The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 19, 2014
Filed:
May. 19, 2009
Min Liu, Redmond, WA (US);
Zhen MA, Kirkland, WA (US);
Anthony Vincent Discolo, Sammamish, WA (US);
Wei Ning, Redmond, WA (US);
Ying Wu, Redmond, WA (US);
Rathe Hollingum, Dublin, IE;
Renaud Bordelet, Dublin, IE;
Min Liu, Redmond, WA (US);
Zhen Ma, Kirkland, WA (US);
Anthony Vincent Discolo, Sammamish, WA (US);
Wei Ning, Redmond, WA (US);
Ying Wu, Redmond, WA (US);
Rathe Hollingum, Dublin, IE;
Renaud Bordelet, Dublin, IE;
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A system is disclosed for media content search and retrieval, and a virtual television channel capable of using that system. The present system may be implemented on a computing device, such as for example a media service server, and a client device, such as for example a set top box for a television system, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant or a gaming console. A first aspect of the present system relates to a media download control engine which enables a client device with limited capabilities to play media content which comes from a website in a format not supported by the client device. A second aspect of the present system may make use of the media download control engine to obtain media content and create customized virtual channels. The second aspect in particular relates to a virtual channel engine that schedules a continuous stream of content for the user, which content is selected based on topics of interest to the user.