Patent ID: 8015580
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of presenting a customized virtual channel including non-broadcast video-on demand programming content within a unified discovery interface, the method comprising: receiving first discovery data related to time-based broadcast television programming content comprising a television program available at a given timeslot to be presented for selection by a user via a broadcast channel; receiving second discovery data related to non-broadcast video-on demand programming content available from a content provider to be presented for selection by the user via a virtual channel that is displayed in a unified discovery interface presented on a media content delivery device and that provides a listing of the non-broadcast video-on demand programming content available from the content provider, the second discovery data comprising a discovery interface relationship parameter provided by the content provider to customize the virtual channel for the user based upon changing non-broadcast video-on demand programming content available from the content provider that is related to the television program available at the given timeslot and that has been subscribed to by the user, the non-broadcast video-on demand programming content including one or more other episodes of the television program that are available on-demand from the content provider, the discovery interface relationship parameter associating the non-broadcast video-on demand programming content with the time-based broadcast television programming content presented via the broadcast channel and indicating a relationship of the virtual channel and the broadcast channel within the unified discovery interface; determining a location at which the virtual channel may be presented within the unified discovery interface relative to the broadcast channel based upon the discovery interface relationship parameter; and presenting the unified discovery interface comprising the broadcast channel and the virtual channel through which a user may select between the time-based broadcast television programming content and the non-broadcast video-on demand programming content, wherein the virtual channel is presented at the location determined based upon the discovery interface relationship parameter.