Patent Publication Number: US-2013239146-A1

Title: User Interface for Television Programming and Social Media Feeds for Time Shifted Viewing

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/607,208, filed on Mar. 6, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Over the air television, which is also referred to as terrestrial television or broadcast television, is a distribution mode for television programming via radio waves through the atmosphere. Some examples of well-known major television networks in the United States that broadcast over the air content are ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS. Through a series of affiliate stations, these networks are able to blanket the country with broadcasted content. The result is that each one of these television networks is able to reach over 95% of all the households in the United States. 
     Many websites are available that also present television programs. Broadcast television networks make some of their programming available online for people to access via the Internet. Typically, television networks will upload content to their website or some other third party website, such as HULU, that is typically permitted to show the content a day or two after the show has aired. Other websites, such as Netflix, are subscription based, and historically offer television programs and movies that have already been released on DVD. 
     Digital Video Recorder (DVR) technology is used to record and playback television programming. The DVR records video in digital format to a hard drive and allows users to access the recorded video for later viewing. DVR technology has several advantages. It allows a user to record a television program and watch it at his or her convenience, rather than when the program is broadcast. It also allows users to fast forward and rewind to particular points in the program and to pause the program, for example, if something else requires their attention. Examples of video sources recordable by DVRs include cable, satellite and broadcast television. Broadcast television is broadcast in digital format that can be directly recorded by the DVR without any required decryption or decoding, as can be required with satellite and cable television. 
     Traditionally it was required that the broadcast signal first be received by a television antenna and then transmitted to a DVR physically linked to the television. However, recently a cloud-based DVR has been developed that allow users to receive live or pre-recorded broadcast television on any internet-enabled video display device. 
     A wide variety of options for viewing video content accessed via the internet now exist. In addition to internet-enabled televisions, personal computers, and laptop computers, many now watch video on their smartphones and other mobile computing devices such as tablet or slate computers. Video content is usually accessed through the Internet using subscriber data networks, cellular phone networks, and public and private wireless data networks. Moreover, many users are highly mobile. It is common for a person to travel to various locations with their personal computers, mobile phone, and/or other electronic computing devices and be able to access the Internet or a cellular phone network wherever they are located. 
     Many of these internet-enabled video display devices are also used for other internet-based functions, such as accessing social networking websites. A social networking site is a web-based online community that allows a user to link with other users within their social network and interact with them via means such as shared content, e-mail and instant messaging, and group-directed messages. 
     Social networking sites often contain a social networking feed. Examples of well-known social networking sites that contain social networking feeds are Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn. The social networking feed allows the user to see a list of real time updates about other linked users—often users within their network. For example, items posted in the feed may include comments entered by other users or messages about actions taken by other users. The social networking feed allows the user to quickly see a broad overview of the events within their network in a single location. 
     Given typical television daily viewing levels and the fact that many social interactions are taking place over the internet, technology has recently been developed to allow social television watching by connecting viewers over the internet. For example, Netflix at one time offered a feature called “Party Watch” when run on the Xbox gaming console. This allows users in distinct locations to watch a television program and at the same time and carry on a conversation using headsets. SplashCast enables users to integrate the social networking component of websites such as Facebook and MySpace with video viewing sites such as HULU. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Over the air content provided by broadcast television networks is available through cable television subscriptions or by capturing the over the air broadcasts. This captured content has traditionally only available for display on a television. Various websites enable the viewing of television programs on internet-enabled video display devices such as internet enabled televisions, personal computers, or mobile computing devices, but these television programs are pre-recorded and often limited in selection. Furthermore, options for watching television in a social networking environment over the internet are limited. Some options only allow users to communicate via voice and all pertain to watching pre-recorded programs that must be watched synchronously. 
     The present invention concerns a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for displaying live and previously recorded broadcast television of a cloud-based video delivery system on a video display device capable of displaying the GUI with a selectable portion in addition to a video portion. Users are able to select broadcast television programs from a programming guide for immediate viewing or for recording and viewing at a later point. 
     According to another aspect, the present invention also integrates an internet-based social networking environment with internet-based television viewing. Because the GUI combines web-based viewing with DVR technology, multiple linked users may watch the same television program, but at different times, if desired. The system enables comments entered by one user while viewing a television program to be displayed to a second user when the second user reaches the same point in the same program. In this way, users can post comments that are directly related to the content of the program. 
     The invention described herein can give the following advantages over prior systems: it can allow users to select broadcast television accessed via the internet for immediate viewing or recording on a video display device and, within an internet-based social networking environment, it can enable user comments to be displayed synchronously with a particular television program rather than in real time. 
     In general according to one aspect, the invention features a graphical user interface provided by a cloud based video delivery system comprising a video portion in which pre-recorded or live broadcast television programs are displayed and at least one sidebar adjacent to the video portion, including a programming guide sidebar displaying television programming. 
     In embodiments, the television programing is listed by broadcast time and broadcast network and is selectable for recording or for immediate viewing in the video portion. The programming guide sidebar can be searched by broadcast time. A series of screens is displayed in the video portion when television programs are not displayed, including a screen displaying a selectable list of television series and television programs selected by a user for recording. Pop-up windows are superimposed on the screen listing television programs selectable for recording or viewing. 
     Preferably, a social networking feed is displayed as a sidebar, for example, for displaying comments and actions of linked users within a social networking environment. The feed can further display notifications regarding scheduled recordings of television programs, upcoming television programs, and amount of digital video recorder space available. 
     In general according to another aspect, the invention features a method for controlling video using a graphical user interface provided by a cloud based video delivery system. The method comprises displaying pre-recorded or live broadcast television programs in a video portion of the graphical user interface and displaying at least one sidebar adjacent to the video portion, including a programming guide sidebar displaying television programming. 
     In general according to another aspect, the invention features a system for distributing synchronized social networking comments for television programs. The system comprises a series of devices asynchronously displaying the television programs on a series of screens, the devices receiving comments entered by users at time points in the running of each of the television programs, the devices displaying previously-entered comments on the screens based on time points in running of the same television programs that the comments were entered for the other linked users, and a social media server for enabling the distribution of the comments between the devices. 
     In general according to another aspect, the invention features a method for distributing synchronized social networking comments for television programs. The method comprises asynchronously displaying television programs on a series of screens of devices, the devices receiving comments entered by users at time points in the running of each of the television programs. Previously-entered comments are displayed on the screens based on time points in running of the same television programs that the comments were entered for the other linked users. 
     The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the interrelation of the users, the video display devices, the site for supplying video, and the social media server. 
         FIG. 2  is a screen shot illustrating the graphical user interface (GUI) with the programming guide sidebar. 
         FIG. 3  is a screen shot illustrating the GUI with the programming guide sidebar in which a program has been selected. 
         FIG. 4  is a screen shot illustrating the GUI with the programming guide sidebar allowing the user to search by broadcast time. 
         FIG. 5  is a screen shot illustrating the GUI with the social networking feed sidebar and a screen displaying a selectable list of television series and television programs. 
         FIG. 6  is a screen shot illustrating the GUI with the social networking feed sidebar wherein a television series from the selectable list of television series and television programs has been selected. 
         FIG. 7  is a screen shot illustrating the GUI with the social networking feed sidebar wherein a television program from a list of recorded television programs of a television series has been selected. 
         FIG. 8  is a timeline illustrating the synchronizing of comments by users with a television program. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention herein generally relates to a graphical user interface for recording and viewing broadcast television programs and a system for displaying social networking comments entered by users so that they are synchronized with a television program. 
       FIG. 1  shows users  101 ,  102 ,  103  interacting with a GUI that is displayed on video display devices such as internet enabled televisions, personal computers, or mobile computing devices  104 . The GUI is displayed on the screen of the video display devices  104 . The video display devices  104  are connected to a data network  105  such as the internet, private network and/or cellular network. Via this connection the video display devices  104  access video content via a site for supplying video  106  and social networking content via social media server  107  that generate the GUI that is displayed or rendered on the devices  104 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the graphic user interface (GUI) that is served by the site  106  and displayed on the computing devices  104 , which GUI has been constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     The GUI  200  includes a video portion  201  adjacent to a series of sidebars. The video portion displays live or broadcast television or video that is supplied via the data network  103 . Programs displayed are selected from a schedule of broadcast television programming that is displayed on a programming guide sidebar  202 . The schedule of broadcast television programming is presented as a list, wherein television programs  205  are arranged according to broadcast network  203  and broadcast time  204 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when a television program  205  is selected from programming guide sidebar  202 , the user is presented with additional information about the program and selectable links  301  that enable viewing a television program  301   a  presently being broadcast, recording  301   b  a future program, or displaying more information  301   c  about the program. Selecting to watch the program ( 301   a ) cause the programs video to be displayed in the video portion  201 . 
     Selections are made by the user either through the use of a pointing device, such as a mouse, or optionally by physically touching the screen when the video display device  104  has a touchscreen, such as an iPad portable computing device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the user is able to search for television programs in several ways. A search box  401  in programming guide sidebar  202  allows a user to search for television programs by terms entered. Further, by selecting the broadcast time  204  on the programming guide sidebar  202 , a dropdown menu  402  appears allowing a user to select a specific date  403  and time  404  of television program information to display on the programming guide sidebar  202 . Alternatively, the user has the option of viewing current program information by selecting the “now” button  405 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the inclusion of a social networking feed  501  in the GUI  200 . By displaying a social networking feed  501 , the GUI  200  provides a socially interactive environment for watching television. The social networking feed  501  displays information supplied by social media server  107 , posting information about other users to whom user is linked. Types of information that appear in this social networking feed  501  includes messages about television programs that other users are recording, watching, or planning to watch  502  in addition to comments posted by other users  503 . In certain embodiments, in addition to posting information from the social media server  107 , the social networking feed  501  also presents information from the site for supplying video  106 , including notifications about upcoming television programs and recordings  504 , the amount of DVR space available  505 , and programs currently being recorded  506 . 
     The user can navigate between different screens by selecting identifying tabs  510   a ,  510   b,    510   c.  The content of these screens allows the user to modify the television program recording settings and to select previously recorded television programs to view. One of these screens  520  displays a selectable list of television series  530  and other types of television programming, such as movies  540 . Selection of one of the programs converts regions  520  into a video display region that displays the selected television program side-by-side with the social networking feed. Additionally, selecting the television program causes an update message to be sent by the video site  106  to the social media server  107 , which updates the social networking feed of the user with the details of the selected television program. In this way, the user shares their program selection with their friends within the social networking site. 
       FIG. 6  demonstrates that upon selection of a television series  530  from screen  520 , pop-up window  610  is displayed over the video presented in the video portion  201 . Pop-up window  610  includes a list of previously recorded  620  and upcoming  630  episodes, or television programs of the television series  530 . Clicking on an upcoming television program  630  will enable the user to view and modify the recording settings for the television program. The user&#39;s selection of a new program to record or a change in the record setting of an existing recording cause an update message to be sent by the video site  106  to the social media server  107 , which updates the social networking feed of the user with the details of the recorded television program(s). In this way, the user shares their program recording selections with their friends within the social networking site. 
       FIG. 7  demonstrates that upon selecting a previously recorded television program  620  from pop-up window  610 , a second pop-up window  710  is displayed. In this window, the user is presented additional information about the television program  620  along with selectable links  720  allowing the user to watch or delete the previously recorded television program  620 . This pop-up window  710  has social networking functions beyond what is presented in social networking feed  501 , including displaying the linked users  750  that have watched and recorded the previously recorded television program  620  and presenting links  730  to enabling the user to interact with other social networking sites, for example Twitter. Here selection of the “watch” icon results in the display of the television program in video region  201 . 
     The GUI  200  also allows for the posting social networking comments that are synchronized to a particular television program, in one embodiment. By enabling users to post comments about television programs and then having those comments displayed to other users at the same point in the running of the television program, a web-based social networking environment that incorporates television watching is created. Furthermore, by enabling user to make comments related to specific events within television programs and to have the comments viewed by other users only once they reach the same point in the running of the television program, users are free to comment on the content of television programs without being concerned about accidentally revealing the content to users who have not yet viewed, but will later view the program, timeshifted. 
     As is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a series of video display devices  104  are connected to both the site for supplying video  106  and the social media server  107  via the network. Users  101 ,  102 ,  103  receive television programs on their video display devices  104 . As the users  101 ,  102 ,  103  view the television programs, they post comments about the television programs. The comments are transmitted to the social media server  107  along a program counter or timestamp that indicated the position in the program when the user posted the comment. Each of the users  101 ,  102 ,  103  has a series of other users to which they are linked within a social networking environment. As other linked users  101 ,  102 ,  103  watch the same television program on their video display devices  104 , comments that have been entered by linked users who previously watched the television program are displayed once they reach the same point in the running of the television program by social media server  107  by reference to the timestamps of those previous comments. 
     The function of the system is demonstrated in greater detail in  FIG. 8 . A television program  810  is viewed by 3 users, user A  101  user B  102  and user C  103 . User A  101  watches the television program  810  live and makes three comment posts at three points during the program. User A&#39;s  101  post # 1   820  is made near the beginning of television program  810 . Post # 2   830  is made near the middle of television program  810 . Post # 3   840  is made towards the end of television program  810 . Each of these comment posts is received by the media server and stored along with its timestamp indicating when during the running of the program  810  the comment post was posted. 
     User B  102  then watches a recorded version of television program  810  1 hour after the live broadcast. The posts made by user A  101  are displayed to user B  102  at the same point in the television program that they were made by user A. For example, User A&#39;s  101  post # 1   820  is displayed near the beginning of the pre-recorded version of television program  810  watched by user B  102  and an hour after post # 1   820  was entered by User A  101 . User B  102  also posts comments. User B&#39;s  102  post # 1   850  is entered after User B  102  has viewed user A&#39;s  101  post # 1   820  and before user B  102  has viewed user A&#39;s  101  post # 2   830 . User B&#39;s  102  post # 2   860  is entered after User B  102  has viewed user A&#39;s  101  post # 2   830  and before user B  102  has viewed user A&#39;s  101  post # 3   840 . 
     The result for a third user, user C  103 , is that all of the posted comments will be displayed relative to the point in the television program  810  that they were posted rather than in real-time. If user C  103  watches a pre-recorded version of television program  810  1 hour and 40 minutes after the live broadcast, User A&#39;s  101  post # 1   820 , Post # 2   830 , and Post # 3   840  will be displayed at the beginning, middle and end of the pre-recorded version of television program  810  watched by user C  103  respectively and 1 hour and 40 minutes after each comment was entered. User B&#39;s  102  post # 1   850  will be displayed after user A&#39;s  101  post # 1   820  and before A&#39;s  101  post # 2   830 . User B&#39;s  102  post # 2   860  will be displayed after user A&#39;s  101  post # 2   830  and before user A&#39;s  101  post # 3   840 . User B&#39;s  102  post # 1   850  and post # 2   860  will both be displayed  40  minutes after they were entered by User B  102 . 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.