Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Webtv Networks, Inc.

Microsoft Corporation

Daniel Danker

Peter T Barrett

David Hendler Sloo

Jeffrey D Yaksick

Edward Anthony Ludvig

Christopher M White

Steven Wasserman

Pradhan S Rao

George K Nyako

Gandhimathi Vaithilingam

Searching electronic program guide (EPG) data is described. The EPG data may be compartmentalized into channel metadata that describes characteristics of one or more channels and content metadata that describes characteristics of one or more content items. In a implementation, a method includes searching channel metadata and content metadata. A result of the searching is formed for output in conjunction with an electronic program guide (EPG).

Searching electronic program guide data

A media recommendation system gathers negative user feedback associated with media content. Based on the gathered feedback, the media recommendation system extracts a list of recommended media content from program data describing available media content.

Media recommendations based on negative feedback

Systems and methods are described for intelligent default selection of characters to be entered via an on-screen keyboard. Based on one to several criteria, a character most likely to be selected for entry via the on-screen keyboard during a search request is determined and a selector is positioned at that particular character. If that character is indeed the character the user wishes to enter, the user does not have to execute any navigation steps to enter the character, but can&#x2014;with a single actuation&#x2014;enter that character. In many instances, the user will only have to enter the selection without first having to navigate to the selection. As a result, the number of times buttons need to be actuated by the user to enter a character string can be significantly reduced.

Intelligent default selection in an on-screen keyboard

Reducing the amount of input required by a user to enter an electronic message. When an electronic message is received, one or more language expressions associated with the electronic message are displayed to a user. The user may select one or more of the language expressions and have the full text of all the selected language expressions included in a reply electronic message. Icons, which represent a user's capability to engage in an electronic messaging session, may also be displayed. When a user changes their capability to engage in an electronic messaging session, for instance when they go offline, a command may be sent to other users. This command may take the form of a character sequence not normally occurring in written language, which is interpreted by network devices and changes the display of the icon associated with a the user who went offline.

Systems and methods for interfacing with a user in instant messaging

Improved last channel button functionality is described. A remote control device for interacting with a media system includes a mechanism (e.g., a button) by which a user can direct the media system to automatically access a previously tuned (but not immediately previously tuned) channel; or a list of previously tuned channels. A previously tuned channel to be selected may be determined based on an amount of time that the media system was previously tuned to the channel and/or based on receipt of user command indicating user interest in the channel.

Last channel button functionality

A system for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) to a viewer. The system includes displaying one or more data slices representative of broadcast programming to a viewer. In response to input from the viewer, the displayed number of data slices is increased, for example, from one slice to two slices. In browser mode the viewer can scroll through multiple EPG data slices without selecting to view full mode EPG, while in full mode the EPG can expand from a single column of data slices to multiple columns of data slices based upon viewer selections. The EPGs of the present invention can display programming that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than other programming. A data slice representing the predicted programming can be inserted into the EPG so that the viewer can identify programming that is likely to be of interest.

Electronic program guide displayed simultaneously with television programming

A method for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) to a viewer. The method includes displaying one or more data slices representative of broadcast programming to a viewer. In response to input from the viewer, the displayed number of data slices is increased, for example, from one slice to two slices. In browser mode the viewer can scroll through multiple EPG data slices without selecting to view full mode EPG, while in full mode the EPG can expand from a single column of data slices to multiple columns of data slices based upon viewer selections. The EPGs of the present invention can display programming that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than other programming. A data slice representing the predicted programming can be inserted into the EPG so that the viewer can identify programming that is likely to be of interest.

Electronic program guide displayed with recommendations

Systems and methods are described for using broadcast television systems as an implicit portal for solicitation of video on demand programs. A viewing device is monitored for the occurrence of a specific event, such as a channel change or the detection of a trigger mechanism programmed into a content program. When the event is detected, a user is prompted to notify the user of the availability of video on demand content related to the channel or program the user is watching. If the user indicates that he is interested in such content, available video on demand programs are presented to the user for selection. Means are also provided to prevent redundant and other unwanted prompts from appearing on the user's display.

Using broadcast television as a portal for video on demand solicitation

Methods, systems, and computer program products for presenting a plurality of options for selection. Each option is organized into either a category or a sub-category that is associated with a category. The association between categories and sub-categories is independent of time. Categories are displayed along one axis and sub-categories are displayed simultaneously along another orthogonal axis. The axis chosen for categories may depend on the direction that text associated with the categories is written. Categories and sub-categories are available for immediate selection, without first having to highlight or select any option. To account for a large number of options, categories and sub-categories may scroll as needed. The appearance of categories and sub-categories may be distinguished in some way, such as through colors, fonts, or borders.

Categorical user interface for navigation within a grid

The described implementations provide for referencing locally and remotely deployed resources in a television-based entertainment system. The entertainment system includes a content provider or network server. The network server accesses a digital broadcast network via any one of multiple different digital broadcasting protocols. The network server distributes source content to a head end component of the system, which in turn distributes the source content to a client device such as a set-top box. The source content includes a number of embedded references to resources such as those deployed locally by the set-top box and/or deployed remotely by the network server. The set-top box utilizes a mapping table to determine actual values of syntactical abstractions in syntax of the embedded references to access and/or launch at least one locally or remotely deployed resource.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Daniel Danker