ELECTRONIC GUIDE TO DIGITAL CONTENT

Abstract: A content guide may facilitate the selection of content of a variety of different types. A graphical user interface may include icons that represent the various different types of content. The user may select one of those icons, for example by mouse clicking on the icon, to display a graphical user interface that acts as a guide to that particular content type. Thus, a graphical user interface may enable a user to move between various different content types for selection and viewing.

Description: ELECTRONIC GUIDE TO DIGITAL CONTENT Background This invention relates to processor-based entertainment systems . Processor-based systems are increasingly being used to provide a wide range of entertainment functions . For example, the so-called set-top box may be utilized in conjunction with a television receiver to provide computer functionalities for television program selection. Particularly, an electronic programming guide (EPG) may be displayed by the set-top box on the television receiver. The electronic programming guide includes a grid of television channels on one axis and program times on the other axis. Program titles are displayed in blocks aligned with their time and channel. The user can select a particular program for viewing by mouse clicking, using a remote control unit, on a particular block. Processor-based systems may also be utilized to play compact disks and digital versatile disks and to record a wide range of media including television, audio and video. Thus, the users of processor-based systems associated with entertainment systems may utilize the processor-based system to control a variety of different types of content. However, there is currently no convenient way for a user to readily select among the various content types available to the user. Thus, there is a need for a better way to facilitate content selection from among a variety of content types associated with a processor-based system. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure la is a depiction of a graphical user interface in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure lb is a depiction of another graphical user interface in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a flow chart for software in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a flow chart for software in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description A graphical user interface 10 as illustrated in Figure la, may provide an electronic content guide (ECG) for a variety of different types of content available through a processor-based system. The available types of content may be represented by content type icons 12 associated with the graphical user interface 10. For example, an icon 12a may represent ongoing television content, an icon 12b may represent recorded television content, an icon 12c may represent any type of data stored on the system, an icon 12d may represent stored games, an icon 12e may represent software that is available for rent for example by download, an icon 12f may represent available stored audio such as music, and an icon 12g may represent on-line applications or software available for download. A variety of different types of content may be organized for selection through the graphical user interface 10. The television icon 12a may be utilized to select for viewing a conventional electronic programming guide. However, with a content guide implemented through the graphical user interface 10, a user can also organize and select content related to a variety of different content types. Moreover, a user can select a graphical user interface that serves as a guide to each type of content. Still referring to Figure la, having selected a content type by selecting the now highlighted recorded television icon 12b, a plurality of predetermined category icons 14 are displayed. Each icon 14 corresponds to a particular category within a given content type. The displayed categories, in an exemplary embodiment, include the television series category indicated by the icon 14a, the movies category indicated by the icon 14b and the golf category indicated by the icon 14c. In one embodiment, each of a plurality of program series that have been recorded may be represented by a thumbnail video frame 16 as indicated by blocks 16a, 16b and 16c. In addition, the title of a recorded series may be indicated at 18a and the date on which the series was recorded may be indicated at 20a. Thus, by mouse clicking on a thumbnail video frame 16, the user can select a particular video file for replay. Each file in a given category is time stamped with a recordation time 20a and the files may be organized from the most currently recorded material to the least currently recorded material. Periodically, the oldest material may be discarded as new material is stored. For example, the user can set a maximum number of files or a maximum data size for those files. When the data size is exceeded, the oldest material may be discarded automatically. For each content type, for example within the recorded television content category, representations of additional recorded television programs may be sequentially viewed by sequentially selecting the "more" icon 22. In the illustrated embodiment, three additional thumbnail video frames 16 at a time may be displayed in the graphical user interface 10 by selecting the more icon 22. Alternatively, upon selection of one category icon 14 on the interface 10, the interfaces associated with the unselected icons 14 may be replaced with a display (not shown) of a graphical user interface solely devoted to the selected category. That is, the selection of a category icon 14 may convert the current screen into a display that shows only representations of content related to the selected category, such as the television series category associated with the icon 14a. The user may preselect the content types and the categories that are displayed. For example, the user may select the various content types represented by the icons 12 as well as the categories, represented by the icons 14, that fall under each content type. After presetting the content types and categories, the user may use an automated system to organize the available content by category. For example, textual material associated with a video file may be searched for keywords indicative of a category. The content may be organized in categories based on the presence of key words. Alternatively, when the content is stored, the user can provide an appropriate category or content type label. In some cases, the content may not actually be stored on the user's processor-based system. Instead, a series of icons 12 may be listed on the graphical user interface 10. When one of those icons 12 is chosen, the content associated with a category under the content type is automatically downloaded, for example over a network such as the Internet. In this way, a variety of different content types may be organized for selection in a convenient fashion. In one embodiment of the present invention, one graphical user interface 10 including the icons 12, provides an overview of all the available different content types . The graphical user interface 10 may also enable the user to select among graphical user interfaces including the icons 14 that act as guides to the various categories of content under a given content type. Thus, the user can easily move through the various content types and categories to select the particular content which the user wishes to activate on the user's processor-based system. By maintaining the icons 12 on ensuing interfaces with icons 14, the user can easily navigate among categories and content types . Referring to Figure lb, a graphical user interface 11 results when the content type icon 12a is selected. The recorded television program material shown in Figure la is replaced with a grid of times and television stations or networks. Individual television program listings are provided in association with a time indicated vertically above a title 18b and a channel or network indicated horizontally with respect to the title 18b. In this case, the category icons 14 correspond to the network or television channel information 14d and 14e. The more button 22 is provided to list additional material. Instead of using the word "more", in this case, an arrow icon is provided. By selecting the content type icon 12a, the user is provided with an electronic programming guide to a plurality of tunable television programs such as the program 18b. At the same time, the content type icons 12 from the graphical user interface 10 are continued so that the user can switch from the graphical user interface 11 back to the graphical user interface 10 or to other interfaces using the icons 12 which amount to third graphical user interface in and of themselves. Turning next to Figure 2, the set-up software 24, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, begins by determining whether the user has a new content file to add to the graphical user interface 10 as indicated in diamond 26. If so, the file may be received, for example by an appropriate indication within a graphical user interface (not shown), as indicated by block 28. That graphical user interface may ask the user to provide a title for the file. The title may then be displayed as the title 18a indicated in Figure 1. The software 24 may automatically select a representative frame to act as the thumbnail video frame 16 or the user can indicate a particular frame to represent the file. The frame selected as the thumbnail video frame and the title are then associated with the file as indicated in block 30. Next, the user may be asked to indicate a content type associated with an icon 12 and/or the category associated with an icon 14 as indicated in block 32. A time stamp 34 may be automatically appended as indicated in block 34. The time stamp may be displayed as indicated at 20 in Figure 1. Finally, the particular file is stored as indicated in block 36 with its associated title, content type, category and time stamp information. The time stamp information may be used to make discard decisions. It may also be used to enforce limited time of use restrictions of certain content providers . When the user is ready to play or view a file that is represented on the graphical user interface 10, the user may utilize the software 38 shown in Figure 3 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When a user's selection is detected at diamond 40, a particular icon is identified as indicated in block 42. The identified icon may correspond to one of the icons 12 or 14. A check at diamond 44 determines whether the selected icon 12 or 14 is related to a content type. If so, the selected content type may be expanded. For example, when the user selects the recorded television icon 12b, the icons 14, the thumbnail video frames 16 and the titles 18 and time stamps 20 may be displayed for a series of recorded television programs broken into at least three displayed categories in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1. Thus, when the user selects an icon 12, the icons 14, 16, 18 and 20 in the corresponding content type may be displayed, as indicated in block 50. If an icon 12 was not selected, a check at diamond 46 determines whether a category icon 14 has been selected. If so, the category may be expanded as indicated in block 52. If the user selects the icon 14a, for example by mouse clicking on the icon 14a, the entire graphical user interface 10 may be converted into a display of a series of thumbnail video frames and associated material 18 and 20 for recorded television series content, displacing the material related to the icons 14b and 14c. Finally, if the user selects the more icon 22 (block 48), additional content, within the category, may be provided as indicated in block 54. That additional content may be provided in place of the icons 16a, 16b and 16c for example. Alternatively, selecting the more icon 22 may cause the material associated with the icons 14b and 14c to be replaced. Turning finally to Figure 4, a processor-based system 60 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may be in the form of a computer system such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a set-top box or a handheld computer or it may be in the form of an appliance such as a digital camera, a television receiver or a cellular telephone. The processor 62 may be coupled to a bridge 64. The bridge 64 may be an accelerated graphics port bridge in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The bridge 64 couples the system memory 66 to a graphics accelerator 68. The graphics accelerator 68 may be coupled to a display 70, which may be a monitor or a television receiver. The bridge 64 may also be coupled to a bus 72 that in turn couples a television tuner/capture card 74 and a bridge 76. The television tuner/capture card 74 may receive television content through an antenna or other video source such as a cable connection or a satellite receiver. The bridge 76 may be coupled to a hard disk drive 78 that stores the software 24 and 38 as well as data to create the various graphical user interfaces . The bridge 76 is in turn coupled to still another bus 80 coupled to a serial input/output (SIO) device 82 and a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory 94. The SIO device 82 may be coupled to a radio frequency (RF) interface 84. The RF interface 84 communicates with an RF interface 88 on a remote control unit 86. The user may make entries or channel selections through a remote control unit keypad 92 that are received by a controller 90 and converted into a appropriate form for transmission to the processor-based system 60. The keypad 92 may include mouse cursor buttons to allow the user to move- a cursor or highlighting displayed on the display 70 to indicate particular user selections of icons such as the icons 12, 14 and 16. In some embodiments, information from digital broadcasts, such as ancillary or enhancement data, and information from analog broadcasts, such as closed caption text or the vertical blanking interval (VBI) , may be used to augment the program descriptions. This information may be recorded and searched for program descriptions. While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention. What is claimed is:

Claims: 1 . A method comprising : storing a first graphical user interface that acts as an electronic programming guide to a plurality of tunable television programs; storing a second graphical user interface that acts as a guide to content other than television programs; and providing a third graphical user interface that enables the selection of one of said first or second graphical user interfaces. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the second graphical user interface includes storing a graphical user interface that acts as a guide to recorded television programs . 3. The method of claim 1 including displaying said third graphical user interface together with one of said first and second graphical user interfaces . 4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing said third graphical user interface includes storing a plurality of icons each representing a particular content type. 5. The method of claim 1 further including storing a plurality of files associated with said second graphical user interface. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein storing said files includes storing said files representing video content together with information related to a title and a content category. 7. The method of claim 6 including recording time information indicative of the time when a file was stored. 8. The method of claim 7 including monitoring said time information and discarding files based on said time information. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a third graphical user interface includes providing at least three icons representing different content types of video content. 10. The method of claim 9 including storing at least three content files associated with each of said icons. 11. An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to: store a first graphical user interface that acts as an electronic programming guide to a plurality of tunable television programs; store a second graphical user interface that acts as a guide to content other than television programs; and provide a third graphical user interface that enables the selection of one of said first or second graphical user interfaces. 12. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to store a graphical user interface that acts as guide to recorded television programs. 13. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to display said third graphical user interface together with one of said first and second graphical user interfaces. 14. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to store a plurality of icons representing a particular content type. 15. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to store a plurality of files associated with said second graphical user interface. 16. The article of claim 15 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to store said files representing video content together with information related to a title and a content category. 17. The article of claim 16 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to automatically record time information indicative of the time when a file was stored. 18. The article of claim 17 further storing instructions to enable a processor-based system to monitor said time information and discard files based on said time information. 19. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to provide at least three icons representing different content types of video content. 20. The article of claim 19 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to store at least three content files associated with each of said icons . 21. A graphical user interface comprising: a first plurality of icons indicative of different types of electronic content, each of said icons being user selectable; and a content guide corresponding to each of said icons, said content guide being displayed when said icon is selected, each content guide providing information about at least two different files stored in association with said graphical user interface and each content guide being representative of content associated with a particular content type. 22. The graphical user interface of claim 21 wherein one of said icons is indicative of tunable television programs and another of said icons is indicative of recorded television programs. 23. The graphical user interface of claim 21 including a series of thumbnail depictions of video files stored in association with said graphical user interface. 24. The graphical user interface of claim 21 including a user selectable icon for each of said content guides, said user selectable icons being user selectable to display information about video files stored in association with said graphical user interface. 25. A system comprising: a processor; and a storage coupled to said processor, said storage storing a first graphical user interface that acts as an electronic programming guide to a plurality of tunable television programs, a second graphical user interface that acts as a guide to content other than television programs and a third graphical user interface that enables the selection of one of said first or second graphical user interfaces . 26. The system of claim 25 wherein said system includes a set-top box and a remote control unit that wirelessly communicates with said set-top box. 27. The system of claim 25 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable said processor to store a graphical user interface that acts as a guide to recorded television programs . 28. The system of claim 25 wherein said storage further stores instructions that enable the processor to display the third graphical user interface together with one of the first and second graphical user interfaces. 29. The system of claim 25 wherein said storage further stores instructions that enable the processor to store a plurality of icons representing a particular content type. 30. The system of claim 25 wherein said storage further stores instructions that enable the processor to store a plurality of files associated with the second graphical user interface.

Inventors: RASHKOVSKIY OLEG, RASHKOVSKIY, OLEG
Applicants: INTEL CORP, RASHKOVSKIY OLEG, INTEL CORPORATION, RASHKOVSKIY, OLEG
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04N5