User customizable views of multiple information services

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for generating a user configurable interface view for a media device or other information handling system that is independent of any interface views defined by media content providers. Generating the user configurable interface view includes identifying content data streams that are included in user interface views defined by the media content providers and then selecting a desired subset of the data content streams. The selected data content streams are then aggregated and the user configurable interface view is generated. The resulting user interface view will be independent of any interface views defined by the media content providers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to media devices including portable media devices. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for interfacing media devices with media content providers.

2. The Relevant Technology

One of the advantages afforded by technological improvements is the ability to distribute digital media. However, the ability of information handling systems to present digital media information has not kept pace with the ways in which digital media information can be distributed, the wide variety of digital media, or with the growing diversity among media devices.

For example, digital media information (e.g., music, video, Internet data, sports data, news data, weather data, etc.) can be distributed to media devices via various networks including the Internet as well as wireless communication, such as satellite radio, WiFi, cellular networks, and the like. Given the diversity of media devices and media content, many different types of devices have been developed to enjoy the growing availability of digital media information. Examples of media devices may include MP3 players, portable CD players, portable DVD players, notebook computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like. Digital media information can also be enjoyed on non-portable devices as well such as on desk top computers.

Oftentimes, a user desires to access specific content for the media devices. Typically a user accesses a media content provider and then navigates through various interfaces defined by the media content provider to select the desired content. As will be appreciated, this may be time consuming when the user desires to access a large number of different content. Further, the user's view of the content is controlled by the content provider. While this may be desirable from the content provider's perspective, the user typically would like to have an alternative view of the content that is based on his or her preferences and desired categorization.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An embodiment disclosed herein relates to a method for a media device to generate a view of a user configurable interface configured to show certain content or services. Embodiments of the invention can are scalable and can be practiced in systems where multiple media devices receive content and/or services from multiple media content providers. The method comprises identifying one or more content data streams included in one or more interface views defined by one or more media content providers of the one or more content data streams, selecting at least a portion of the identified content data streams that are to be included in a user configurable interface view, aggregating the selected portion of the content data streams from the one or more interface views, and generating the user configurable interface view, wherein the user configurable interface view lists at least a link or pointer to the aggregated content data streams independent of the interface views defined by the one or more media content providers.

Another embodiment disclosed herein relates to a method for generating a view of a user configurable interface configured to show user selected content or services. This method may be practiced in a system including one or more media devices that receive content or services from one or more media content providers. The method comprises identifying one or more content data streams included in one or more interface views defined by one or more media content providers of the one or more content data streams in response to receiving a request from a media device, selecting at least a portion of the identified content data streams that are to be included in a user configurable interface view, aggregating the selected portion of the content data streams from the one or more interface views, generating the user configurable interface view, wherein the user configurable interface view lists at least a link or pointer to the aggregated content data streams independent of the interface views defined by the one or more media content providers, and providing the generated configurable interface view to the media device.

A further embodiment disclosed herein relates to a media device configured to generate a user configurable interface view. The device comprises a memory, a processing unit, a user interface, a selection module configured to select one or more content data streams included in one or more interface views defined by one or more media content providers of the one or more content data streams, and an aggregation module configured to aggregate the selected content data streams from the one or more interface views and generate the user configurable interface view, wherein the user configurable interface view lists at least a link or pointer to the aggregated content data streams independent of the interface views defined by the one or more media content providers

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teaching herein. The features and advantages of the teaching herein may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for generating a user configurable interface view for a media device or other information handling system that may be independent of any interface views defined by media content providers. Generating the user configurable interface view includes identifying content data streams that are included in user interface views defined by the media content providers and then selecting a desired subset of the data content streams. The selected data content streams are then aggregated and the user configurable interface view is generated. The resulting user interface view will be independent of any interface views defined by the media content providers.

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of a media device100that can receive content including digital media from one or more content providers or other sources. Examples of the media device100may include, by way of example, a satellite radio media device, a portable audio player such as an MP3 player or the like, a portable DVD or CD player, a personal computer, a server computer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and the like or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the invention may be practiced in portable media devices, but one of skill in the art can appreciate that embodiments of the invention can be used with other media devices able to receive and render media content.

Typically, the media device100includes a display102that can visually convey information to the user of the device. For example, when the media device100renders digital audio data, the display102may indicate the song title, the artist, the album title, the track number, the length of the track, and the like or any combination thereof. The media device100also includes a user interface104(such as control buttons, touch screen, capacitive input, etc.) or other means of providing input to the media device100. The user interface104, by way of example, enables a user to navigate and activate the digital media and other content that is stored on the memory108of the media device100or to navigate and perform any digital media or content that is received from an external source. The user interface104may enable a user to switch to another channel, such as in satellite radio, or otherwise select media content. The user interface104also allows a user to navigate menus or other information presented on the display102.

The media device100may further include a processor106. The processor106by way of example, enables media device100to execute various programs as circumstances warrant. In addition, the processor106may be utilized by one or more of the other modules or elements of media device100for processing operations.

The memory108of the media device, which may include volatile and non-volatile memory or any combination thereof, can be used to store content or other user and/or device data. The memory108, for example, may store digital music and/or video, graphics, play lists, user preferences, device settings, and the like or any combination thereof.

The content110represents different types of media including digital media that may be received by the media device100. Examples of the content110include, but are not limited to, digital music, talk audio data, television data, movie data, podcasts, sports data, weather data, news data, Internet data, and the like or any combination thereof. The content110may be associated with different rights or may have different quality levels. Some of the content110may be owned by a user, rented, recorded live, streamed, and the like. In addition, the content110can be either digital or analog in nature. In some embodiments, the content110is stored in memory108prior to be accessed by a user of the media device100. In other embodiments, the content110is received dynamically by the media device100at the time the user of the media device desires to access the content.

FIG. 2illustrates one example of an environment for implementing embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 2includes a system200for enabling multiple media devices100a,100band100c(collectively media devices100) to receive one or more services from the media content providers204a,204band204c. The system200also includes a service center212, which may be executing on server computer(s), for interfacing between the media devices100and the media content providers204. The service center212may communicate with the media devices100directly, or through a network210, as illustrated inFIG. 2. Likewise, the service212may communicate with the media content providers204directly, or through the network210, as further illustrated inFIG. 2.

The media devices100a,100b, and100cmay include, for example, any of the media devices described in reference toFIG. 1. The media content providers204are representative of media sources providing digital media that may be received by the media devices100. The media content providers204may be sources through which a user may obtain music or audio data, Internet data, video data, podcasts, text data, and the like or any combination thereof. Exemplary media content providers204may include, by way of example, satellite sources including digital radio and video, terrestrial sources, internet service providers, music downloads services, peer to peer networks, and the like or any combination thereof. The media content providers204may include free services, that is services that may be accessed free of charge. Alternatively, the media content providers204may include pay services that may only be accessed by clients who are billed a predetermined amount, for example, a monthly charge, or a charge that is based on volume of usage or based on user selections. Furthermore, the media content providers204may either provide open access to the public, or may require user authentication. As will be appreciated, for those media content providers that require user authentication, no content or services will be provided to a media device that does not provide the proper authentication.

The network210is representative of any network that is compatible with the media devices100or the media content providers204and may include, by way of example, satellite networks, 802.11 networks, personal computer networks (e.g., LAN, WAN), wireless networks (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi), cellular networks, telephony networks (e.g., landline or PSTN), data networks, the Internet, and the like or any combination thereof.

The service center212receives data streams208from the media devices100, and likewise receives data streams216from the media content providers204. Exemplary data streams208and216include, by way of example, wired and wireless computer networks (LAN, WAN, Internet, WiFi, WiMax, EVDO, Edge Networks, GPRS, and the like), satellite signals, terrestrial signals, and the like or any other reasonable data stream.

Although illustrated as a single entity, the service center212can be implemented in a distributed computing environment where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless links) through a communications network. Additionally, the service center may store information about the media devices100so that the devices may receive one or more services or content from the media content providers.

As previously mentioned, the media devices100include a user interface104that is configured to allow a user to view the received content110and to navigate through the content. For example, referring toFIGS. 3A-3G(also referred to asFIG. 3), several views of an interface are shown by way of example only. It will be appreciated that the interfaces ofFIG. 3may include more or less elements than are illustrated and still be within the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 3Aillustrates a first interface300. The first interface shows a listing of various types of content that may be accessed by a media device100. The content can be stored on the device, or may be accessed over a network. Further, embodiments of the invention generate views that combine the types of content that may be accessed from a particular interface. For instance, the listing illustrated inFIG. 3Aincludes radio301, video302, and podcasts303as types of content a user may desire to view. The listing also includes ellipses304that represent there may be numerous other types of content that are also listed.

In operation, a user may navigate through the listing of interface300to select the type of content he or she desires to access. For instance, if the user desires to access radio content, such as music and talk content, the user would select radio301. The user interface would then show the interface illustrated inFIG. 3B.FIG. 3Bshows an interface310that includes a listing of various radio services311,312, and313that may be accessed. The listing of interface310also includes ellipses314that represent there may be numerous other radio services available to the user. In some embodiments, the services311,312, and313may be provided by different content providers. Embodiments of the invention thus allow the generation and presentation of user interfaces that include data streams or content from multiple content providers at the same time in the same interface.

The user may then navigate through the listing of interface310to select a desired radio service. If the user selected service311(also illustrated as service1), the user interface may show the interface320illustrated inFIG. 3C.FIG. 3Cshows an interface320that includes a listing of various channels or data streams321,322,323that are provided by service311. For instance, channel321(also illustrated as channel11) may provide a type of music content such as songs from the 1980s. Channel322(also illustrated as channel12) may provide sports talk content. Channel323(also illustrated as channel13) may provide music content such as contemporary songs. The listing of interface320also includes ellipses324that represent there may be numerous other channels available from service311.

Unlike the interfaces ofFIGS. 3A and 3B, however, the interface320ofFIG. 3Cmay be associated with a service provider. In other words, the provider of service311specifies the rules and the like that govern how the channels321-324are shown and how the user navigates to each channel to select a desired channel.

For example, in one embodiment, the interface320may correspond to a web-based interface or the like that a user would access when communicating directly with a provider of service311, such as media content provider204a. The media device100provides a view of this interface to the user of media device100. In some embodiments, this interface is received as part of content110and stored in memory108until accessed by the user. In other embodiments, the interface may be dynamically received from the media content provider204aat the time the user selects service311with the device interface104.

In operation, once the interface320is viewable by the user of media device100, the user may navigate to a desired channel of service311using the rules specified by the interface. For instance, if the user desired to listen to music from the1980s, then the user would select channel321. Once selected, the channel321would provide the music to the listener. As with the interface320, in some embodiments, the various channels321-324may be received as content110from media content provider204aand stored in memory108and may then be accessed when the user selects a particular channel. In other embodiments, the selected channels321-324may be dynamically accessed at the time of selection.

FIGS. 3Dshows an interface330that is accessed when the user selects service312(also illustrated as service2), in interface310. It will be appreciated that the service312will typically be provided by a media content provider204that is different from the media content provider that provides service311. The interface330includes a listing of various channels or data streams331(also illustrated as channel21),332(also illustrated as channel22),333(also illustrated as channel23) that are provided by service312. The channels331,332, and333may provide, by way of example only, music or talk content unique to the given channel. The listing of interface330also includes ellipses334that represent there may be numerous other channels available from service312.

As with interface320, interface330is typically defined by the service provider, and may correspond to a web-based interface or the like that a user would access when communicating directly with a provider of service312, such as media content provider204b. In operation, the user may navigate to a desired channel of service312using the rules specified by the interface. As discussed previously, the selected channel provides its content, which may either be stored in memory108or may be dynamically provided by media content provider204b.

FIGS. 3Eshows an interface340that is accessed when the user selects service313(also illustrated as service3), in interface310. It will be appreciated that the service313will typically be provided by a media content provider204that is different from the media content provider that provides services311or312. The interface340includes a listing of various channels or data streams341(also illustrated as channel31),342(also illustrated as channel32),343(also illustrated as channel33) that are provided by service313. The channels341,342, and343may provide music or talk content unique to the given channel. The listing of interface340also includes ellipses344that represent there may be numerous other channels available from service312.

As with interfaces320and330, interface340is typically defined by the service provider, and may correspond to a web-based interface or the like that a user would access when communicating directly with a provider of service313, such as media content provider204c. In operation, the user may navigate to a desired channel of service313using the rules specified by the interface. As discussed previously, the selected channel provides its content, which may either be stored in memory108or may be dynamically provided by media content provider204c.

Referring again toFIG. 3A, if the user selected video302or podcast303, then interfaces350shown inFIG. 3F and 360shown inFIG. 3Gmay be viewed respectively. These interfaces include various channels or data streams351-354and361-364respectively. As with interfaces320,330, and340, interfaces350and360may be defined by the media content provider204that provides the services. A user would navigate these interfaces according to the rules specified by the media content provider204to access the desired video content or podcast as discussed in relation to interfaces320,330, and340.

As described, the various interfaces ofFIG. 3allow a user to access multiple desired content or services from multiple media content providers204. However, as described, the user is typically required to access a separate interface for each desired type of content. Conventionally, if a user desires to access radio channel321, radio channel331, video channel351and podcast361, he or she must separately navigate to interface320,330,350, and360respectively in order to access these channels. Further, the user is limited to the rules specified by the interface provider when accessing the desired content. As will be appreciated, this can be time consuming and may lower the user's listening and/or viewing pleasure.

Advantageously, the embodiments disclosed herein allow for a user defined view or a view that may be generated by the service center212of an interface that is configured to list desired data streams from multiple media content providers204. In addition, the user defined interface is not dependent on the interfaces defined by the media content providers, but rather functions according to its own set of rules.

FIGS. 3A-3Ghave illustrated an example where the content has been arranged categorically. In some embodiments, the content can be organized in other manners, including by user selection, preference based, content based, and the like or any combination thereof. Advantageously, at least some of the interfaces illustrated inFIG. 3are not specific to any given content provider, but provide the user with access to content from multiple content providers. Embodiments of the invention allow a user to navigate to select specific content without having to navigate the menus of the various content providers individually.

Referring again toFIG. 1, the media device100includes a selection module112. Selection module112may be comprised of software, hardware, or any combination of software and hardware. In some embodiments, selection module112may be part of user interface104. In operation, a user, typically via user interface104, may select the desired media content that he or she desires to include in a user customizable interface in the manner previously described. Alternatively, the user customizable interface can be configured by the service center and adapt as the user experiences content. In other words, the service center may dynamically adjust the user interfaces to account for user preferences and/or user actions.

For example, the user may access interface320and select channel321and may access interface330and select channel333. The user may further access interface340and select channel342, access interface350and select video channel351, and access interface360and access podcast362. The selection module112then tags or otherwise marks the data streams that have been selected and records this information. These data streams can then be presented in the user interface.

FIG. 1also illustrates that media device100includes an aggregation module114. Aggregation module114may be comprised of software, hardware, or any combination of software and hardware. In operation, aggregation module114may then access or receive from selection module112the information specifying the data streams that have been selected by the user.

The aggregation module114then aggregates all of the selected or tagged data streams and generates a composite view or interface that shows all of the selected data streams from the various services. A user then need only select the data stream that is viewable in the newly generated interface to access the desired content. Advantageously, the generated interface lists a pointer to the exact data stream selected by the user and allows the user to select this data stream without the need for any further navigation as will be explained in more detail to follow.

In some embodiments, the aggregation module114includes one or more user configurable rules116. The rules116allow the user to configure the composite view or interface in a way that is desirable to the user. For example, the user configurable rules116may allow the user to specify the look and feel of the generated interface. The rules may also allow the user to specify how the listed content items are to be selected and the like. Advantageously, the rules116ensure that the generated interface is not subject to the rules defined by the media content provider as discussed previously. Rather, the configurable rules allow the user to define the view.

Turning now toFIGS. 4A and 4B(also referred to asFIG. 4), views of the interface generated by aggregation module are illustrated. Referring first toFIG. 4A, an interface400is illustrated. The interface400is similar to interface300ofFIG. 3Aand shows a listing of the various types of content that may be accessed by a media device100. For instance, the listing includes radio401, video402, and podcasts403as types of content a user may desire to view. These may be selected as previously described. However, interface400also includes favorites404that have been generated by aggregation module114. The listing also includes ellipses405that represent there may be numerous other types of content that are also listed.

If the user selects the favorites404, then an interface410as illustrated inFIG. 4Bwill be viewable by the user. The interface410represents the interface generated by the aggregation module114. As mentioned above, the interface410includes a listing of several data streams from multiple media content providers. In addition, the interface410is able to list different types of content.

As illustrated, interface410includes a listing that shows channel321of service311, channel333of service312, channel342of service313, video channel351, and podcast362. Thus, the interface410aggregates multiple content types from multiple media content providers204into one user configured interface. As mentioned, the interface410is not subject to the rules or navigation defined or established by any media content providers.

In operation, a user who desires to listen to the music or talk content provided by channel321need only select this channel to access the content. Once selected, the content of the channel will be provided to the listener. In some embodiments, the content may be previously stored in memory108and may be accessed from the memory. In other embodiments, the content of channel321will by dynamically accessed at the time of selection. A user need only select the other entries of interface410to access those data streams. Advantageously, the user is not required to do any additional navigation before selecting the desired data stream. Further, the interface410may only list the actual desired data streams of the available data streams.

Accordingly, the user defined interface410is distinct from traditional favorites listings such as web browser favorites for several reasons. For example, a traditional favorites listing typically only lists one type of content, such as a URL in the case of a web browser. The listed URLs would take the user to the designated website, but the user is still typically required to navigate through the webpage to find a desired data stream. As mentioned, interface410may list the desired data stream and allows the user to access this without further navigation.

In addition, typical aggregators are only configured to aggregate one type of content. For example, typical aggregators may aggregate similar types of content, but do not aggregate different types of content. However, aggregation module114and interface410are configured to aggregate different types of content into one view. For example, as illustrated, interface410lists three radio channels which provide music and/or talk audio content, a video channel that provides video content, and a podcast channel that provides podcast content. Thus, interface410is not limited to any particular type of content, but is able to show numerous different types of content in the user configurable view.

In some instances, the device may interact or rely on the service center212. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the service center212may act as an intermediary between the content providers204and the media devices100. As such, the service center212can provide the media devices100with the information needed to configure a particular user interface. In addition, the service center212may also be able to generate user interfaces dynamically, based on demographics, preferences, and/or the device of a particular user. Further, the interface presented on a particular device is often different from the interfaces presented on other devices.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a more detailed depiction is provided of the service center212. The service center212may include one or more transceivers502for transferring data between itself and the media devices and also between itself and the media content providers. The transceivers502may include both wired and wireless transceivers for communicating with any of the network210, media devices100and media content providers204. The service center212may further include one or more memory modules506, which may be volatile or non-volatile memory, for storing data received from the media devices100and from the media content providers204. For instance, the memory506may include one or more mapping tables including information about media devices100and/or media content providers204. The interface service212may also include a processor504configured to provide general purpose processing for the various modules of the service center as circumstances warrant.

In some embodiments, the service center212may also include a selection module508and an aggregation module510. The selection module508and the aggregation module510may be comprised of software, hardware, or any combination of software and hardware. These modules may be configured to generate interface410as will now be explained.

In operation, a media device100may provide a request to service center212that causes the selection module508to identify various data streams a user desires to include in the customizable interface. In some embodiments, the request will cause selection module508to communicate directly with a media content provider204. While in communication with the media content provider204, the selection module508may navigate through the media defined interface discussed in relation toFIG. 3and select desired content data streams. For instance, these data streams may include channel321of service311, channel333of service312, channel342of service312, video channel350, and podcast362. The selection module may then tag or otherwise mark the desired data streams.

In alternative embodiments, the selection module508may be configured to access media device100to identify the desired content data streams in response to the user input. In such embodiments, various module of media device100, such as selection module112, may communicate to the selection module508the selected data streams.

The identified data streams may then be provided to aggregation module510. The aggregation module510then aggregates all of the selected or tagged content data streams or sources and generates a composite view or interface410that shows all of the selected data streams from the various services such as is illustrated inFIG. 4B.

Once the aggregation module has generated the interface410, this may be provided to the media device100, where it may be added to the user interface of the media device100. A user then only need use interface410to access the desired content as previously described.

In some embodiments, the aggregation module510includes configurable rules511. The rules511, in similar manner to the rules116, allow the user or other device or entity to configure the composite view or interface in a way that is desirable to the user or for a group of users. For example, the configurable rules511may allow the user to specify the look and feel of the generated interface. The rules may also allow the user to specify how the listed content data streams are to be selected and the like. Advantageously, the rules511ensure that the generated interface is not subject to the rules defined by the media content provider as discussed previously. As will be appreciated, the user will cause the aggregation module511to utilize the rules when generating the interface410.

Reference is now made toFIG. 6, which illustrates a method600for a media device to generate a view of a user configurable interface configured to show user selected content or services. The method600may be practiced in a system including one or more media devices that receive content or services from one or more media content providers, although this not required. Further, the method600may be practiced in an environment where a particular device is capable of receiving content from multiple content providers.

Method600includes identifying602one or more content data streams included in one or more interface views defined by one or more media content providers of the one or more content data streams. For example a user may utilize user interface104and/or selection module112to identify one or more of the content data streams illustrated in the interfaces ofFIG. 3. These content data streams may be include the radio channels of services311-312, the video channels of video service340, or the podcasts of podcast service350. As described, these content data streams may be provided by different media content providers204.

Method600also includes selecting604at least a portion of the identified content data streams that are to be included in a user configurable interface view. For example, a user may utilize user interface104and/or selection module112to tag or otherwise mark desired content data streams.

Method600further includes aggregating606the selected portion of the content data streams from the one or more interface views and generating608the user configurable interface view. For example, the aggregation module114may aggregate the selected content data streams and may then generate the user configurable interface view. As illustrated byFIG. 4B, the generated user interface410includes a listing of at least links or pointers to the selected content data streams. In addition, as discussed above, the interface410is independent of the interface views defined by the media content providers204. Rather, in some embodiments interface410is governed by user configurable rules116that allow the user to determine the look and feel of the user interface.

Turning now toFIG. 7, a method700for generating a view of a user configurable interface configured to show user selected content or services is illustrated. The method700may be practiced in a system including one or more media devices that receive content or services from one or more media content providers, although this not required.

Method700includes identifying702one or more content data streams included in one or more interface views defined by one or more media content providers of the one or more content data streams in response to receiving user input. For example, the service center212may receive a request from a media device100that causes the service center to identify the content data streams. The user may then utilize selection module508to identify the one or more of the content data streams illustrated in the interfaces ofFIG. 3. These content data streams may be include the radio channels of services311-312, the video channels of video service340, or the podcasts of podcast service350. As described, these content data streams may be provided by different media content providers204.

Method700also includes selecting704at least a portion of the identified content data streams that are to be included in a user configurable interface view. For example, a user may utilize selection module508to tag or otherwise mark desired content data streams.

Method700further includes aggregating706the selected portion of the content data streams from the one or more interface views and generating708the user configurable interface view, For example, the aggregation module114may aggregate the selected content data streams and may then generate the user configurable interface view. As illustrated byFIG. 4B, the generated user interface410includes a listing of at least links or pointers to the selected content data streams. In addition, as discussed above, the interface410is independent of the interface views defined by the media content providers204

Method700additionally includes providing710the generated configurable interface view to a media device. For example, once it has generated interface410, the service center212may provide the interface410to the media device100. The interface410may then be added to the interfaces of the media device100as illustrated inFIG. 4A. A user then need only access and utilize the interface410to access the listed content data streams as discussed previously.