Abstract:
Systems and methods of supporting multiple users from a single location sharing a media processing system via a personal media guide are provided. In one embodiment, a system may comprise, for example, a communication device, media content, and a software platform. The communication device may be coupled to a communication network. The media content may be disposed in the communication network or the communication device, and the media content may comprise broadcast media and personal media. The software platform may reside on the communication device, and the software platform may further receive authentication information and facilitate a display of a user-defined selection from the media content by the communication device in a user-defined layout.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
       [0001]    This application makes reference to, claims priority to, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/470,263 (attorney docket number 14973US01) filed on May 14, 2003, U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/444,099 (attorney docket number 14277US01) filed on Jan. 30, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/432,472, entitled “Personal Inter-Home Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14185US01 01002P-BP-2801), filed Dec. 11, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/443,894, entitled “Personal Access And Control Of Media Peripherals On A Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14274US01 01002P-BP-2801), filed Jan. 30, 2003, the complete subject matter of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.  
         [0002]    In addition, the applicants hereby incorporate the complete subject matter herein by reference, in their entirety, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/457,179, entitled “Server Architecture Supporting A Personal Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14825US01 01015P-BP-2831), filed Mar. 25, 2003, U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______, entitled “Personal Inter-Home Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14185US02 01001P-BP-2800), filed Sep. 8, 2003, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.__/______, entitled “Personal Access And Control Of Media Peripherals On A Media Exchange Network” (Attorney Docket No. 14274US02 01002P-BP-2801), filed Sep. 11, 2003, the complete subject matter of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.  
     
    
     
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0003]    [Not Applicable] 
         [SEQUENCE LISTING] 
         [0004]    [Not Applicable] 
         [MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE] 
         [0005]    [Not Applicable] 
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Today, multiple users of e-mail on a PC (personal computer) at a single location may have their own personal e-mail accounts. For example, a family comprising a father, a mother, a son, and a daughter may each share a PC at their home and each have their own separate e-mail account. A particular e-mail account may be accessed by entering a code or a password. As a result, a level of privacy is accomplished between the multiple users in the family and the responsibility of managing e-mail is spread over the multiple users. For example, the father does not have to worry about wading through multiple e-mails from the daughter&#39;s boyfriend before finding an e-mail intended for him.  
           [0007]    Also, for television viewing, family members view the same channel line-up on a displayed TV guide. Today, there is no customization, for each family member, with respect to using a TV channel guide and a TV remote control device.  
           [0008]    Similarly, family members today may share a single cell phone plan and account. Each family member may have his own cell phone with a unique telephone number, again providing a certain level of privacy, convenience, and management of calls. For example, the mother does not have to worry about getting phone calls from the son&#39;s girl friend on the mother&#39;s cell phone. However, the family members share minutes from the same account and receive a single bill at the end of the month, which is paid for by the father who is the billing customer and user as far as the cell phone provider is concerned.  
           [0009]    Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Aspects of the present invention may be found in, for example, systems and methods of supporting multiple users from a single location sharing a media processing system via a personal media guide. A system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may comprise, for example, a communication device, media content, and a software platform. The communication device may be coupled to a communication network. The media content may be disposed in the communication network or the communication device, and the media content may comprise broadcast media and personal media. The software platform may reside on the communication device, and the software platform may further receive authentication information and facilitate a display of a user-defined selection from the media content by the communication device in a user-defined layout.  
           [0011]    In another embodiment, the system may comprise, for example, at least one processor disposed in a communication device, the communication device being communicatively coupled to a communication network. The at least one processor may receive information related to a user-defined selection from media content available on at least one of the communication network and the communication device. The processor may further receive authentication information entered into the communication network via the communication device and may analyze the authentication information to determine whether to display the user-defined selection on the communication device.  
           [0012]    In another embodiment, the system may comprise, for example, a first display, a second display, a communication network, media content, and a software platform. The first display may be communicatively coupled to a first communication device. The second display may be communicatively coupled to a second communication device. The communication network may be communicatively coupled to the first communication device and the second communication device. The media content may be disposed in at least one of the communication network, the first communication device and the second communication device. The software platform may reside on the first communication device, so that the software platform receives information relating to a user-defined selection from media content and authorizes the delivery of the user-defined selection to at least one of the first display and the second display. The user-defined selection may be delivered in a user-defined layout.  
           [0013]    In another embodiment, a method in accordance with the present invention may comprise, for example, one or more of the following: entering a first set of authentication information via a communication device communicatively coupled to a communication network, the first set of authentication information corresponding to a first user-defined selection from media content; displaying the first user-defined selection in a user-defined layout by the communication device upon validation of the first set of authentication information; resetting the communication device so that a second set of authentication information may be entered on the communication device; entering the second set of authentication information via the communication device, the second set of authentication information corresponding to a second user-defined selection from media content; and displaying the second user-defined selection in a user-defined layout by the communication device upon validation of the second set of authentication information.  
           [0014]    These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a media exchange network supporting multiple personalized views of a TV channel guide user interface for users at a single location sharing a media processing system on the media exchange network, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TV channel guide user interface supporting multiple personalized views on the media exchange network of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a personalized view of the TV channel guide user interface of FIG. 1B on the media exchange network of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method to support multiple personalized views of a TV channel guide user interface for users at a single location sharing a media processing system on the media exchange network of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a first exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of performing personal media exchange over a second exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of performing third-party media exchange over a third exemplary media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration of several instantiations of a TV guide channel user interface of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of a TV guide channel user interface showing several options of a pushed media in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9A is a schematic block diagram of a media processing system (MPS) interfacing to media capture peripherals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processing system (MPS) in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a PC and an MPS interfacing to a server on a media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a PC interfacing to personal media capture devices and remote media storage on a media exchange network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]    Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to personalized media channels. In particular, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to setting up a personalized view in a TV channel guide user interface on a media processing system on a media exchange network. Personal broadcasting channels within a personalized view may be set up between parties on the media exchange network.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a media exchange network  100  supporting multiple personalized views of a TV channel guide user interface  110  for users at a single location  103  sharing a media processing system  102  on the media exchange network  100 , in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. Specifically, the media exchange network  100  is a communication network comprising an MPS (media processing system)  102  at “My House”  103 , a brother&#39;s PC  104  at “My Brother&#39;s House”  105 , and an MPS  106  at “My Mom&#39;s House”  107 . The media exchange network  100  further comprises the Internet-based media exchange network infrastructure  108  which connects together the MPS  102 , the PC  104 , and the MPS  106 .  
         [0031]    In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, an MPS may comprise a set-top box (STB), a PC, or a TV with a media management system (MMS). An MMS is also known herein as a media exchange software (MES) platform.  
         [0032]    An MMS comprises a software platform operating on at least one processor to provide certain functionality including user interface functionality, distributed storage functionality, and networking functionality. For example, a MMS may provide control of media peripheral devices, status monitoring of media peripheral devices, and inter-home MPS routing selection, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]    The MPS&#39;s ( 102  and  106 ) are essentially enhanced set-top boxes. The MPS&#39;s ( 102  and  106 ) may each include a TV screen for viewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media, data, and services that are available on the media exchange network using, for example, a remote control. The PC  104  may include a PC monitor for viewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media, data, and services that are available on the media exchange network using, for example, a keyboard and mouse. The MPS&#39;s and PC include functional software to support interaction with the various elements of the media exchange network  100 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0034]    For example, the MPS  102  comprises a media exchange software (MES) platform  109 . The MES platform  109  on the MPS  102  supports personalized views of media channels and set up of new media channels on the media exchange network  100 . For example, the MES platform  109  provides a format, displayed on a monitor of the MPS  102 , known as a TV channel guide user interface  110  to allow a user to set up a personalized view of the TV channel guide user interface  110  using a remote control. The MES platform  109  also provides the functionality for a user of the MPS  102  to set up a new media channel  101  in his personalized view.  
         [0035]    In general, the MPS&#39;s  102  and  106  and the PC  104  each include a media exchange software (MES) platform and a networking component for connectivity. The MES platform provides multiple capabilities including media “push” capability, media “access” capability, media channel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voice overlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection, authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home media experience, billing service, and an integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TV channel guide user interface  120  supporting multiple personalized views on the media exchange network  100  of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The TV channel guide user interface  120  supports “My personalized view”  121 , “My wife&#39;s personalized view”  122 , My daughter&#39;s personalized view”  123 , and “My son&#39;s personalized view”  124  on the MPS  102  at “My House”  103 . Each personalized view may include a unique set of media channels.  
         [0037]    For example, FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of “My personalized view”  121  of the TV channel guide user interface  120  of FIG. 1B on the media exchange network  100  of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The view  121  of the TV channel guide user interface  120  may be displayed on a TV screen  125  and controlled by a remote control device  126 . Also, the view  121  of the TV channel guide user interface  120  may be displayed on a PC monitor and controlled by a keyboard or mouse.  
         [0038]    Various types of channels may be set up by a user in his personal view, including personal media channels  127  that may be for private use, friend&#39;s and family&#39;s media channels  128  that may be shared by friends and family members, and third party media channels  129  that may be set up by third parties either upon request by a user of a media exchange network or based on a profile of a user. Also, broadcast media channels (i.e., channels provided by broadcast networks such as, for example, ABC, NBC, and CBS) may be set up in a personalized view.  
         [0039]    The personal media channels  127  may include, for example, a “family vacations channel”, a “kid&#39;s sports channel”, a “my life channel”, a “my son&#39;s life channel”, a “my music channel”, and a “my daughter&#39;s life channel”. The friends and family media channels  128  may include, for example, a “brother&#39;s channel”, a “Mom&#39;s channel”, and a “friend&#39;s channel”. The third party media channels  129  may include, for example, a “Sears Fall sale channel” and a “car commercials channel”. The type of media that may eventually be stored in a media channel includes video, images, audio, text, and any other type of digital media that may be generated.  
         [0040]    As indicated by FIG. 1A, the set up of a new media channel  101  may be accomplished via a PC or an MPS, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, and pushed, via the media exchange network  100 , to other PC&#39;s and/or MPS&#39;s at other locations on the media exchange network. For example, referring to FIG. 1A, a user at “My House”  103  may set up a new channel  101  on the MPS  102  and push the new channel  101  to the PC  104  at “My Brother&#39;s House”  105  and the MPS  106  at “My Mom&#39;s House”  107 . The PC  104  at “My Brother&#39;s House”  105  and the MPS  106  at “MY Mom&#39;s House”  107  may also support multiple personalized views.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method  200  to support multiple personalized views of a TV channel guide user interface for users at a single location sharing a media processing system on the media exchange network  100  of FIG. 1A, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. In step  201 , an MPS is powered up. In step  202 , a first user password is entered via the MPS. In step  203 , the MPS responds to the first user password by displaying a corresponding first personalized view of a TV channel guide user interface. In step  204 , the MPS is powered down and powered up again. In step  205 , a second user password is entered via the MPS. In step  206 , the MPS responds to the second user password by displaying a corresponding second personalized view of the TV channel guide user interface.  
         [0042]    As an example, referring to FIG. 1A, a father at “My house”  103  powers up (i.e., turns on) the MPS  102  and enters his user password using a remote control. The MPS  102  responds to the user password by calling up and displaying the father&#39;s personalized view of the TV channel guide user interface  110 . The father&#39;s personalized view may comprise the view  121  shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C. The father may spend some time manipulating his personalized view  121  of the TV channel guide user interface  110  (e.g., creating a new channel, pushing a channel to another user, deleting a channel, selecting a channel to view, etc.). Eventually, the father finishes manipulating his personalized view  121  and powers down (i.e., turns off) the MPS  102 .  
         [0043]    Next, the daughter at “My house”  103  powers up (i.e., turns on) the MPS  102  and enters her user password using a remote control. The MPS  102  responds to the user password by calling up and displaying the daughter&#39;s personalized view of the TV channel guide user interface  110 . The daughter&#39;s personalized view may comprise the view  123  shown in FIG. 1B. The daughter may spend some time manipulating her personalized view  123  of the TV channel guide user interface  110  (e.g., creating a new channel, pushing a channel to another user, deleting a channel, selecting a channel to view, etc.). Eventually, the daughter finishes manipulating her personalized view  123  and powers down (i.e., turns off) the MPS  102 .  
         [0044]    Similarly, the son and the wife may subsequently use the MPS  102  to call up, view, and manipulate their corresponding personalized views,  124  and  122  respectively, of the TV channel guide user interface  110 .  
         [0045]    In alternative embodiments of the present invention, a user may enter a unique, secure pin code or use voice keying (i.e., where the MPS or PC recognizes the user&#39;s voice) to call up his personalized view, instead of entering a password.  
         [0046]    In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a personalized view may be set up in a TV channel guide user interface via an MPS, a PC, or from a web site. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, when a user connects an MP (media peripheral) device (e.g., a digital camera, a PDA, etc.) to an MPS or PC on a media exchange network, the MPS or PC may prompt the user to enter which personalized views the MP should be associated with. For example, a father may purchase a digital camera and desire that only he and his wife have the ability to use the digital camera with the MPS in their home, not their son or daughter.  
         [0047]    Each user of an MPS or a PC supporting multiple personalized views of a TV channel guide user interface at one location on a media exchange network may construct and maintain a unique set of media channels (i.e., a unique channel line up) in their personalized view. The users at one location may create links and associations with other users of the media exchange network and exchange media, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.  
         [0048]    As a result, a certain level of privacy is established between users at the single location. That is, each of the different users only has access to his personalized view. Also, responsibility for managing the TV channel guide user interface is divided up in a logical manner between the various users. For example, a father does not have to worry about finding his media channels of interest among the media channels of the other family members. Each family member (i.e., user) manipulates and maintains his or her own view.  
         [0049]    A major challenge is to be able to transfer and share many different types of digital media, data, and services between one device/location and another with ease while being able to index, manage, and store the digital media and data.  
         [0050]    For example, it is desirable to be able to distribute and store many types of digital media in a PC and/or television environment in a user-friendly manner without requiring many different types of software applications and/or unique and dedicated interfaces. Any networking issues or other technical issues should be transparent to the users. It is also desirable to take advantage of existing hardware infrastructure, as much as possible, when providing such capability.  
         [0051]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a media exchange network is provided that enables many types of digital media, data, and/or services to be stored, indexed, viewed, searched for, pushed from one user to another, and requested by users, using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface. The media exchange network also allows a user to construct personal media channels that comprise his personal digital media (e.g., captured digital pictures, digital video, digital audio, etc.), request that third-party media channels be constructed from third-party digital media, and access the media channels pushed to him by other users on the media exchange network.  
         [0052]    PC&#39;s may be used but are not required to interface to the media exchange network for the purpose of exchanging digital media, data, and services. Instead, set-top boxes or integrated MPS&#39;s (media processing systems) may be used with the media exchange network to perform all of the previously described media exchange functions using a remote control with a television screen.  
         [0053]    Current set-top boxes may be software enhanced to create an MPS that provides full media exchange network interfacing and functionality via a TV screen with a TV guide look-and-feel. PC&#39;s may be software enhanced as well and provide the same TV guide look-and-feel. Therefore, the media exchange network supports both PC&#39;s and MPS&#39;s in a similar manner. Alternatively, a fully integrated MPS may be designed from the ground up, having full MPS capability.  
         [0054]    In the case of an MPS configuration, the user takes advantage of his remote control and TV screen to use the media exchange network. In the case of a PC configuration, the user takes advantage of his keyboard and/or mouse to use the media exchange network.  
         [0055]    An MPS or enhanced PC is effectively a storage and distribution platform for the exchange of personal and third party digital media, data, and services as well as for bringing the conventional television channels to a user&#39;s home. An MPS and/or PC connects to the media exchange network via an existing communication infrastructure which may include cable, DSL, satellite, etc. The connection to the communication infrastructure may be hard-wired or wireless.  
         [0056]    The media exchange network allows users to effectively become their own broadcasters from their own homes by creating their own media channels and pushing those media channels to other authorized users on the media exchange network, such as friends and family members.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 3 illustrates a media exchange network  300  for exchanging and sharing digital media, data, and services in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media exchange network  300  is a secure, closed network environment that is only accessible to pre-defined users and service providers. The media exchange network of FIG. 3 comprises a first PC  301  and a first media processing system (MPS)  302  at a user&#39;s home  303 , a communication infrastructure  304 , external processing hardware support  305 , remote media storage  306 , a second PC  307  at a remote location  308  such as an office, and a second MPS  309  at a parent&#39;s home  310 .  
         [0058]    The PC&#39;s  301  and  307  and the MPS&#39;s  302  and  309  each include a media exchange software (MES) platform  311  and a networking component  312  for connectivity. The MES platform  311  provides multiple capabilities including media “push” capability, media “access” capability, media channel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voice overlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection, authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home media experience, billing service, and an integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel.  
         [0059]    The external processing hardware support  305  comprises at least one server such as a centralized Internet server, a peer-to-peer server, or cable head end. The server may alternatively be distributed over various hosts or remote PC&#39;s. The MES platform  311  may also reside on the external processing hardware support server  305 . The remote media storage  306  may comprise user media storage and distribution systems  313  and/or third party media storage and distribution systems  314 .  
         [0060]    The communication infrastructure  304  may comprise at least one of Internet infrastructure, satellite infrastructure, cable infrastructure, dial-up infrastructure, cellular infrastructure, xDSL infrastructure, optical infrastructure, or some other infrastructure. The communication infrastructure  304  links the user&#39;s home  303 , parent&#39;s home  310 , remote media storage  306 , and remote location office  308  to each other (i.e., the communication infrastructure  304  links all users and service providers of the media exchange network  300 ).  
         [0061]    The various functions  315  of the media exchange network  300  comprise generating personal network associations, personal storage management, media capture device support, security/authentication/authorization support, authorship tracking and billing and address registration and maintenance. These media exchange management functions  315  may be distributed over various parts of the media exchange network  300 . For example, the personal network associations and personal storage management functions may be integrated in the PC  301  at the user&#39;s home  303 .  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 4 illustrates an example of personal media exchange over a media exchange network  400  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step  1 , the media exchange software (MES) platform  401  is used to construct personal media channels on a PC  402  by a user at “my house”  403 . For example, with various media stored on the PC  402  such as digital pictures  404 , videos  405 , and music  406 , the MES platform  401  allows the digital media to be organized by a user into several channels having a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  407  on the PC  402 .  
         [0063]    In step  2 , the user at “my house”  403  pushes a media channel  408  (e.g., “Joe&#39;s Music”) to “brother&#39;s house”  409  and pushes two media channels  410  and  411  (e.g., “Vacation Video” and “Kid&#39;s Pictures”) to “Mom&#39;s house”  412  via a peer-to-peer server  413  over the Internet-based media exchange network  400 . “Brother&#39;s house”  409  includes a first MPS  414  connected to the media exchange network  400 . “Mom&#39;s house”  412  includes a second MPS  415  connected to the media exchange network  400 . The MPS&#39;s  414  and  415  also provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  407 .  
         [0064]    In step  3 , brother and/or Mom access the pushed media channels via their respective media processing systems (MPS&#39;s)  414  and  415  using their respective MPS TV screens and remote controls.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of third-party media exchange over a media exchange network  500  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step  1 , a PC-initiated third-party request is made by a first party  501  via an Internet-based media exchange network  500  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  502  on a PC  503 . In step  2 , an anonymous delivery of the requested third-party channel  504  is made to a second party  505  via the Internet-based media exchange network  500 . In step  3 , the second party  505  accesses the third-party channel  504  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  506  on a TV screen  507  that is integrated into an MPS  508 .  
         [0066]    Similarly, in step A, an MPS-initiated third-party request is made by a second party  505  via an Internet-based media exchange network  500  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  506  on a TV screen  507  using a remote control  509 . The second party  505  may key in a code, using his remote control  509 , that is correlated to a commercial or some other third party broadcast media. In step B, an anonymous delivery of the requested third-party channel  504  is made to a first party  501  via the Internet-based media exchange network  500 . In step C, the first party  501  accesses the third-party channel  504  using a TV channel guide look-and-feel user interface  502  on a PC  503 .  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 6 illustrates a TV channel guide user interface  600  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The TV channel guide user interface  600  may be displayed on a TV screen  608  and controlled by a remote control device  609 . Also, the TV channel guide user interface  600  may be displayed on a PC monitor and controlled by a keyboard or mouse.  
         [0068]    The TV channel guide user interface  600  may be configured not only for conventional TV channels but also for personal media channels  601  that are constructed by a user of a media exchange network, friend&#39;s and family&#39;s media channels  602  constructed by friends and family, and third party channels  603  that are constructed by third parties either upon request by a user of a media exchange network or based on a profile of a user.  
         [0069]    The personal media channels  601  may include, for example, a “family vacations channel”, a “kid&#39;s sports channel”, a “my life channel”, a “son&#39;s life channel”, a “my music channel”, and a “kid&#39;s music channel”. The friends and family media channels  602  may include, for example, a “brother&#39;s channel”, a “Mom&#39;s channel”, and a “friend&#39;s channel”. The third party media channels  603  may include, for example, a “Sears Fall sale channel” and a “car commercials channel”.  
         [0070]    Each media channel may correspond to a schedule  604  showing, for example, a week  605  and a year  606 . For example, under the “kid&#39;s sports channel”, Ty&#39;s soccer game could be scheduled to be viewed on Tuesday of the current week  605  and current year  606 . For each media channel, a sub-menu  607  allows for selection of certain control and access functions such as “play”, “send to list”, “send to archive”, “confirm receipt”, “view”, “purchase”, and “profile”.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 7 illustrates possible multiple instantiations of a TV channel guide user interface  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The TV channel guide user interface  700  may be viewed with a schedule having formats of, for example, “month, year”, “week#, year”, “day, week#”, or “hour, day”.  
         [0072]    Referring to FIG. 8, a user of a media exchange network may push a media channel (e.g., “Vacation in Alaska Video”) to a friend who is on the same media exchange network. The TV channel guide user interface  800  may give the friend several options  801  for how to accept and download the pushed media in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0073]    For example, a first, most expensive option  803  may be “Express Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media to the friend in 18 minutes using queuing and cost $1.20, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 4 Mbps, for example. Queuing comprises buffering and delivering a previous part of the media and then buffering and delivering a next part of the media. For example, a first six minutes of the “Vacation in Alaska Video” may be buffered and delivered first, then a second six minutes may be buffered and delivered next, and so on until the entire media is delivered.  
         [0074]    A second, less expensive option  802  may be “Normal Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media in 2 hours and 13 minutes without queuing and cost $0.59, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 1.5 Mbps, for example.  
         [0075]    A third, least expensive option  804  may be “Overnight Delivery” which would deliver the pushed media by the next morning and cost only $0.05, for example. The pushed media may be stored in a file in an MPEG 2 format that was recorded at a rate of 19 Mbps and stored on a server, for example.  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 9A illustrates the detailed elements of a media processing system (MPS)  900  and media capture devices  901  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The media capture devices  901  may comprise audio, video, and image players, such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, and MP3 players, that each include a temporary storage area  902  and a communication interface  903  such as, for example, a USB interface or a wireless interface. The media capture devices  901  have the capability to interface to an MPS and a PC.  
         [0077]    The MPS  900  comprises a media processing unit (MPU)  904 , remote user interface(s)  905 , and a TV screen  918  to provide integrated media processing capability and indirect user interface capability. The remote user interfaces  905  may comprise a voice or keyed remote control  906 , keyboards and pads  907 , a remote PC access interface  908 , and a remote media system access interface  909  (i.e., providing access from another MPS).  
         [0078]    The media processing unit (MPU)  904  comprises TV and radio tuners  910  for image and audio consumption, communications interfaces  911 , channel processing  912  (creating, storing, indexing, viewing), storage  913 , media players  914  (CD, DVD, Tape, PVR, MP3), an integrated user interface  915  (to provide a TV channel guide look-and-feel), networking components  916  to provide client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization (e.g., using digital certificates and digital ID&#39;s), registration, security, and connectivity. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the networking components  916  may include a distributed server element  917  that is part of a distributed server.  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a media processing system (MPS)  920  in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The MPS  920  is essentially an enhanced set-top box for viewing and interacting with various user interfaces, media, data, and services that are available on the media exchange network using, for example, a remote control. The MPS  920  comprises a media peripheral  921 , a MMS (media management system)  922 , and a broadband communication interface  923 .  
         [0080]    The media peripheral  921  may include a TV (television), a PC (personal computer), and media players (e.g., a CD player, a DVD player, a tape player, and an MP3 player) for video, image, and audio consumption of broadcast and/or personal channels. The broadband communication interface  923  may include internal modems (e.g., a cable modem or DSL modem) or other interface devices in order to communicate with, for example, a cable or satellite headend.  
         [0081]    The MMS  922  includes a software platform to provide functionality including media “push” capability, media “access” capability, media channel construction/selection, image sequence selection, text and voice overlay, channel and program naming, inter-home routing selection, authorship and media rights management, shared inter-home media experience, billing service, and a media guide user interface providing an integrated TV channel guide look-and-feel.  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 10 illustrates connectivity between a PC  1000 , an MPS  1001 , and external processing hardware  1002  (e.g., a server) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The PC  1000  and MPS  1001  include networking components  1003  to provide client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization, registration, security, and connectivity. Alternatively, the PC  1000  and MPS  1001  may include a distributed server element  1004  that is part of a distributed server.  
         [0083]    The PC  1000  and MPS  1001  connect to the external processing hardware  1002  via wired or wireless connections. The external processing hardware  1002  comprises a distributed server or peer-to-peer server. The external processing hardware  1002  also comprises communication interfaces  1005  (e.g., cable interfaces, optical interfaces, etc.) and a media exchange software (MES) platform  1006 . The MES platform  1006  in the external processing hardware  1002  allows for communication with the PC  1000  and MPS  1001  which may also use the same MES platform  1006 . The external processing hardware  1002  also includes networking server components  1007  to provide the similar client functions such as consumption (billing), authorization, registration, security, and connectivity at the server side.  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 11 illustrates connectivity between a PC  1100 , remote media storage  1101 , and personal media capture devices  1102  when the PC  1100  is used as the primary distributor of digital media such as in the case of PC-to-PC operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The personal media capture devices  1102  and remote media storage  1101  connect to the PC  1100  via a wireless or wired connection. The remote media storage  1101  provides user media storage and distribution  1103  as well as third party media storage and distribution  1104 . The personal media capture devices  1102  provide temporary storage  1114  and communication interfaces  1115 .  
         [0085]    Viewing is done using a PC monitor  1105  instead of a television screen. The PC  1100  may include storage  1106 , TV/radio tuners  1107  for media consumption, media players  1108 , and communication interfaces  1109  and user interfaces  1110  similar to those for the MPS of FIG. 9. The PC  1100  includes a media exchange software (MES) platform  1111  that provides channel construction capability  1112  and networking capability  1113 . The channel construction capability  1112  allows third party and personal media access, sequencing, editing, media overlays and inserts, billing, scheduling, and addressing.  
         [0086]    In summary, some embodiments of the present invention may relate to a system and method that provide the ability to support multiple personalized views of a TV channel guide user interface for users at a single location sharing a media processing system on a media exchange network.  
         [0087]    While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.