Patent ID: 9697231
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: G06F

Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method for providing virtual media channels that define instructions for obtaining media content, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an indication selecting a channel from a plurality of channels; retrieving a set of rules defining a content format for the selected channel; applying at least one first rule from the set of rules to execute at least two keyword searches on an enhanced metadata index, wherein the at least one first rule directs a search engine to conduct a media search according to the at least two keyword searches and, in return, receives at least two sets of enhanced metadata media files; applying at least one second rule from the set of rules to filter and sort the at least two sets of enhanced metadata media files to obtain at least one content segment for playback for each keyword search; receiving metadata that corresponds to the at least one content segment from each keyword search, the metadata including timing information for the boundaries related to the at least one content segment from each keyword search; applying at least one third rule from the set of rules wherein the at least one third rule from the set of rules determines playback boundaries for the at least one content segment from each keyword search; and merging the at least one content segment from each keyword search with media segments defined by at least one fourth rule from the set of rules, wherein the playback boundaries for the at least one content segment from each keyword search are cropped so that the at least one content segment from each keyword search and the media segments defined by the at least one fourth rule fit within a playback duration defined by at least one fifth rule.