Apr 2005 US
60658270 Mar 2005 US
Continuations (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 13918478 Jun 2013 US
Child 15668406 US
Parent 11366863 Mar 2006 US
Child 13918478 US