Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Todd San Jule

Jeffrey C Fong

Joseph Alton Schrader

Mark D Schwesinger

Mark G Young

Thomas Henry Taylor

Bin Lin

Aaron DeYonker

Nishad Mulye

Zhike Kong

Xinli Zou

William Hong Vong

Sean E Kollenkark

Cory J Cirrincione

Joseph Lloyd McClanahan

Marc S Oshiro

Wei Wei Ada Cho

Paul Deeds

Samuel D Clement

Randy Siu

Philippe J Scoffie

Adriana Tavares Torresan

Joseph S Paguirigan

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

A favorite channel list for a media system is generated by observing the viewing, surfing, and recording habits of a user. The viewing habits may include the duration and frequency of viewing a channel. A user's surfing habits, including navigation habits of a guide, the method used for navigation to a channel, and information queries made during a surfing session may be used to determine which channels may be added to a favorites list. When the user has an ability to record a program and view the program later, the user's behavior in selecting programs for recording, and the behaviors of playing back and archiving recorded shows may also be used to identify favorite channels. In some embodiments, the favorites list may be customized for a user or node of a playback system, as well as time of day.

Automatically generated TV favorites list

Techniques are disclosed herein for a media center portal. One implementation includes displaying first content in an expanded state and second content in a contracted state. At least a portion of the first content is presented in a viewport. A request is received to expand the second content. The first content is contracted for display in the contracted state. The second content is expanded for display in the expanded state. The contracted first content is displayed while displaying the expanded second content. At least a portion of the second content is presented in a text reader when in the expanded state.

Interactive media portal

A video recording system that controls recording of television programming relating to sporting events to better match the intent of a user who specified programming for recording. The system merges data from an electronic program guide and sports data, such as from a news feed, to determine values of recording parameters, such as start and stop time and channel. User input may specify a player, team, league or other sports entity for which sporting events are to be recorded. The system may use the sports data to identify sporting events involving the specified sports entity and then access an electronic program guide to determine a channel on which to record the sporting events. When the user specifies a sporting event to record, sports data may be used to track progress of the event and dynamically adjust an ending time of the recording to ensure that the full event is recorded.

Recording of sports related television programming

Matching metadata for sporting events with television program listing data. A global sports format enables the import of sports metadata from various providers. The metadata is interlinked with the television program listing data via configurable match rules or criteria. An enhanced electronic programming guide is created to display, to a user, the interlinked metadata.

Interlinking sports and television program listing metadata

Graphical user interface for a portion of a display screen

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Woodinville, WA, United States of America

Todd San Jule