Claims
- 1. A method for suggesting alternative content for a video service in a content distribution system, the method comprising steps of:
detecting when a user stops viewing a program associated with a content provider; determining alternative programs associated with the content provider, whereby other content providers are excluded; and presenting the alternative programs to the user.
- 2. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises a step of determining which of a plurality of users was viewing the program.
- 3. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises steps of:
determining a first list of alternative programs; loading preference information for the user; and culling down the first list to form a second list of alternative programs.
- 4. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein the presenting step further comprises a step of organizing the alternative programs according to preference information of the user.
- 5. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises detection one or more of the following:
a user stopping the program, playback of the program to its end, the user choosing to exit playback of the program, and detecting playback skipping ahead in the program to a point equal to the end of the program.
- 6. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-implementable method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system of claim 1.
- 7. A method for suggesting alternative content for a video service in a content distribution system, the method comprising steps of:
detecting when a user stops viewing a program associated with a content provider; determining a plurality program categories associated with the content provider; and presenting the plurality program categories to the user.
- 8. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 7, further comprising a step of arranging the plurality of program categories according to a profile for the user.
- 9. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 7, further comprising a step of determining, among a plurality of users, that the user is interacting with the video service.
- 10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-implementable method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system of claim 7.
- 11. A method for suggesting alternative content for a video service in a content distribution system, the method comprising steps of:
detecting when a user stops viewing a program associated with a content provider; determining alternative programs associated with the content provider; arranging the alternative programs according to preferences for the user; and presenting the alternative programs to the user.
- 12. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a step of arranging the alternative programs according to a profile for the user.
- 13. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a step of grouping the alternative programs by category.
- 14. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 11, wherein the presenting step includes a step of presenting the alternative programs in a program guide that has a plurality of zones that each have promotional data for an alternative program described in that zone.
- 15. The method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in the content distribution system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a step of determining, among a plurality of users, that the user is interacting with the video service.
- 16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for suggesting alternative content for the video service in a content distribution system of claim 11.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
02106593.4 |
Feb 2002 |
CN |
|
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/285,817 filed on Apr. 23, 2001 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. ______ filed on Mar. 29, 2002 (temporarily referenced by Attorney Docket No. 19281-002300US), which are both incorporated herein by reference. Further, this application claims foreign priority to Chinese Application No. 02106593.4 filed on Feb. 28, 2002. This application is filed on the same day as the following related applications with U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed on Apr. 22, 2002 (temporarily referenced by Attorney Docket No. 19281-001710US) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed on Apr. 22, 2002 (temporarily referenced by Attorney Docket No. 19281-001810US), both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60285817 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
|
60368646 |
Mar 2002 |
US |