Patent Publication Number: US-11663283-B2

Title: Apparatus, systems and methods for content playlist based on user location

Description:
APPLICATION PRIORITY 
     This patent application is a Continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/157,831, filed Jan. 25, 2021, entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTENT PLAYLIST BASED ON USER LOCATION,” which is a Continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/451,931, filed Jun. 25, 2019, entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTENT PLAYLIST BASED ON USER LOCATION,” which is Continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/858,478, filed Dec. 29, 2017, entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTENT PLAYLIST BASED ON USER LOCATION,” and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,339,194 on Jul. 2, 2019, which is a Continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/629,769, filed Feb. 24, 2015, entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTENT PLAYLIST BASED ON USER LOCATION,” and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,858,346 on Jan. 2, 2018, the content of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     When travelling, a user may be interested in accessing content that relates to a location that the user is currently at, has recently been to, or may be at in the immediate future. However, the process of “finding” relevant content when the user conducts a manual search of various content sources may be time consuming, potentially unproductive, and unreliable. That is, available search engines that the user might access during their travels to conduct a content search could provide incomplete content information and/or content information that is not relevant and/or that is not of interest to the user. Further, the time required for the user to conduct a search for content may be significant, and may otherwise detract from the process of travelling. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the arts to permit a user to identify content that may be of interest to a geographic location in which they are currently travelling. Further, there is a need to provide convenient access to such identified content on a timely basis. 
     SUMMARY 
     Systems and methods of presenting a geographic playlist that identifies media content events which are associated with a location of a mobile device are disclosed. An exemplary geographic playlist system includes a plurality of mobile devices with global positioning systems that provide geographic location information of the mobile device to a geographic location playlist device. The geographic location playlist device has a database of geographic playlist information that includes at least a unique identifier for each one of a plurality of media content events and at least one associated geographic location for each of the plurality of media content events. The geographic location playlist device determines a current geographic location of the mobile device, compares the geographic location of the mobile device with the geographic locations residing in the database, and generates user geographic playlist information that includes the identifier of media content events that has an associated geographic location that matches with the determined geographic location of the mobile device. A geographic playlist is then presented to the user of the mobile device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an embodiment of a geographic location playlist generation system; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram of an embodiment of an example geographic location playlist device; 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram of the geographic location playlist generation system implemented in an example media device; 
         FIG.  4    conceptually illustrates an example format of a database used for an exemplary geographic playlist information; 
         FIG.  5    is an illustration of an embodiment of a user geographic playlist; 
         FIG.  6    is an illustration of an example embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) that is presented on the display in response to a user&#39;s selection of one of the listed media content events (or portions thereof); and 
         FIG.  7    is an example user geographic playlist presented as a map with indicating icons associated with media content events of interest. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an embodiment of a geographic location playlist generation system  100 . The exemplary embodiment of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  is implemented in an exemplary environment that comprises a media device  102 , a geographic location playlist device  104 , a media content broadcast facility  106 , a broadcast system  108 , a remote content system  110 , and a plurality of mobile devices  112 . The media device  102  receives a media content stream  114  provided from the media content broadcast facility  106  over the broadcast system  108 . The media content stream  114  is provided by a media content service provider. Other environments may include fewer elements that the elements illustrated in  FIG.  1    and/or may include other elements (not shown). 
     Embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  receive geographic location information from one of the mobile devices  112 . The geographic location information indicates a current geographic location, an anticipated or expected future geographic location, or a previous geographic location, of that particular mobile device  112 . Preferably, the geographic location information is defined or provided in a suitable coordinate system, such as a latitude value and a longitude value. Any suitable coordinate system may be used. Alternatively, or additionally, the geographic location information may be provided as an address, city, known reference point (such as a historical landmark, well known landmark, or the like) or the like. Some embodiments may convert such alternative geographic location information into latitude and longitude values. 
     Based on the received geographic location information, embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  identify at least one media content event that pertains to the received geographic location information. In an example embodiment, a user geographic playlist (geo-playlist)  116  is generated and is communicated to the media device  102  and/or the mobile devices  112  for presentation on a display  118 . For example, the media device  102  is communicatively coupled to a television  120  (TV) such that the user geographic playlist  116  is presented on the display  118  of the TV  120 . Alternatively, or additionally, the user geographic playlist  116  may be presented on the display  118  of the example note pad  112   a  (tablet  112   a ) or the example smart phone  112   b . The user geographic playlist  116  lists identifiers of a plurality of media content events or identifier and identifiers of a plurality of media content event portions that are in proximity to the determined location of the mobile device  112 . 
     In practice, the current geographic location information is provided by an onboard global positioning system (GPS) component  122 , a memory  124 , and a processor system (PS)  126  residing within the mobile device  112 . Alternatively, or additionally, the geographic location information may be manually specified by the user or may be provided by another device (not shown). For example, the user of the mobile device  112  may manually (or verbally) specify an address that they are interested in, that they expect to be at in the future, or that they have previously been at. 
     Some media content events can be segmented into portions. For example, a news program may be segmented in to a plurality of serially presented portions, where each portion has a unique theme or topic. As another example, a travel show may be segmented into a plurality of serially presented portions, where each portion relates to a different location and/or different attraction of interest. As yet another example, movie or serial program may be segmented into a plurality of serially presented scenes (portions), where each scene has been filmed at a different location and/or relates to a theme. Such segments or portions of a media content event may be interchangeably referred to herein as a media content event. Accordingly, media content events that are identified to the user based on geographic locations may be a segment or portion of a whole media content event. Here, the segment or portions of such media content events include information that identifies various characteristics of that segment or portion such that an association with at least one geographic location can be made. Alternatively, or additionally, the media content event portion has had predefined geographic location information associated with that segment or portion. As used herein, a segment may be interchangeably referred to herein as a portion of a media content event. 
     In some embodiments, the user geographic playlist  116  may be configured to permit selection of a particular media content event or a relevant segment or portion of a media content event that is listed on a presented user geographic playlist  116 . For example, the user may be at, or may have recently been at, a particular geographic location that is related to a scene in a movie or a segment of a travel program. Access to the movie, the movie scene, and/or the travel program segment may be of interest to the user. The user may wish to view and/or listen to the media content event (or portion thereof) using their mobile device  112  while at the location, and/or may be interested in later viewing and/or listening to the media content event (or portion thereof) listed on the user geographic playlist  116 . 
     Some embodiments may be configured to allow the user to select one or more of the listed media content events (or portions thereof) shown on the user geographic playlist  116 . In response to a user selection of a particular media content event (or portion thereof) that is listed (shown) on the user geographic playlist  116 , the selected media content event (or portion thereof) is accessed from the remote content system  110  or other suitable source of content, and is presented to the user. For example, a selected media content event (or portion thereof) may be accessed from the remote content system  110  via the communication system  128  and/or the broadcast system  108 . The user may then view and/or listen to the presented media content event (or portion thereof). 
     In practice, the user geographic playlist  116  may be presented to the user as they are moving about or are at a particular location. For example, the user may be a tourist in a foreign city. While at a particular location, the user geographic playlist  116  may indicate a plurality of different geographic-related media content events, such as, but not limited to, movies (or portions thereof), programs (or portions thereof), news cast segments (or portions thereof), or the like that are associated with the user&#39;s location. The user may wish to select one or more of the listed media content events (or portions thereof) for immediate viewing and/or for later viewing, such as when they return to their hotel. 
     For example, the user may be interested in visiting film set locations where their favorite movie or serial program has been filmed in the foreign city that they are visiting. The user geographic playlist  116  may list a plurality of movies or serial programs (or portions thereof) that were filmed at locations that are at, or that are in the general vicinity of, the geographic location information provided by the user&#39;s mobile device  112 . The user may select one or more of the listed movies or serial programs (or portions thereof) for immediate presentation. The selected content may then be accessed from the remote content system  110  or other suitable source of content for immediate presentation on the user&#39;s mobile device  112 , and/or for presentation at a later time (such as when they return to their hotel or return home at the conclusion of their vacation). 
     As another example, the user geographic playlist  116  may indicate nearby locations that may be of interest to the user, such as restaurants, museums, buildings, shops, vehicles, vessels or the like. The user may then select a particular media content event (or portion thereof) for immediate presentation. For instance, the user may be ready for a meal. A particular media content event (or portion thereof) may pertain to a nearby restaurant. Accordingly, the user could access the media content event (or portion thereof) relating to the nearby restaurant, and obtain information that may help the user to decide whether they would like to eat at the restaurant or eat at another restaurant. 
     To illustrate, a locally produced serial (periodic) program that presents one or more video segments (portions) describing local restaurants may be available from the remote content system  110  that is accessible via the Internet or other suitable on-demand type system. Based on the geographic location information from the user&#39;s mobile device  112 , a user geographic playlist  116  may be presented that lists media content events (or portions thereof), including segments from the locally produced program, that are in the vicinity of the user&#39;s geographic location. In response to a user selection made on one or more of the media content events (or portions thereof) listed on the presented geographic playlist  116 , the one or more selected media content events (or portions thereof) may be immediately accessed from the remote content system  110  for immediate presentation to the user. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more selected media content events (or portions thereof) could be later presented to the user, such as when they are at their hotel room and are contemplating which restaurant to go to for their evening meal. 
     As another example, the user may be near a museum or an architecturally significant building, such as a church or a government office. The user could access information prior to going to the museum or architecturally significant building to enhance their visiting experience. Alternatively, or additionally, the user could view and/or listen to the selected media content event (or portion thereof) during, before, and/or after their visit to the museum or the architecturally significant building by selecting one or more media content events listed on a presented user geographic playlist  116 . 
     To illustrate, a history-based channel may have previously presented media content events (or portions thereof) on a variety of historical topics. One or more of the media content events (or portions thereof) may be about a historical building and/or may be about historical events that occurred on the premises of the historical building. These historical-themed media content events (or portions thereof) may be available from the remote content system  110  that is accessible via the Internet or other suitable on-demand type system. Based on the geographic location information from the user&#39;s mobile device  112 , a user geographic playlist  116  may be presented that lists media content events (or portions thereof), including segments from the locally produced program, that are in the vicinity of the user&#39;s geographic location. The user may select one or more of the related historical media content events (or portions thereof) for immediate presentation on their mobile device  112 , and/or select one or more of the media content events (or portions thereof) for later viewing (such as when they return to their hotel or return home at the conclusion of their vacation). The selected one or more media content events (or portions thereof) is accessed from the remote content system  110  or other suitable source of content. In some situations, the selected media content event (or portion thereof) may be scheduled for broadcast at a future date and time. Accordingly, the selected media content event (or portion thereof) could be scheduled for recording (saving) at their media device  102  for later viewing. 
     As another example, the user may be near a vessel, such as a sailing ship or a famous war vessel. The user could access information about the ship or vessel to enhance their visiting experience. Alternatively, or additionally, the user could view and/or listen to the selected media content events (or portion thereof) by selecting one or more media content events listed on a presented user geographic playlist  116  at a later time to further enhance their previous visit to the ship or vessel. 
     As yet another example, the user may be interested in a particular person of interest, such as a historical figure, an actor, a director, a publisher, a celebrity, a politician, a musician, or the like. When in the vicinity of a location that is relevant to the person of interest, the user geographic playlist  116  would indicate available media content events (or portions thereof) relating to that person of interest. For example, many famous and historical people are known to be buried at Westminster Abbey in London. If the user is interested in a particular historical person who has been buried there, the user may select one or more of the media content events (or portions thereof) listed on the user geographic playlist  116  to learn more about that historical person. 
     In some embodiments, the geographic location information of a selected media content event (or portion thereof) is communicated to the particular mobile device  112  that the user is operating. The geographic location information associated with the selected media content event (or portion thereof) may be presented to the user on the display  118  of their mobile device  112 . The presented location information may be used to provide an address, and/or travel directions, so that the user may move to a more precise location associated with the selected media content event (or portion thereof). 
     General operation of providing broadcasted content via the exemplary environment of  FIG.  1    is now described in greater detail. An exemplary media device  102  includes, but is not limited to, a set top box (STB) that is communicatively coupled to the broadcast system  108 . Other embodiments of the media device  102  include a television (TV), a digital video disc (DVD) player, a digital video disc (DVD) recorder, a game playing device, or a personal computer (PC). The media device  102  is configured to present and/or store selected media content events that are received in the media content stream  114 . 
     The media content stream  114  comprises a plurality of streamed media content events. Some media content broadcast facilities  106  simultaneously broadcast many media content events, even hundreds of broadcast media content events, in the media content stream  114 . The media device  102 , when in operation, is configured by a user to select one of the plurality of simultaneously broadcast media content events for presentation on a media presentation device  120 . Exemplary media presentation devices include, but are not limited to, TV&#39;s, stereos, radios, surround sound systems, personal computers or the like that may be communicatively coupled to the media device  102  that is receiving the media content stream  114 . In some embodiments, the media device  102  and the media presentation device  120  may be an integrated single electronic device 
     In the various embodiments, the media device  102  receives the media content stream  114  over the broadcast system  108 . In the various embodiments, the plurality of media content events are broadcast to the media device  102  over the broadcast system  108 . Broadcasting is the communication of media content to the media device  102 , in an open ended fashion. The media content is broadcast over a dispersed, open ended destination, audience wherein any particular ones of a plurality of media devices  102  may receive the broadcast media content. The media device  102  is configured by their respective user to receive the broadcast media content via the broadcast system  108 . To receive the media content, the media devices  102  are “tuned” to receive media content of interest. 
     An exemplary broadcast system  108  comprises a satellite broadcast system  130 . One or more of the media content streams  114  reside in a transport channel  132  that is uplinked to a plurality of satellites  134 , via a corresponding transmit antenna  136 . The respective transport channels are then communicated, in the form of a wireless signal  138 , from one or more of the satellites  134  down to a receiver antenna  140  that is communicatively coupled to the media device  102 . The received wireless signal  138  (with the media content stream  114 ) is then communicated from the receiver antenna  140  to the media device  102 . The receiver antenna  140  and the media device  102  may be configured to receive multiple wireless signals  138  from a plurality of satellites  134 . The other media devices (not shown) may similarly receive the media content stream  114  over the satellite broadcast system  130 . 
     Alternatively, or additionally, the plurality of media content events may be broadcast to the media device  102  via an over the air (OTA) system  142 . For example, the media content broadcast facility  106  may be a local program provider that broadcasts media content events to the media device  102  using a wireless signal  144 . The received wireless signal  144  with the media content stream  114  is received at the receiver antenna  140 , or may be received directly by a receiver (not shown) residing in the media device  102 . The mobile devices  112  may similarly receive the media content stream  114  via OTA system  142 . 
     Alternatively, or additionally, the plurality of media content events may broadcast to the media device  102  via a cable system  146 . For example, the media content broadcast facility  106  may employ a coaxial cable and/or fiber optic cable  148  that is coupled to the media device  102 . The media content stream  114  is received directly by the media device  102 . 
     In some situations, one or more of the media content events (or portions thereof) listed on a presented geographic playlist  116  may be scheduled for broadcast at a future date and time. Accordingly, the selected media content event (or portion thereof) could be scheduled for recording (saving) at their media device  102  for later viewing. When the selected media content event (or portion thereof) is actually broadcast over the broadcast system  108 , the media device  102  associated with the user may record (store) the broadcasted media content event (or portion thereof). 
     The media device  102 , the geographic location playlist device  104 , the media content broadcast facility  106 , the broadcast system  108 , the optional remote content system  110 , and/or the plurality of mobile devices  112  may be configured to communicatively couple to each other via the communication system  128 . Accordingly, geographic location information, geographic playlists  116 , and or selected media content events (or portions thereof) may be communicated between devices via the communication system  128 . 
     The communication system  128  is illustrated as a generic communication system. In one embodiment, the communication system  128  comprises the Internet. Alternatively, the communication system  128  may be a telephony system, a radio frequency (RF) wireless system, a microwave communication system, a fiber optics system, an intranet system, a local access network (LAN) system, an Ethernet system, a cable system, a radio frequency system, a cellular system, an infrared system, a satellite system, or a hybrid system comprised of multiple types of communication media. Additionally, embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  may be implemented on other types of communication technologies, such as but not limited to, digital subscriber loop (DSL), X.25, Internet Protocol (IP), Ethernet, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). Also, embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  may be employed on combination systems having a plurality of segments which employ different formats for each segment employing different technologies on each segment. 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram of an embodiment of an example geographic location playlist device  104 . The geographic location playlist device  104  comprises a processor system  202 , a communication network interface  204 , and a memory  206 . The memory  206  comprises portions for storing the system management logic  208 , geographic playlist processing logic  210 , browser  212 , electronic program guide (EPG) information  214 , user geographic playlist (geo-playlist) information  216 , and geographic playlist (geo-playlist) information  218 . The processor system  202 , executing the system management logic  208 , manages various operation activities of the geographic location playlist device  104 . An example function of the system management logic  208  is to establish connections to mobile devices  112  that are providing geographic location information. 
     In some embodiments, the system management logic  208 , the geographic playlist processing logic  210 , and/or the browser  212  may be integrated together, and/or may be integrated with other logic. In some embodiments, the electronic program guide (EPG) information  214 , the user geographic playlist information  216 , and/or the geographic playlist information  218  may be integrated together, may be integrated with other data, and/or may reside in separate memory mediums. In some embodiments, some or all of these memory and other data manipulation functions may be provided by and using remote server or other electronic devices suitably connected via the Internet or otherwise to a client device. Other geographic location playlist devices  104  may include some, or may omit some, of the above-described components. Further, additional components not described herein may be included in alternative embodiments. 
     In an example environment, the geographic location playlist device  104  is a server-based device that is configured to electronically receive information and provide information to the media device  102  and/or the mobile devices  112  via the communication system  128 . Accordingly, the communication network interface  204  is configured to provide concurrent connectivity to a plurality of media devices  102  and/or mobile devices  112 . 
     In some embodiments, the EPG information  214  is included in and/or resides in the memory  206  of the geographic location playlist device  104 . The EPG information  214  may have, but is not limited to, information about media content events that are scheduled for broadcasting to the media devices  102  via the broadcast system  108 . The EPG information  214  includes the title, along with the scheduled time and date of the presentation of the broadcasted media content event. A brief description of the broadcasted media content event may also be provided in the EPG information  214 . The EPG information  214  also may indicate the “channel” of the available broadcasted media content event. The channel identifies the originating source of the program, such as a television studio, a premium movie provider, a national program provider, etc. The EPG information  214  is periodically updated by the content provider. In some embodiments, the EPG information  214  stored at the geographic location playlist device  104  is the same, or is substantially the same, as EPG information that is provided to the media device  102 . 
     In an example embodiment, the geographic playlist information  218  is configured as a database structure. The database comprises a list that identifies media content events (or portions thereof) and at least one associated geographic location. Multiple geographic locations may be associated with any particular media content event (or portion thereof). Other information, such as and identifier and/or a title of each media content event (or portion thereof), a comment about the media content event (or portion thereof), a specification of a category associated with the media content event (or portion thereof), a location of where the media content event (or portion thereof) can be accessed, and other information of interest may be included as part of the geographic playlist information  218 . 
     The user geographic playlist information  216  comprises portions for storing information that may be used to define the generated user geographic playlists  116  that are presentable to a user. For example, geographic location playlist information for defining a first geographic playlist  116  for a first user is denoted as user 1 geographic playlist (GP)  220 . Other geographic location playlist information for defining a user geographic playlist  116  for a second user is denoted as user 2 geographic playlist (GP)  222 . Since many different users may be providing geographic location information to the geographic location playlist device  104 , the user geographic playlist information  216  includes geographic location playlist information defining a user geographic playlist  116  for an i th  user of a plurality of users, denoted as user i geographic playlist (GP)  224 . 
     For example, the geographic location playlist device  104  may receive geographic location information from the smart phone  112   b  that indicates a current, previous, and/or anticipated location of a first user via the communication system  128 . Then, user geographic playlist information is generated based on the received geographic location information and one or more media content events (or portions thereof) that are associated with the received geographic location information. The generated user geographic playlist information for the first user may then be optionally stored into the “USER  1 ” geographic playlist  220  portion of memory  206 . Alternatively, or additionally, the user geographic playlist information is communicated, via the communication system  128 , to the media device  102  and/or the mobile devices  112 . In such embodiments, the received user geographic playlist information is used to generate and present the current geographic playlist  116 . 
     Similarly, geographic location information from a mobile device  112  associated with a second user may be received. This geographic location information indicates a current, previous, and/or anticipated location of a second user. Then, the user geographic playlist information is generated based on the received geographic location information and one or more media content events (or portions thereof) that are associated with the received geographic location information associated with the second user. The generated user geographic playlist information for the second user may then be optionally stored into the user 2 geographic playlist  222  portion of memory  206 , and alternatively or additionally, may be communicated to a media device  102  and/or a mobile device  112  being used by the second user. 
     In the example embodiment of  FIG.  2   , the geographic location playlist device  104  is configured to generate user geographic playlist information for many users. Thus, the user geographic playlist information  216  provides for storing geographic location playlist information for a plurality of different users (as conceptually indicated by the user i geographic playlist  224 ). 
     In an example embodiment, a user subscribes to a service to receive generated playlists based on geographic location information provided by their mobile device  112 . The service may be a free service or may be a paid-for service. 
     In some embodiments, the geographic location playlist device  104  continuously, or at least periodically on an ongoing basis, receives geographic location information from a subscribing user&#39;s mobile device  112 . In such embodiments, the user&#39;s mobile device  112  continuously, or at least periodically on an ongoing basis, communicates (pushes) the geographic location information to the geographic location playlist device  104 . Alternatively, or additionally, the geographic location information may be communicated from the user&#39;s mobile device  112  in response to a user initiated command or instruction. As the user moves about, the received geographic location information indicates a change in the user&#39;s location. Accordingly, updated or replacement geographic location playlist information is generated by the geographic location playlist device  104  based on the changes in the user&#39;s location (that is, a location change that exceeds a predefined threshold distance). The updated or replacement geographic location playlist information may then be saved into the user geographic playlist information  216  portion of memory  206  after determining a location change exceeding the predetermined threshold distance. The threshold distance may be predefined by an operator of the geographic location playlist device  104  and/or the user. The threshold distance may vary based on current location. For example, a first threshold distance may be used when the user is in a city, a shorter threshold distance may be used when the user is at a museum or shopping center, and a longer threshold distance may be used when the user is in the countryside or traveling between cities or the like. In some embodiments, the threshold distance may be adjusted based on a rate of travel of the user. For example, a first threshold distance may be used when the user is travelling in their automobile, a shorter threshold distance may be used when the user is walking, and a longer threshold distance may be used when the user is flying between different locations. 
     In an alternative embodiment, received geographic location information is stored by the geographic location playlist device  104 . In response to receiving a request for geographic location playlist information initiated by the user, the geographic location playlist device  104  then generates the geographic location playlist information. In such embodiments, the geographic location playlist device  104  determines and generates geographic location playlist information only for requesting users, thereby reducing computational loading on the geographic location playlist device  104 . That is, there may be many users who are moving about, but only a limited number of users who wish to receive updated or replacement geographic location playlist information. 
     Further, the locations for which updated or replacement geographic location playlist information may be limited based on a predefined duration (such as one hour, a day, a week, or a portion thereof). Alternatively, or additionally, the locations for which updated or replacement geographic location playlist information may be limited based on a predefined distance from the current location of the user (such as within 10 kilometers of the present location of the user), and/or based on a predefined distance of movement of the user (such as a 10 mile trip being travelled by the user). 
     The predefined duration and/or distance may be specified by the provider that manages operation of the geographic location playlist device  104 . Alternatively, or additionally, the predefined duration and/or distance may be specified by the user. For example, the user may be interested in receiving geographic location playlist information for their travels during a particular day and/or their travels about some geographic region of interest. For example, user account information may provide for the user to pre-specify the predefined duration and/or distance for which geographic location playlist information will be determined. The user account information may be updated or changed at the discretion of the user. To illustrate, the user may specify a relatively short predefined duration and/or distance while in their home city, and then change the predefined duration and/or distance before they begin their vacation to a foreign city. In other embodiments, the specification of the predefined duration and/or distance may be included as part of a user request to receive updated or replacement geographic location playlist information. 
     In the various embodiments, the updated or replacement geographic location playlist information may be automatically communicated (pushed) to the user&#39;s mobile device  112  on a periodic basis so that a current and fresh geographic playlist  116  is readily available at the mobile device  112 . In an example embodiment, the user may then view the user geographic playlist  116  at their convenience by requesting presentation of the user geographic playlist  116  that has been pushed to their mobile device  112 . 
     In an example embodiment, the updated or replacement geographic location playlist information may be automatically communicated to the mobile device  112  based upon a change in the user&#39;s location by some predefined distance. Alternatively, or additionally, the updated or replacement geographic location playlist information may be automatically communicated to the mobile device  112  periodically based upon some predefined duration of time. To illustrate, an example embodiment may push the updated or replacement geographic location playlist information to the user&#39;s mobile device  112  after the user&#39;s location has changed by one kilometer (the predefined distance) and/or after expiration of a one hour period (the predefined duration) since the last previous communication of the updated or replacement geographic location playlist information to the user&#39;s mobile device  112 . 
     Alternatively, or additionally, some embodiments will communicate updated or replacement geographic location playlist information in response to receiving a request from the user. The user initiates the request using their mobile device  112  and/or their media device  102 . A request message or the like is sent from the mobile device  112  and/or the media device to the geographic location playlist device  104 . In response, the geographic location playlist device  104  communicates the updated or replacement geographic location playlist information to the requesting mobile device  112  or media device  102 . Alternatively, or additionally, the geographic location playlist device  104  communicates the updated or replacement geographic location playlist information to all mobile devices  112  and/or media devices  102  associated with that particular user in response to receiving the user request. 
     In some embodiments, the user request may include one or more parameters from which the geographic location playlist information is determined. For example, the user request may specify a particular location, such as a planned destination such as a city, a museum, a shopping center, a historical attraction, or other well known location. Alternatively, or additionally, the user request may include specification of categories, topics, or the like of interest to the user. In response to a user request, embodiments will communicate updated or replacement geographic location playlist information to the mobile device  112  based on the user&#39;s request. 
     Operation of an example embodiment of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  is now generally described. The processor system  202 , executing the geographic playlist processing logic  210 , determines a location of a particular mobile device  112  based on the received geographic location information. Then, the determined location of the mobile device  112  is compared with the locations of the plurality of media content event (or portions thereof) stored in the geographic playlist information  218 . When a match in a location associated with a media content event (or portion thereof) is found with the determined location of the mobile device  112 , information identifying the associated media content event (or portion thereof) is used to generate the user geographic playlist information for that particular user. For example, the identifier of the media content event (or portion thereof) and a comment describing the relevance to the determined location may be retrieved from the geographic playlist information  218 . The retrieved identifier and comment are added into the geographic location playlist information associated with that particular user. The geographic location playlist information may be added into the user geographic playlist information  216  portion associated with that particular user and/or may be communicated to one or more of the media devices and/or the mobile devices  112  associated with that particular user. 
     In some embodiments, a match between the determined location of a mobile device  112  and a location of a media content event (or portion thereof) may be determined if the respective locations are within some predefined distance threshold of each other. A match may be determined when the mobile device  112  location and the media content event location are within a predefined threshold distance of each other. For example, if the mobile device  112  and the location of a media content event (or portion thereof) are within one kilometer of each other, then the geographic location playlist generation system  100  may determine an occurrence of a match, and then add the identifier of the media content event (or portion thereof) and the associated comment retrieved from the geographic playlist information  218  into the user geographic playlist information  216  portion associated with that particular user. 
     The predefined threshold distance may be specified by the provider that manages operation of the geographic location playlist device  104 . Alternatively, or additionally, the predefined threshold distance may be specified by the user. 
     Threshold distances may be variable based on various conditions (speed of movement or travel, particular location characteristics, etc.). The predefined distance threshold may be a variable value that is defined based upon the particular interest of the user. For example, if the user is interested in a category pertaining to food, the predefined distance threshold may be a relatively short distance. Thus, the listed media content event (or portion thereof) may pertain to restaurants that the user could readily walk to. In another situation, for that user or a different user, the predefined distance threshold may be relatively larger if the category pertained to a person, such as a historical figure. Thus, the listed media content event (or portion thereof) could be a historical site that the user could travel to by car, bus or taxi. Accordingly, the predefined distances may be defined based on a characteristic that is associated with a category that is user specified or that is associated with a type of media content event (or portion thereof). 
     In the various embodiments, a presented geographic playlist  116  is configured to permit the user to select one of the media content events (or portions thereof) for presentation on their mobile device  112 . Accordingly, embodiments of the geographic location playlist device  104  may execute the browser  212  to identify a source of the selected media content event (or portion thereof). For example, the selected media content event (or portion thereof) may be available from the remote content system  110 . Accordingly, information for establishing a link between the user&#39;s mobile device  112  and the remote content system  110 , and information for accessing the selected media content event (or portion thereof), may be communicated to the user&#39;s mobile device  112 . In response to receiving the information, the user&#39;s mobile device could then access the selected media content event (or portion thereof), and initiate presentation of the media content event (or portion thereof) on the display  118  of the mobile device  112 . 
     Alternatively, or additionally, embodiments of the geographic location playlist device  104  may search the EPG information  214  for the selected media content event (or portion thereof). If the selected media content event (or portion thereof) is found in the EPG information  214 , recording information (information specifying the storing of the media content event or portion thereof based on the scheduled channel, date and time of broadcast) may be communicated to the media device  102 . In response, the media device  102  may record the specified media content event (or portion thereof) so that the user may later view the stored media content event (or portion thereof). In some embodiments, the recording information is communicated to the user&#39;s mobile device  112 . The user may then opt to record (save) that particular media content event (or portion thereof). A confirmation to record may then be communicated back to the geographic location playlist device  104  (wherein the recording information is then communicated from the geographic location playlist device  104  to the media device  102 ). Alternatively, or additionally, the recording information may be sent from the user&#39;s mobile device  112  to the media device  102  so that a recording of the selected media content event (or portion thereof) is scheduled by the media device  102 . 
       FIG.  3    is a block diagram of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  implemented in an example media device  102 , such as, but not limited to, a set top box (STB). Embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  may be implemented in other media devices, such as, but not limited to, stereos, surround-sound receivers, radios, televisions (TVs), digital video disc (DVD) players, digital video recorders (DVRs), cellular phones equipped with video functionality, personal device assistants (PDAs), game playing devices, or personal computers (PCs) that are configured to present a video-based media content event that is received in a media content stream  114 . 
     The exemplary media device  102  is communicatively coupled to a media presentation system  300  that includes a visual display device, such as a television  120  (hereafter, generically a TV), and an audio presentation device  302 , such as a surround sound receiver controlling an audio reproduction device (hereafter, generically, a speaker). Other types of output devices may also be coupled to the media device  102 , including those providing any sort of stimuli sensible by a human being, such as temperature, vibration and the like. The video portion of the media content event is displayed on the display  118  and the audio portion of the media content event is reproduced as sounds by one or more speakers  304 . In some embodiments, the media device  102  and one or more of the components of the media presentation system  300  may be integrated into a single electronic device. 
     The non-limiting exemplary media device  102  comprises a media content stream interface  306 , a processor system  308 , a memory  310 , a program buffer  312 , an optional digital video recorder (DVR)  314 , a presentation device interface  316 , a remote interface  318 , and a communication network interface  320 . The memory  310  comprises portions for storing the media device logic  322 , the geographic playlist processing logic  210 , the browser  212 , the electronic program guide (EPG) information  214 , the user geographic playlists (geo-playlists)  216 , and the geographic playlist (geo-playlist) information  218 . In some embodiments, the media device logic  322 , the geographic playlist processing logic  210 , and/or the browser  212  may be integrated together, and/or may be integrated with other logic. In some embodiments, the electronic program guide (EPG) information  214 , the user geographic playlist information  216 , and/or the geographic playlist information  218  may be integrated together, may be integrated with other data, and/or may reside in separate memory mediums. In other embodiments, some or all of these memory and other data manipulation functions may be provided by and using remote server or other electronic devices suitably connected via the Internet or otherwise to a client device. Other media devices may include some, or may omit some, of the above-described media processing components. Further, additional components not described herein may be included in alternative embodiments. 
     The functionality of the media device  102 , here a set top box, is now broadly described. A media content provider provides a plurality of media content events (interchangeably referred to herein as media content) that is received in one or more multiple media content streams  114  multiplexed together in one or more transport channels. The transport channels with the media content streams  114  are communicated to the media device  102  from a media system sourced from the media content broadcast facility ( FIG.  1   ) operated by the media content provider. Non-limiting examples of such media systems include the satellite broadcast system  130 , the over the air system  142 , the cable system  146 , and the Internet (communicatively coupled to the media device  102  via the communication system  128 ). For example, if the media content provider provides programming via a satellite-based communication system, the media device  102  is configured to receive one or more broadcasted satellite signals detected by the antenna  140  ( FIG.  1   ). Alternatively, or additionally, the media content stream  114  can be received from one or more different sources, such as, but not limited to, a cable system, a radio frequency (RF) communication system, or the Internet. 
     The one or more media content streams  114  are received by the media content stream interface  306 . One or more tuners  306   a  in the media content stream interface  306  selectively tune to one of the media content streams  114  in accordance with instructions received from the processor system  308 . The processor system  308 , executing the media device logic  322  and based upon a request for a media content event of interest specified by a user, parses out media content associated with the media content event of interest. The media content event of interest is then assembled into a stream of video and/or audio information which may be stored by the program buffer  312  such that the media content can be streamed out to components of the media presentation system  300 , such as the visual display device (such as the example television  120 ) and/or the audio presentation device  302 , via the presentation device interface  316 . Alternatively, or additionally, the parsed out media content may be saved into the DVR  314  for later presentation. The DVR  314  may be directly provided in, locally connected to, or remotely connected to, the media device  102 . In alternative embodiments, the media content streams  114  may stored for later decompression, processing and/or decryption. 
     From time to time, information populating the EPG information  214  portion of the memory  310  is communicated to the media device  102 , via the media content stream  114  or via another suitable media. The EPG information  214  stores the information pertaining to the scheduled programming. The information may include, but is not limited to, a scheduled presentation start and/or end time, a program channel, and/or descriptive information. The program&#39;s descriptive information may include the identifier of the program, names of performers, directors or actors; date of creation; and/or a summary describing the nature of the program. Any suitable information may be included in the program&#39;s supplemental information. Upon receipt of a command from the user requesting presentation of an EPG display, the information in the EPG information  214  is retrieved, formatted, and then presented on the display  118  as an EPG. 
     The exemplary media device  102  is configured to receive commands from a user via a remote control  324 . The remote control  324  includes one or more controllers  326 . The user, by actuating one or more of the controllers  326 , causes the remote control  324  to generate and transmit commands, via a wireless signal  328 , to the media device  102 . The commands control the media device  102  and/or control components of the media presentation system  300 . The wireless signal  328  may be an infrared (IR) signal or a radio frequency (RF) signal that is detectable by the remote interface  318 . For example, but not limited to, the commands may control presentation of information shown on a presented geographic playlist  116 . 
     The processes performed by the media device  102  relating to the processing of the received media content stream  114  and communication of a presentable media content event to the components of the media presentation system  300  are generally implemented by the processor system  308  while executing the media device logic  322 . Thus, the media device  102  may perform a variety of functions related to the processing and presentation of one or more media content events received in the media content stream  114 . 
     In a first example embodiment of the media device  102 , the processor system  308 , executing the geographic playlist processing logic  210 , receives geographic location playlist information from the geographic location playlist device  104 . Then, the received user geographic location playlist information is used to generate a user geographic playlist  116  that is presented on the display  118  For example, the identifier of the media content event (or portion thereof) and a comment describing the relevance to the determined location may be presented to the user. Alternatively, or additionally, the received geographic location playlist information is stored in the user geographic playlist information  216  portion of memory  310  so that the user geographic playlist  116  may be generated and presented at a later time. 
     From time to time, updated or replacement geographic location playlist information is received from the geographic location playlist device  104 . Accordingly, the geographic playlist processing logic  210  can update the geographic location playlist information in the user geographic playlist information  216 . For example, new entries may be added for one or more media content events (or portions thereof) as the user moves to a new location. 
     Alternatively, or additionally, stale entries in the user geographic playlist information  216  may be deleted, erased or otherwise discarded as the location of those stale entries are no longer relevant to the user. For example, stale entries may be defined based on a duration of time, such as twenty four hours. Thus, if the user is travelling in a first city and then moves to a next city during their vacation, the stale entries pertaining to the locations of the first city may be optionally deleted. Alternatively, or additionally, stale locations may be defined based on some predefined distance threshold. The predefined duration and/or distance may be specified by the provider that manages operation of the geographic location playlist device  104 . Alternatively, or additionally, the predefined duration and/or distance may be specified by the user. For example, if the first city and the second city above are one hundred miles apart, a distance threshold of fifty miles may be used to delete stale entries associated with the first city as the user travels to the second city. In such embodiments, the entries in the user geographic playlist  116  are maintained in a current state so as to remain relevant to the user&#39;s current locations (as determined by their mobile device  112 ). 
     In a second embodiment of the media device  102 , the geographic location information is communicated from the mobile devices  112  to the media device  102 . The location information may then be communicated from the media device  102  to the geographic location playlist device  104  so that the geographic location playlist information can be determined at the geographic location playlist device  104 . Then, the geographic location playlist information may be communicated from the geographic location playlist device  104  to the media device  102 . 
     For example, the geographic location playlist device  104  may be communicatively coupled to the media device  102  via a cable system that is also providing the media content stream  114 . Thus, a proprietary geographic location playlist device  104  may be managed and maintained by the service provider in a more secure, reliable, and cost efficient manner. In such embodiments, the communication network interface  204  in the geographic location playlist device  104  may be omitted to reduce component costs and to avoid service access charges assessed by owners of the communication system  128 . 
     In a third embodiment of the media device  102 , the media device  102  receives geographic location information from the mobile devices  112 . The processor system  308 , executing the geographic playlist processing logic  210 , determines a location of a particular mobile device  112  based on the received geographic location information. Then, the determined location is compared with locations residing in the geographic playlist information  218 . When a match in a location associated with a media content event (or portion thereof) is found with the determined location of the mobile device  112 , information identifying the associated media content event (or portion thereof) may be used to generate the geographic location playlist information for that particular user. For example, the identifier of the media content event (or portion thereof) and a comment describing the relevance to the determined location may be retrieved from the geographic playlist information  218  residing in memory  310 , and may be added into the user geographic playlist information  216  portion associated with that particular user. 
     In the example third embodiment, updates to and/or replacement of the geographic playlist information  218  is received from time to time at the media device  102  from an external source, such as, but not limited to, the geographic location playlist device  104 . Alternatively, or additionally, updates to the geographic playlist information  218  may be obtained by using the browser  212 . Updates to and/or replacement of the geographic playlist information  218  may be received from any suitable remote source. 
     Alternatively, or additionally, the geographic playlist information  218  may be generated from, or at least in part from, the EPG information  214 . For example, a travel show may indicate locations of featured attractions in the metadata in the received media content event. As another example, the metadata may identify a restaurant by its name and general location, such as the city where the restaurant is located. The browser  212  could then be used to obtain a more accurate location for the featured attraction or restaurant for inclusion in the geographic playlist information  218  that is generated from the EPG information. 
       FIG.  4    conceptually illustrates an example format of a database  400  used for an exemplary geographic playlist information  218 . The example database  400  comprises a listing of unique identifiers, such as the titles  402 , of a plurality of media content events (or portions thereof). For example, the identifier “CONTENT TITLE  1 ” is appreciated to correspond to the title of a first media content event (or portion thereof) that is listed in the database  400 . The identifiers “CONTENT TITLE  2 ” though “CONTENT TITLE i” indicate other ones of the plurality of media content events (or portions thereof) populating the database  400 . Any suitable unique identifier that uniquely identifies each one of the plurality of media content events may be used in the various embodiments. 
     Associated with each identifier of a particular media content event (or portion thereof) is at least one geographic location  404 . For example, the “GEO-LOC  1 A” is a geographic location that is associated with the first listed media content event (or portion thereof) that has been identified by its respective “CONTENT TITLE  1 ” entry. 
     Any particular listed media content event (or portion thereof) may have a plurality of associated geographic locations. For example, the second listed media content event (or portion thereof) that has been identified by its respective “CONTENT TITLE  2 ” entry may be a movie that has scenes that were filed at a plurality of different locations. Accordingly, the geographic locations “GEO-LOC  2 A” through “GEO-LOC  2   n ” are the plurality of different geographic locations that have been associated with the second listed media content event (or portion thereof). 
     When embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  receive geographic location information from a mobile device  112 , the geographic location of the mobile device  112  (and therefore, presumably the location of the user) is determined. This determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  is then compared with the listed geographic locations in the geographic locations  404  portion of the database  400 . In the event that a match between the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  and one of the listed geographic locations in the geographic locations  404 , the associated identifier of the media content event (or portion thereof) may be added to the geographic location playlist information that is used to generate a user geographic playlist  116 . 
     For example, if the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  matches (at least within some predefined distance threshold) with the geographic location “GEO-LOC  3 B” in the geographic locations  404 , then the media content event (or portion thereof) identified by the name “CONTENT TITLE  3 ” may be added to the geographic location playlist information that is used to generate a user geographic playlist  116 . Further, if the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  matches (at least within some predefined distance threshold) with the geographic location “GEO-LOC  1 A” in the database  400 , then the media content event (or portion thereof) identified by the name “CONTENT TITLE  1 ” may also be added to the geographic location playlist information. 
     Comments may be optionally included in the comments portion  406  of the database  400 . Comments are a brief textual description explaining some characteristic about the associated media content event (or portion thereof) and/or an explanation of the geographic location significance or relationship of the associated media content event (or portion thereof). For example, the comment “COM  1 A” associated with the first media content event (or portion thereof) listed as “CONTENT TITLE  1 ” may indicate a geographic location where a scene of the media content event (or portion thereof) was filmed. 
     Further, comments may be associated with geographic locations. For example, the comment “COM  1 A” may be associated with the geographic location “GEO-LOC  1 A” in the comments  406  portion. Thus, when the comment (“COM  1 A”) is included as part of the presented geographic playlist  116 , the user will better appreciate the relevance of the listed media content event (or portion thereof) to their current location (that was provided by their mobile device  112 ). 
     Similarly, the comment “COM  1 B” may be associated with the geographic location “GEO-LOC  1 B” in the database  400 . Accordingly, if the current geographic location information from the mobile device  112  corresponds to the second location (“GEO-LOC  1 B), the comment (”COM  1 B″) is then included as part of the presented geographic playlist  116 . Furthermore, it is appreciated that the comment “COM  1 A” would not be included since the current location of the mobile device  112  does not match the associated “GEO-LOC  1 A” in the geographic locations  404 . Other comments associated with different geographic locations would also be omitted from the presented geographic playlist  116 . Accordingly, the user will better appreciate the relevance of the listed media content event (or portion thereof) to their current location. 
     In practice, the number of media content events (or portions thereof) may be very large, numbering into the thousands or even hundreds of thousands of media content events (or portions thereof). To facilitate an efficient and effective searching process where the listed geographic locations in the database  400  are compared with a determined geographic location of the mobile device  112 , one or more categories may be optionally associated with each particular media content event (or portion thereof). Categories are identified using a suitable category identifier, which is a string of alpha numeric characters. Accordingly, the category identifiers (interchangeably referred to herein as category names) are intuitively understood by the user to identify the category associated with a particular media content event (or portion thereof). 
     One example type of category is a theme type category defined herein as category that is based on, and thus is named for, a theme-based characteristic of a media content event (or portion thereof). Another non-limiting example is a content type category, which is defined herein as category that is based on a type of the media content event (or portion thereof). Another non-limiting type of category is the object type category defined herein as category that is based on, and thus is named for, an object that is associated with a media content event (or portion thereof). 
     A variety of categories may be used by the various embodiments. For example, content type categories for media content events may include, but are not limited to, movies, serial programs, sporting events, travel programs, cooking programs, animation programs, historical programs, news broadcasts, and even advertisements, commercials or the like. Object type categories may include, but are not limited to, names of individual objects or people (actors, directors, publishers, celebrities, politicians, singers, musicians, athletes, historical figures, etc.). Theme type categories for media content events may include generalized classes of physical objects (museums, political offices, businesses, architecturally or historically significant buildings, automobiles, aircraft, ships, natural scenery such as mountains or canyons, etc.). Object type categories for media content events may include, but are not limited to, names of individual objects (such as the unique names of a museum, a political office, a businesses, an architecturally or historically significant building, an automobile, an aircraft, a ship, a natural scenery object such as a mountain or canyon, etc.) or people (names of actors, directors, publishers, celebrities, politicians, singers, musicians, athletes, historical figures, etc.). Any suitable category of interest for media content events may be defined for the various embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100 . 
     In practice, the user may specify one or more predefined category identifiers of interest that are stored in the categories  408  portion of the database  400 . A selected category identifier (or multiple selected category identifiers) will then be used to search the database  400 . When a search of the database  400  is conducted, the comparison of the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  with geographic location information stored in the database  400  is searched only for those media content events (or portions thereof) that have been associated the specified category identifiers. 
     Any particular listed media content event (or portion thereof) in the database  400  may have one or more associated categories which are stored in the categories  408  portion of the database  400 . For example, category “CAT  1 A” is associated with the first listed media content event (or portion thereof). The category “CAT  2 A” and category “CAT  2 B” are associated with the second listed media content event (or portion thereof). Thus, if the category “CAT  1 A” is specified, the geographic locations associated with the first media content event (or portion thereof) identified as “CONTENT TITLE  1 ” is searched. If the category “CAT  1 A” and the category “CAT  2 B” are the same, for example, then the geographic locations associated with the first and the second media content events (or portions thereof) are searched. 
     Information specifying the categories may be communicated from the user&#39;s mobile device  112  concurrently with, or separately from, the communication of the geographic location information. To illustrate, the user may be on vacation in a foreign city and may be interested in a particular musician. The user may specify an object type category of “musicians” (or even specify the musician&#39;s name). When a search of the database  400  is conducted, the comparison of the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  with geographic location information stored in the database  400  is searched only for those media content events (or portions thereof) that have been associated the musicians category (or that have been associated with the musician&#39;s name). Thus, other media content events (or portions thereof) that are not associated with the musicians category, such as media content events (or portions thereof) that have been associated with restaurants or history, will not be searched. 
     Alternatively, or additionally, categories may be automatically selected for searching the database  400  based on information that is derived from the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112 . In such embodiments, geographic locations are associated with one or more particular categories. When the geographic location of the mobile device  112  is determined, that determined geographic location may be then used to identify particular categories that have been associated with that particular location. 
     For example, the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  may indicate that the user is currently in a shopping mall. Thus, an embodiment may automatically select categories such as shops, restaurants, and/or other places of interest that typically are associated with a shopping mall. As another non-limiting example, when the user&#39;s mobile device  112  is in proximity to a museum, the embodiment may automatically select categories that are associated with historical buildings, art objects, historical figures, and/or historical events that may be topics associated with museums. 
     As another example, the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  may tend to indicate that the user is currently located in a region known for growing grapes that are used in making wine. Accordingly, a location associated with wine making and/or vineyards may be automatically selected by the geographic location playlist generation system  100 . Accordingly, a user geographic playlist  116  listing media content events (or portions thereof) pertaining to wine making and/or vineyards may be presented to the user. Further, the user may additionally specify a category to further filter searching. For example, the user may specify “movies” as a category such that movies associated with wine making and/or vineyards is the region of the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  are identified. As another example, the user may specify “restaurants” as a category such that the search returns media content events (or portions thereof) pertaining to restaurants that are in the vicinity of the wine making and/or vineyards region. 
     In some embodiments, information identifying a location where a listed media content event (or portion thereof) may be accessed is included in the content location  410  portion of the database  400 . For example, if the first media content event (or portion thereof) is available from the remote content system  110 , connectivity and/or access information is stored in the associated content location  410 . Accordingly, if the user selects the first media content event (or portion thereof) for presentation on their mobile device  112  or for presentation or recording at their media device  102 , the connectivity and/or access information is used for accessing this first media content event (or portion thereof). In this situation, information to establish a link to the remote content system  110  is provided to the mobile device  112  so that the remote content system  110  is accessed. Further, information identifying the media content event (or portion thereof) is provided so that the remote content system  110  can access and then communicate that particular specified media content event (or portion thereof) to the mobile device  112  (or the media device  102 ). 
     Alternatively, or additionally, the media content event (or portion thereof) may be scheduled for broadcast at a future time. The channel, date and time of the future broadcast can be determined from the EPG information  214 . Accordingly, the channel, date and time of the future broadcast of the media content event (or portion thereof) may be saved into the content location  410  portion of the database  400 . This information, when presented to the user, may inform the user of the option of later viewing the identified media content event (or portion thereof) and/or the option of having their media device record the identified media content event (or portion thereof). 
     In many situations, the entirety of a particular media content event is stored in a single location, such as at the remote content system  110 . In such situations where a particular media content event is segmented into a plurality of portions, information identifying the location of each portion within the media content event is stored in the content location  410  portion of the database  400 . Accordingly, when a user selects a portion of a media content event for presentation, embodiments can communicate the location information of the portion of interest so that only that portion is presented or recorded. 
     In an example embodiment, the start and the end of a particular portion of a media content event is identified and saved into the content location  410  portion of the database  400 . The start and end of the portion may be identified my a time stamp or the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the start and end of the portion may be identified by a time stamp of the start and a specified duration or the portion. Other suitable references in the media content event, such as tags, metadata information, frame identifiers, or the like may be used to identify the start and end of a portion of a media content event. 
     In an example embodiment, the source of the selected media content event, such as the remote content system  110 , is configured to provide the requested portion of the media content event. The requested portion of the media content event may then be communicated to the user&#39;s mobile device  112  and/or to the media device  102  for presentation and/or recording. In another embodiment, the entirety of the media content event is communicated, and is then later segmented into the portion of interest. For example, if the user specifies that the media device  102  is to record the portion of interest, the entirety of the media content event may communicated and/or is broadcast to the media device  102  such that the portion of interest is recorded when received at the media device  102 . 
     In some situations, the predefined threshold distances used for matching the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  with the geographic locations stored in the geographic locations  404  portion of the database  400  may be different. For example, the predefined distances may be defined based on a specified category. For instance, if the “restaurants” category is specified, the predefined threshold distance may be relatively short, such as a few hundred yards or a kilometer. Thus, the user could easily walk to or drive to a restaurant that is identified in a media content event (or portion thereof) that is listed in a presented user geographic playlist  116 . On the other hand, if a “historical event” category is listed, the predefined threshold distance may be several kilometers, or even hundreds of kilometers, so that the user could make travel plans to visit the location associated with the historical event that is associated with the media content event (or portion thereof) that is listed in a presented user geographic playlist  116 . These category-based predefined threshold distances are stored is a suitable location in the database  400  or in another suitable memory medium. Threshold distances may be user specific. For example, a first user may have access to an automobile, such as a rented car while on vacation. In contrast, a second user may be relying on public transportation, such as a taxi cab, a bus, or the like. Accordingly, the threshold distance for the first user may be greater than the threshold distance for the second user. 
     Any suitable database format for the database  400  may be used by the various embodiments. For example, the database  400  may be configured as a relational database. In some embodiments, the above-described information of the database  400  may be distributed over a plurality of memory mediums, some of which may be remotely located. 
       FIG.  5    is an illustration of an example embodiment of a user geographic playlist  500 . The example user geographic playlist  500  includes a listing of the identifier, such as the title, of at least one media content event (or portion thereof) that has an associated geographic location that corresponds to (matches) the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112 . The user geographic playlist  500  corresponds to the user geographic playlist of  FIG.  1   . 
     The user geographic playlist  500  is arranged in a column format with a column  502  indicating content identifiers and a column  504  indicating content comments (“content com”) pertaining to the adjacent associated listed media content event (or portion thereof). Any suitable format may be used to present information on a user geographic playlist  116 . Further, additional information, such as associated category identifiers and or a specific address, may be included on a presented user geographic playlist  500 . 
     The user geographic playlist  500  is configured to be presented on the display  118  of the mobile device  112  or a display  118  communicatively coupled to the media device  102  ( FIG.  1   ). When the display  118  of the mobile device  112  is relatively small, the content of the presented user geographic playlist  500  may be limited so as to improve visibility and/or readability for the user. If the display is relatively large, additional information may be added to a presented user geographic playlist  500 . Further, font sizes and or font types may be adjusted to optimize visibility and/or readability for the user. 
     In the event that a large number of media content events (or portions thereof) are listed in a presented user geographic playlist  500 , such that all of the listed media content events (or portions thereof) cannot be concurrently presented on the display  118 , a user may operate their mobile device  112  to scroll down, and/or page down, through the listings of media content events (or portions thereof). Some embodiments may permit the user to sort the listed media content events based on a user-specified search criteria and/or a user-specified category or the like that is specified by the user via their mobile device  112 . 
     The information presented in column  504  is based on information stored in the comments  406  portion of the database  400  ( FIG.  4   ). The presented information is selected so that the viewing user appreciates the relevance of the listed media content event (or portion thereof) to their current location (that was provided by their mobile device  112 ). Other information may include the location and/or an address pertaining to the listed media content event (or portion thereof). 
     In some embodiments, the presented user geographic playlist  500  is an interactive type graphical user interface (GUI) that the user may interact with. For example, the user may scroll down to a listed one of the media content events (or portions thereof), and then select that media content event (or portion thereof). If the display is a touch sensitive type display, the user may simply touch the particular listed media content event (or portion thereof) of interest to cause the selection. 
     For example,  FIG.  5    illustrates that the second listed media content event (or portion thereof) identified as “CONTENT TITLE  2 ” has been selected by the user, as indicated by the bold lining  506  about that listed media content event (or portion thereof). Here, the comment  508  (“CONTENT COM  2 ”) associated with the selected media content event (or portion thereof) has provided sufficient information for the viewing user to intuitively appreciate the significance of that particular media content event (or portion thereof) to their current location. Here, it is appreciated that the user is interested in viewing the selected media content event (or portion thereof) and/or in obtaining additional supplemental information about the selected media content event (or portion thereof). 
     Embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  may be configured to take a variety of actions in response to a user selection of one of the listed media content events (or portions thereof). Some embodiments may cause the selected media content event (or portion thereof) to be accessed and presented on the display  118 . Alternatively, or additionally, the media device  102  may be configured to record the selected media content event (or portion thereof). 
     In some embodiments, selection of a listed media content event (or portion thereof) will change presentation on the display  118  to another screen display and/or GUI.  FIG.  6    is an illustration of an example embodiment of a GUI  600  that is presented on the display  118  in response to a user&#39;s selection of one of the listed media content events (or portions thereof). Here, the title  602  of the selected media content event (or portion thereof) is indicated along with a portion that provides additional detailed information  604  pertaining to the selected media content event (or portion thereof). 
     In some embodiments, an active region  606  of the GUI  600  permits the user to cause the geographic location playlist generation system  100  to perform other specified actions. For example, if more descriptive information is available, the user may select the “More Information” option by appropriately activating the GUI  600 . In response to selecting the “More Information” option, a new page is pretend with the additional descriptive information. 
     Alternatively, or additionally, embodiments may enable the user to initiate presentation of the selected media content event (or portion thereof). Here, the user may appropriately activate the GUI  600  such that the selected media content event (or portion thereof) is accessed and is immediately presented on the display  118 . 
     Alternatively, or additionally, embodiments may enable the user to initiate a recording (storing) of the selected media content event (or portion thereof). Here, the user may appropriately activate the GUI  600  such that the selected media content event (or portion thereof) becomes scheduled for recording by the media device  102 . In some embodiments, the mobile device  112  may become configured to record the selected media content event (or portion thereof). 
     In another embodiment of the user geographic playlist  116 , an indication is presented to the user that informs the user that a list of media content events (or portions thereof) that are relevant to the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112  is available. The user may then selectively opt to have the user geographic playlist  116  presented. 
     In some embodiments, the user may be able to sort, filter, search, or otherwise screen a plurality of identified media content events (or portions thereof) prior to presentation of the user geographic playlist  116  on the display  118 . For example, current user geographic playlist information may contain many listed media content events (or portions thereof). Here, a listing of selectable categories may be presented to the user prior to presentation of the user geographic playlist  116 . The user may select one or more of the presented categories, and/or specify their own category of interest. Based on the selected categories, the entire list of identified media content events (or portions thereof) may then be filtered such that only those particular media content events (or portions thereof) that are associated with the selected categories are present on the user geographic playlist  116 . 
     When filtering by a specified category, the user specified category is used to identify categories stored in the categories  408  portion of the database  400  that have been associated with media content events (or portions thereof). Alternatively, or additionally, a keyword search, based on one or more user-specified keywords, may be made for like or similar words that are stored in the comments portion  406  of the database  400  that have been associated with media content events (or portions thereof). 
     Further, in some embodiments that filter based on selected categories, the user may be permitted to navigate through a plurality of pages in a hierarchal manner to refine category selection. For example, a first presented page of general categories may list content type categories, such as movies, serial programs, sporting events, travel programs, cooking programs, animation programs, historical programs, news broadcasts, and even advertisements, commercials or the like. In response to selection of one of the content type categories, a list of more specific theme type categories and/or object type categories related to the selected general content type category may be presented. For example, the user may select the general content type category of cooking programs. Subcategories relating to cooking programs may then be offered. Example subcategories may include types of cuisine, restaurants, cooking techniques, names of chefs, or the like. In response to selecting one or more subcategories, one or more media content events (or portions thereof) that are associated with the selected subcategories, and that are within proximity to the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112 , may be identified to generate geographic location playlist information. This geographic location playlist information is then used to present a user geographic playlist  116  to the user that lists media content events (or portions thereof) pertaining to the specified subcategory. 
     As another example, the user may select the general object type category of “people” on a first presented geographic playlist  116 . Subcategories of people may include types, or even names, of people (actors, directors, publishers, celebrities, politicians, singers, musicians, athletes, historical figures, etc.). Once one or more subcategories are selected, one or more media content events (or portions thereof) that are associated with the selected subcategories, and that are within proximity to the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112 , may be identified to generate geographic location playlist information. 
     In the various embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100 , it is appreciated that it is impractical to concurrently monitor geographic location information for all mobile devices  112  (since there are currently millions of mobile devices  112  in operation around the world at any given moment). An example embodiment limits the number of monitored mobile devices  112  by using a subscription-based service. Thus, a user may subscribe to a geographic location playlist generation service. Alternatively, or additionally, the user may have subscribed to a related service, such as by subscribing to content service provided by a particular content provider. 
     However, even a subscription-based service system may not have sufficient computational capacity and/or connective capacity so that all subscribers may be continuously monitored. Accordingly, some embodiments are configured to monitor geographic location information from selected mobile devices  112  and/or generate geographic location playlist information for selected users. Selection of mobile devices  112  may be made in a variety of manners. 
     An example embodiment requires a user to log into the geographic location playlist generation system  100  to initiate the monitoring process of selected mobile devices  112 . For example, to select a mobile device  112  for monitoring, the user may be required to log into the geographic location playlist generation system  100  when they depart on a trip, vacation or the like. The monitoring process may be ended in response to the user again logging into the geographic location playlist generation system  100  to end the monitoring service. Alternatively, or additionally, the monitoring may end after cessation of movement of the mobile device  112  from some predefined duration, such as one or more hours or some predefined number of minutes. 
     Alternatively, or additionally, some embodiments may automatically select mobile devices  112  and initiate the monitoring of the geographic location information provided by mobile devices  112  after a current location of the mobile device exceeds some first predefined distance threshold away from a home location. For example, if the user&#39;s mobile device  112  indicates a location that has exceeded 1,000 kilometers, it is likely that the user is travelling on a trip, vacation or the like. Accordingly, monitoring and/or generating the geographic location playlist information may be automatically initiated. In some embodiments, the monitoring may end when the mobile device  112  returns to within some second predefined distance of the home location. The second predefined distance may be different from the first predefined distance. The home location may be based on account information of the subscribing user and/or may be specified by the user. Further, multiple home locations may be employed to initiate the monitoring and/or to end the monitoring. 
     In some embodiments, the monitoring may be implicitly initiated when the mobile device  112  is operated by the user. For example, the user may operate their mobile device  112  to select a category of interest. Here, it is implicitly appreciated that the monitoring process is to be initiated so that geographic location playlist information can be generated. 
     Alternatively, or additionally, the selecting and monitoring process may be initiated in response to a user request for presentation of a user geographic playlist  116 . Here, geographic location information is communicated from the mobile device  112  in response to the user request. Then, the current location of the mobile device  112  is determined, and the geographic location playlist information is then generated based on the determined current geographic location of the mobile device  112 . 
     Alternatively, or additionally, the selecting and monitoring process may be initiated in response to a user operating their mobile device  112  for another purpose. For example, the user may operate the tablet  112   a  or the smart phone  112   b  to make a telephone call to another party or to use at least one application residing on the tablet  112   a  or the smart phone  112   b . Here, the current location of the mobile device  112  is determined in response to the use of the mobile device  112 , and the geographic location playlist information is then generated based on the determined current geographic location. 
     Alternatively, or additionally, the selecting and monitoring process may be initiated periodically. Here, the current location of the mobile device  112  is determined at predefined periodic times, such as one an hour, day or the like. The geographic location playlist information is then generated based on the determined current geographic location of the mobile device  112 . This determined geographic location playlist information may be pushed to the user&#39;s mobile device  112 , and may then be stored until a user request for presentation of a user geographic playlist  116  is received. 
     In some embodiments, once the geographic location playlist information has been generated, a notification is communicated to the user&#39;s mobile device  112 . The notification indicates the availability of the geographic location playlist information. If the user responds and indicates that they wish to view the corresponding user geographic playlist  116 , then the geographic location playlist information is used to generate a presented user geographic playlist  116 . If no response is received, or if the user indicates that they do not want to see the user geographic playlist  116 , then no further actions are taken (at least until a later date). 
     In some situations, a plurality of different users may be associated with a single mobile device  112 . Further, each different user may have different preferences and/or interests from other users. Accordingly, an example embodiment generates a plurality of different user geographic playlist information based on the identities, preferences and/or interests of each user. The user identity or identifier may be included in the received geographic location information that is provided by the mobile device  112 . When the user identifies themselves via the mobile device  112  to the geographic location playlist device  104 , the user geographic playlist information associated with that particular identified user is used to generate the geographic playlist information and present the user geographic playlist  116  for that particular user. 
     Alternatively, a single user geographic playlist information file may be generated based on the determined geographic location of the mobile device  112 . The user geographic playlist information file also includes the categories that have been associated with the media content events (or portions thereof). When a request is made for presentation of a user geographic playlist  116 , the user also provides their identity information. The mobile device  112  includes a list of user categories that have been associated with particular users and/or user identifiers. Accordingly, the user geographic playlist  116  is generated and presented based on filtering using user category identifiers that have been previously associated with that particular user. In such embodiments, the database  400  may include a list of user identifiers, and may include a list of category identifiers that have been associated with the user identifier. The categories may be defined based on the user&#39;s identity, preferences and/or interests. The user identifier may be an identifier of the user, such as their name, account number, password or the like. The user identifier may also be the identifier of the mobile device  112 . 
     Alternatively, a list of user identities and a list of user category identifiers that have been defined based on the user&#39;s preferences and/or interests may be locally stored at the mobile device  112  and/or at the media device  102 . The mobile device receives geographic playlist information that also includes categories associated with each of the media content events (or portions thereof). Since the list of user categories is stored at the mobile device  112 , the processor system of the media device can compare the stored user categories with the categories in the geographic playlist information so that the user geographic playlist  116  is presented based on the user categories for that particular user. 
       FIG.  7    is an example user geographic playlist  116  presented as a map  702  with indicating icons  704  associated with media content events of interest. Here, a street map or satellite image centered about the current determined location of the mobile device  112 , such as the example smart phone  112   b , is presented on the display  118 . Icons  704  related to identified media content events that may be of interest are shown on the map  702 . The icons  704  are shown in proximity to the related geographic location information pertaining to that particular media content event. The current location of and/or distances from the mobile device  112  may be shown on the map  702 , such as by a series of centric circles or the like. 
     In some embodiments, the user may expand or collapse the geographic coverage of the map  702 . Further, filtering based on categories or the like may be used so that presented icons  704  identify media content event. 
     In some embodiments, the reference center location may be moved by the user. For example, the user may adjust the position of the presented map area such that different regions of the map are presented. Icons  704  in the currently presented map region may then be shown. Alternatively, or additionally, the user may specify some known location of interest or identify a point of interest, such as a city, address, landmark or the like. The presented region may then be centered about the user specified location or point of interest. 
     A pointer  706  may be maneuvered about the presented map  702  such that when the pointer hovers above or near a particular icon  704 , a pop-up window  708  is presented. The pop-up window may indicate additional information about the media content event that is associated (such as, but not limited to, a scheduled broadcast time of the media content event, an indication of whether the media content event is available on demand, and/or whether the media content event can be accessed for free or for a fee). Selection of the icon  704  may cause presentation and/or storage of the associated media content event. 
     An icon  704  can be of fixed shape and/or size. Additionally, an icon  704  can depict an arbitrarily shaped area with a distinctive pattern, color, and/or boundary that corresponds to the actual size of the weather-related phenomenon. Any suitable icon fill color, pattern, and/or brightness/intensity may be used. The shape and or fill of the icon  704  may intuitively inform the user about one or more characteristics pertaining to the associated media content event. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the geographic location playlist generation system  100  are merely possible examples of implementations of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.