Patent ID: 7886321

Claim:
A method of computing a schedule of channels based on a time period during which each channel in the schedule of channels is tuned, comprising: accepting commands to tune to a plurality of channels from an ordered schedule of channels; determining the time period during which each channel in the plurality of channels is tuned; determining which of the time periods exceeds a threshold time period; creating a first list of channels, the first list of channels comprising those channels that have a time period exceeding the threshold time period; creating a second list of channels, the second list of channels comprising those channels that have a time period not exceeding the threshold time period; ordering the first list of channels according to a duration of the time period associated with each channel in the first list of channels; ordering the second list of channels according to a duration of the time period associated with each channel in the second list of channels; presenting media programs associated with the channels in the first list of channels in response to a first command; presenting media programs associated with the channels in the second list of channels in response to a second command; and prioritizing the schedule of channels according to the duration of the time period during which each channel in the plurality of channels is tuned by the commands.