Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Aaron DeYonker

Jeffrey C Fong

Thomas Henry Taylor

Mark Wagner

Paul J Roy

Zhike Kong

Peter John Potrebic

Joseph Alton Schrader

Bin Lin

Todd San Jule

Nishad Mulye

Xinli Zou

Shipeng Li

Fei Wang

Xian-Sheng Hua

Mark D Schwesinger

Waiman Lam

Mark G Young

Zach Johnson

Thumbnail images representative of recorded TV programs are generated and presented to aid a user in browsing the recorded TV programs. In one implementation, a temporary thumbnail image is generated when a TV program first starts recording. The temporary thumbnail is used to populate any user interface (UI) screens that reference the recoded TV program. Once the TV program has reached a threshold amount of recording (e.g., a prescribed duration of recording, or completion of the recording), a permanent thumbnail image is generated and associated with the TV program. The permanent thumbnail is then presented in any subsequent UI screens, replacing the temporary thumbnail. In another implementation, display of the thumbnail images in the UI screens may be further controlled by setting preferences, such as parental controls.

Thumbnail generation and presentation for recorded TV programs

Described herein is technology for, among other things, selecting a representative thumbnail from a video clip. The technology involves analyzing frames of the video clip to determine which frames are stable, the result of the analysis being a number of segments of stable frames. From the stable segments, a number of candidate segments are selected, where candidate segments are those segments determined to a degree of certainty to be program content. The representative thumbnail is then selected from among the frames of the candidate segments.

Smart video thumbnail

The present invention generally relates to conflict management resolution. Typically systems for resolving conflicts between television programs with coinciding broadcast schedules use preferences, a confusing and limited display, or a combination thereof. The present invention, on thee other hand, provides for determining time spans or time slices, that indicate the duration of the conflict, and uses these to determine the available recording options. These can then be displayed in a user friendly interface, that is easy to understand and simple to use. In addition, other example embodiments ensure that the various programs and/or available options are capable of being cycled through, regardless of preference settings.

Video recording conflict management and user interface

Systems and methods for remotely scheduling tasks that are transmitted to a set top box and implemented on the set top box. A task service includes a website that provides program guide data to users. From the program guide data, a user selects a task. The website generates a notification that includes the task and certain identifiers, including a set top box identifier and a sequence number. The notification is sent to a notification service, that repeatedly sends the notification to a broadcast service. The broadcast service ensures that the notification is transmitted to the set top box. The set top box detects the notification from the set top box identifier and implements the task on the set top box unless the task has been previously handled.

Remote task scheduling for a set top box

The present invention generally relates to conflict management resolution. Typically systems for resolving conflicts between television programs with coinciding broadcast schedules use preferences, a confusing and limited display, or a combination thereof. The present invention, on other hand, provides for determining time spans or time slices, that indicate the duration of the conflict, and uses these to determine the available recording options. These can then be displayed in a user friendly interface, that is easy to understand and simple to use. In addition, other example embodiments ensure that the various programs and/or available options are capable of being cycled through, regardless of preference settings.

Cycling of recording states for program selections during video recording conflict resolutions

Systems and methods for remotely scheduling tasks that are transmitted to a set top box and implemented on the set top box. A task service includes a website that provides program guide data to users. From the program guide data, a user selects a task. The website generates a notification that includes the task and certain identifiers, including a set top box identifier and a sequence number. The notification is sent to a notification service, that repeatedly sends the notification to a broadcast service. The broadcast service ensures that the notification is transmitted to the set top box. The set top box detects the notification from the set top box identifier and implements the task on the set top box unless the task: has been previously handled.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Aaron DeYonker