US20070094690A1 - Media-on-demand reminders - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes adding a media title to a media title list in response to user input.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/693,784, filed Oct. 20, 2000, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/214,987, filed on Jun. 29, 2000, and which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 9/590,488, filed on Jun. 9, 2000, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/138,756, filed on Jun. 11, 1999, all of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates in general to television systems, and more particularly, to the field of media-on-demand.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• With recent advances in digital transmission technology, cable television systems are now capable of providing much more than the traditional analog broadcast video. In implementing enhanced programming, the home communication terminal (“HCT”), otherwise known as the settop box, has become an important computing device for accessing video services and navigating a subscriber through a maze of available services. In addition to supporting traditional analog broadcast video functionality, digital HCTs (or “DHCTs”) now also support an increasing number of two-way digital services such as video-on-demand.
• Typically, a DHCT is connected to a cable or satellite television network and includes hardware and software necessary to provide the functionality of the digital television system at the client's site. Preferably, some of the software executed and data processed by a DHCT is downloaded and/or updated via the cable television network. Each DHCT also typically includes a processor, communication components and memory, and is connected to a television or other display device, such as a personal computer. While many conventional DHCTs are stand-alone devices that are externally connected to a television, a DHCT and/or its functionality may be integrated into a television or personal computer, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.
• DHCTs are capable of providing users with a very large number and variety of media rentals. As the number of available media rentals increases, it can become inconvenient and time consuming for users to continually browse through unwanted media titles in order to find the ones that they like. Furthermore, users are often confronted with a choice of many desirable media titles to choose from such that after selecting and viewing a desirable media title, they often forget the names of other media titles that they were interested in viewing. Therefore, there exists a need to make it easier and more convenient for users to find and select desirable media titles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes adding a media title to a media title list in response to user input.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cable television system in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of selected elements of the headend as depicted inFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a DHCT and related equipment, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention depicted inFIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a remote control device that can be used to provide user input to the DHCT shown inFIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting an examplerental selection window100 that is presented to the user by the DHCT depicted inFIG. 3.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting an example browse-bywindow110 that is presented to a user after the user activates a “B” button on the remote control device depicted inFIG. 4 while being presented with the rental selection screen depicted inFIG. 5.FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting an example future releases information window that is presented to a user after the user selects a “Coming Soon” option while being presented with the browse by screen depicted inFIG. 6.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting an example reminder list screen that is presented to a user after the user selects a reminder list option while being presented with the browse-by screen depicted inFIG. 6.
• FIG. 9 illustrates the deletion of a media title from the reminder list depicted inFIG. 8.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting an example reminder screen in which a currently highlighted media title is not yet available for rent.
• FIGS.11 is a diagram depicting an example reminder screen which illustrates an alternative embodiment to the reminder screen depicted inFIG. 8.
• FIGS.12 depicts the reminder screen ofFIG. 11 wherein a future releases media list is designated as the currently scrollable sub-list.
• FIGS.13 is a diagram depicting an example reminder barker that informs the user that a media title that is part of the reminder list depicted inFIG. 8 has become available for rent.
• FIGS.14 is a diagram depicting an example reminder barker that informs the user that a media title that is part of the reminder list depicted inFIG. 8 will no longer be available for rent.
• FIG. 15 is a diagram depicting an end of rental barker that is presented to a user at the end of a media rental that is included in the reminder list depicted inFIG. 8.
• FIG. 16 depicts a media title selection window that is an alternative embodiment to the selection window depicted inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 17 depicts a shopping list window that is presented to a user after the user requests to view a shopping list while being presented with the media title selection window depicted inFIG. 16.
• FIG. 18 depicts a “save list” barker that is presented to a user after the user requests a media title while being presented with the shopping list window depicted inFIG. 17.
• FIG. 19 depicts a media title selection window that is an alternative embodiment to the selection window depicted inFIG. 16.
• FIG. 20 depicts a list selection window that is presented to the user after the user requests the addition of a media title to a list while being presented with the media selection window depicted inFIG. 19.
• FIG. 21 depicts a media title selection window that is an alternative embodiment to the selection window depicted inFIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
• The present invention is generally implemented as part of a cable television system (CTS). Hence, anillustrative CTS10 and its operation will be described initially.FIG. 1 shows a block diagram view of aCTS10, which is generally a high quality, reliable and integrated network system that features video, audio, voice and data services to DHCT users. AlthoughFIG. 1 depicts a high level view of aCTS10, it should be appreciated that a plurality of cable television systems can tie together a plurality of regional networks into an integrated global network so that DHCT users can receive content provided from anywhere in the world.
• The CTS10 delivers broadcast video signals as digitally formatted signals in addition to delivering traditional broadcast analog video signals. Furthermore, the system can support one way broadcast services as well as both one-way data services and two-way media and data services. The two-way operation of the network allows for user interactivity with services, such as Pay-Per-View programming, Near Video-On-Demand (NVOD) programming according to any of several known NVOD implementation methods, View-on-Demand (VOD) programming (according to any of several known VOD implementation methods), and interactive applications, such as Internet connections and interactive media Guide (IMG) applications.
• The CTS10 also provides the interfaces, network control, transport control, session control, and servers to access content and services, and distributes content and services to DHCT users. As shown inFIG. 1, atypical CTS10 comprises aheadend11,hubs12, anHFC access network17, and users' digital home communication terminals (DHCTs)16. It should be appreciated that although a single component (e.g. a headend) is illustrated inFIG. 1, aCTS10 can feature a plurality of any one of the illustrated components or may be configured with alternative embodiments for any one of the individual components or with yet other additional components not enumerated above. A content provider (not shown) transmits media content to a headend for further transmission to users downstream in the network.
• Content provided by a content provider is communicated by the content provider to one ormore headends11. From those headends the content is then communicated over acommunications network18 that includes a plurality of HFC access networks17 (only oneHFC access network17 is illustrated). TheHFC access network17 typically comprises a plurality ofHFC nodes13, each of which may serve a local geographical area. Thehub12 connects to theHFC node13 through a fiber portion of theHFC access network17. TheHFC node13 is connected to atap14 which is connected to a network interface unit (NIU)15 which is connected to aDHCT16. TheNIU15 is normally located at a user's property and provides a transparent interface between theHFC node13 and the users' internal wiring. Coaxial cables are typically used to couplenodes13, taps14 andNIUs15 because the electrical signals can be easily repeated with radio frequency (RF) amplifiers.
• As the high-level operations of many of the functions ofCTSs10 are well known to those of skill in the art, further description of theoverall CTS10 of FIG. I will not be contained herein. It will be appreciated, however, that theCTS10 shown in FIG. I is merely illustrative and should not be construed as implying any limitations upon the scope of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of portions of aheadend11 that is configured to provide media-on-demand (MOD) services in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. MOD services include, among other things, video-on-demand (VOD) services and respective MOD information suitable to be presented to a user via display of an interactive media guide.MOD server application19 and a plurality ofother server applications20 are connected to a digital network control system (DNCS)23 via a high-speed network such as anEthernet connection32. TheMOD server application19 is responsible for reserving and configuring system resources needed to provide MOD services and for providing configuration and service data to an MOD client application63 (FIG.3), including MOD information comprising a catalog of titles available for on-demand viewing and/or on-demand rental by a user.
• TheDNCS23 provides complete management, monitoring, and control of the network's elements and broadcast services provided to users. In one implementation, theDNCS23 uses adata insertion multiplexer29 and adata QAM30 to insert in-band broadcast file system (BFS) data into an MPEG-2 transport stream that is broadcast and received via DHCT'scommunication interface42 andtuner system45. TheDNCS23 also contains asession manager34 that uses Digital Storage Media Command and Control (DSMCC) protocol to set up and maintain MOD sessions. Thesession manager34 processes user to network (U-N) session signaling messages, manages allocation of session-related network resources, supports network management operations, acts as a point of contact to the network for the DHCT's16 in thenetwork18 to establish individual sessions, and supports MOD services by providing the signaling interface to establish, maintain and release client initiated exclusive sessions.
• A service application manager (SAM)server25 is a server component of a client-server pair of components, with the client component being located at theDHCT16. Together, the client-server SAM components provide a system in which the user can access services, which are identified by an application to run and a parameter, such as particular data content, specific to that service. The client-server SAM components also manage the life cycle of the applications on the system, including the definition, activation, and suspension of services they provide and the downloading of the applications into theDHCT16 as necessary.
• Applications on both theheadend11 and theDHCT16 can access the data stored in a broadcast file system (BFS)server28 in a similar manner to a file system found on operating systems. TheBFS server28 is a part of a broadcast file system that has a counterpart BFS client module43 (FIG. 3) in a DHCT16 connected to thenetwork18. TheBFS server28 repeatedly sends data for applications on a data carousel (not shown) over a period of time in cyclical repeated fashion so that a DHCT16 that is in need of reading any particular data file or parts thereof may receive it when requested by a user or one or more of its internal running processes.
• AVOD content manager21 is responsible for managing the content on theVOD content servers22. TheMOD server application19 controls both theVOD content manager21 and theVOD content servers22 and utilizes them to help deliver the video and audio streams that make up VOD services. In one embodiment, an MOD content manager and MOD content servers (not shown) could run respectively in parallel to theVOD content manager21 andVOD content servers22 to manage other types of on-demand media content. In an alternate embodiment an MOD content manager replaces theVOD content manager21 and the MOD content servers replaces theVOD content servers22. The QAM modulators that comprise theQAM group24 receive the MPEG-2 transport streams from theVOD content servers22, convert them into encrypted RF signals at a specified frequency (channel), and transmit them to a DHCT16 via thenetwork18.
• TheQPSK modem26 is responsible for transporting the out-of-band IP (internet protocol) datagram traffic between thedistribution headend11 and aDHCT16. Data from theQPSK modem26 is routed byheadend router27 within theheadend11. Theheadend router27 is also responsible for delivering upstream application traffic to thevarious server applications19 &20.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a DHCT16 that is coupled to aheadend11 and to atelevision41. Some of the functionality performed by applications executed in the DHCT16 (such as the MOD client application63) may instead be performed at theheadend11 and vice versa. ADHCT16 is typically situated at a user's residence or place of business and may be a stand alone unit or integrated into another device such as, for example, a television set or a personal computer. TheDHCT16 preferably includes acommunications interface42 for receiving signals (video, audio and/or other data) from theheadend11 through thenetwork18 and for providing any reverse information to theheadend11 through thenetwork18. TheDHCT16 further includes at least oneprocessor44 for controlling operations of theDHCT16, anRF output system48 for driving thetelevision display41, and atuner system45 for tuning into a particular television channel to be displayed and for sending and receiving various types of data or media from theheadend11. Thetuner system45 includes, in one implementation, an out-of-band tuner for bi-directional quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) data communication and a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) tuner for receiving television signals. Additionally, areceiver46 receives externally-generated information, such as user inputs or commands from other devices.
• TheDHCT16 may also include one or more wireless or wired interfaces, also called ports, for receiving and/or transmitting data to other devices. For instance, theDHCT16 may feature USB (Universal Serial Bus), Ethernet (for connection to a computer), IEEE-1394 (for connection to media devices in an entertainment center), serial, and/or parallel ports. The user inputs may, for example, be provided by a computer or transmitter with buttons or keys located either on the exterior of the terminal or by a hand-held remote control device or keyboard that includes user-actuated buttons.
• In one implementation, theDHCT16 includessystem memory49, which includesflash memory51 and dynamic random access memory (DRAM)52, for storing various applications, modules and data for execution and use by theprocessor44. Basic functionality of theDHCT16 is provided by anoperating system53 that is primarily stored inflash memory51. Among other things, theoperating system53 includes at least oneresource manager67 that provides an interface to resources of theDHCT16 such as, for example, computing resources.
• One or more programmed software applications, herein referred to as applications, are executed by utilizing the computing resources in theDHCT16. Applications stored inflash memory51 orDRAM52 are executed by processor44 (e.g., a central processing unit or digital signal processor) under the auspices of theoperating system53. Data required as input by an application is stored inDRAM52 orflash memory51 and read byprocessor44 as need be during the course of the application's execution. Input data may be data stored inDRAM52 by a secondary application or other source, either internal or external to theDHCT16, or possibly anticipated by the application and thus created with the application at the time it was generated as a software application, in which case it is stored inflash memory51. Data generated by an application is stored inDRAM52 byprocessor44 during the course of the application's execution.DRAM52 also includesapplication memory70 that various applications may use for storing and/or retrieving data.
• An application referred to asnavigator55 is also resident inflash memory51 for providing a navigation framework for services provided by theDHCT16. Thenavigator55 registers for and in some cases reserves certain user inputs related to navigational keys such as channel increment/decrement, last channel, favorite channel, etc. The client applications may be resident inflash memory51 or downloaded intoDRAM52. Thenavigator55 also provides users with television related menu options that correspond to DHCT functions such as, for example, providing an interactive program guide, blocking a channel or a group of channels from being displayed in a channel menu, and displaying a video-on-demand purchase list.
• Theflash memory51 also contains aplatform library56. Theplatform library56 is a collection of utilities useful to applications, such as a timer manager, a compression manager, a configuration manager, an HTML parser, a database manager, a widget toolkit, a string manager, and other utilities (not shown). These utilities are accessed by applications via application programming interfaces (APIs) as necessary so that each application does not have to contain these utilities. Two components of theplatform library56 that are shown inFIG. 3 are awindow manager59 and a service application manager (SAM)client57.
• Thewindow manager59 provides a mechanism for implementing the sharing of the screen regions and user input. Thewindow manager59 on theDHCT16 is responsible for, as directed by one or more applications, implementing the creation, display, and de-allocation of thelimited DHCT16 screen resources. It allows multiple applications to share the screen by assigning ownership of screen regions, or windows. Thewindow manager59 also maintains, among other things, auser input registry50 inDRAM52 so that when a user enters a key or a command via theremote control device80 or another input device such as a keyboard or mouse, theuser input registry50 is accessed to determine which of various applications running on theDHCT16 should receive data corresponding to the input key and in which order. As an application is executed, it registers a request to receive certain user input keys or commands. When the user presses a key corresponding to one of the commands on theremote control device80, the command is received by thereceiver46 and relayed to theprocessor44. Theprocessor44 dispatches the event to theoperating system53 where it is forwarded to thewindow manager59 which ultimately accesses theuser input registry50 and routes data corresponding to the incoming command to the appropriate application.
• TheSAM client57 is a client component of a client-server pair of components, with the server component being located on theheadend11. ASAM database60 inDRAM52 includes a data structure of services and a data structure of channels that are created and updated by theheadend11. Many services can be defined using the same application component, with different parameters. Examples of services include, without limitation and in accordance with one implementation, presenting television programs (available through a WatchTV application62), pay-per-view events (available through a PPV application64), digital music (not shown), media-on-demand (available through an MOD application63), and an interactive program guide. In general, the identification of a service includes the identification of an executable application that provides the service along with a set of application-dependent parameters that indicate to the application the service to be provided. As a non-limiting example, a service of presenting a television program could be executed with a set of parameters to view HBO or with a separate set of parameters to view CNN. Each association of the application component (tune video) and one parameter component (HBO or CNN) represents a particular service that has a unique service I.D. TheSAM client57 also interfaces with theresource manager67, as discussed below, to control resources of theDHCT16.
• Application clients can also be downloaded intoDRAM52 at the request of theSAM client57, typically in response to a request by the user or in response to a message from the headend. In thisnon-limiting example DRAM52 contains a media-on-demand application (MOD)63, ane-mail application65, and aweb browser application66, among others (not shown). It should be clear to one with ordinary skill in the art that these applications are not limiting and merely serve as examples for this present embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, one or more DRAM based applications may, as an alternative embodiment, be resident inflash memory51. These applications, and others provided by the cable system operator, are top level software entities on the network for providing services to the user.
• In one implementation, applications executing on theDHCT16 work with thenavigator55 by abiding by several guidelines. First, an application utilizes theSAM client57 for the provision, activation, and suspension of services. Second, an application sharesDHCT16 resources with other applications and abides by the resource management policies of theSAM client57, theoperating system53, and theDHCT16. Third, an application handles situations where resources are only available withnavigator55 intervention. Fourth, when an application loses service authorization while providing a service, the application suspends the service via the SAM (thenavigator55 will reactivate an individual service application when it later becomes authorized). Finally, an application client is designed to not have access to certain user input keys reserved by the navigator (i.e., power, channel +/−, volume +/−, etc.).
• TheMOD client application63 provides the user with lists of available media titles to choose from and with video presentations requested by the user. TheMOD client application63 provides video presentations to the user by engaging, preferably, in a direct two-way IP (Internet Protocol) connection with VOD content servers22 (FIG. 2). TheMOD client application63 is also responsible for providing reminder and filing functionality as described below. In an alternative embodiment, the reminder and/or filing functionality is provided by a separate application that can be selectively aggregated to theMOD client application63 for purposes of charging separately for that functionality.
• An executable program or algorithm corresponding to an operating system (OS) component, or to a client platform component, or to a client application, or to respective parts thereof, can reside in and execute out ofDRAM52 and/orflash memory51. Likewise, data inputted into or outputted from any executable program can reside inDRAM52 orflash memory51. Furthermore, an executable program or algorithm corresponding to an OS component, or to a client platform component, or to a client application, or to respective parts thereof, can reside inflash memory51, or in a local storage device connected to DHCT16 and be transferred intoDRAM52 for execution. Likewise, data input for an executable program can reside inflash memory51 or a storage device and be transferred intoDRAM52 for use by an executable program or algorithm. In addition, data outputted by an executable program can be written intoDRAM52 by an executable program or algorithm and be transferred intoflash memory51 or into a storage device for storage purposes. The present invention is not limited by where or how data and/or applications are stored or retrieved.
• Each of the above mentioned applications comprises executable instructions for implementing logical functions and can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (electronic), a read-only memory (ROM) (electronic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory) (electronic), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via for instance optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, and then stored in a computer memory.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a non limiting example of aremote control device80 that is used to provide user input to theDHCT16. Thearrow buttons82 include an uparrow button83, adown arrow button84, aleft arrow button85, and aright arrow button86 that are used to scroll through options and/or to highlight an option. Theselect button87 may be used to select a currently highlighted option that is provided to the user. Other buttons that are available will be discussed further below. Many alternative methods of providing user input may be used including a remote control device with different buttons and/or button layouts, a keyboard device, a voice activated device, etc. The invention described herein is not limited by the type of device used to provide user input.
• With continued reference toFIGS. 3 and 4 throughout the remaining figures,FIG. 5 shows an example mediatitle selection window100. As with other window examples discussed below,processor44 executes program instructions ofMOD client application63 that cause it to direct thewindow manager59 to createwindow100 via display data that is formatted fortelevision41.Processor44 stores the display data or parts thereof in DRAM52 (as necessary) and transfers the display data to a display output system such asRF output system48 wherein display data is converted to respective television signals and transmitted totelevision41. Of course, the scope of the invention also includes any other method of causing the described windows to appear to the user.
• Theexample window100 contains atop portion101 that typically contains one or more headings and abottom portion102 that typically illustrates relevant buttons available for activation with the input device by the user. Media titles list107 contains media titles such asmedia title108 and includes a highlightedtitle area109.Information section104 contains information related to the media title shown in the highlightedtitle area109, which in this example is “Angela's Ashes”105. The user may add a highlighted media title to a reminder list of titles130 (FIG. 8) by activating the “A”button88.
• Browsing symbol103 suggests to the user that the user may use the up and downarrow buttons83,84 to browse themedia title list107 and use theselect button87 to request the currently highlighted media title. For example the user may activate thedown arrow button84 in order to cause the media title “Any Given Sunday”108 to be displayed in the highlightedtitle area109 and then activate theselect button87 in order to request the movie “Any Given Sunday”108. In an alternative embodiment, activating the up an down arrows would result in shifting the highlighted title area rather than shifting the media title list (at least until the top or bottom title is highlighted).
• FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting an example browse-bywindow110 that is presented to a user after the user activates the “B”button89 while being presented with mediatitle selection window100. Browse-bylist111 includes browse-by options such asoptions112 and114. A user may scroll through the browse-bylist111 and may select a browse-by option by using theremote control device80 as described above. For example, the user may select the reminder list option114 in order to access a reminder list130 (FIG. 8) containing media titles which the user had selectively caused to be inserted into the list.
• FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting an example future releasesinformation window120 that is presented to a user after the user selects the “Coming Soon”option112 while being presented with the browse bywindow110.Media title list121 contains media titles that will be available for rent at some time in the future. The content ofmedia title list121 is received from MOD server application19 (FIG. 2) and stored byMOD client application63 inapplication memory70 from where it is retrieved as needed.Information section104 contains information related to the media title shown in the highlightedtitle area123, which in this example is “Almost Famous”122. The user may add a highlighted media title to a reminder list130 (FIG. 8) by activating the “A”button88.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting an examplereminder list window130 that is presented to a user after the user selects the reminder list option114 while being presented with browse-bywindow110. If theselect symbol136 is displayed in theinformation area104, a user may request a currently highlighted media title by activating theselect button87. The user can request additional information about a highlighted media title by activating the “INFO”button81. Upon the activation of the “B”button89, the media title shown in the highlightedtitle area133 is deleted and replaced by the next media title on thereminder list131. In this example, the title “American Beauty”132 would be deleted and replaced with the title “Bicentennial Man”134 as illustrated inexample window140 inFIG. 9. Once a title is deleted from a reminder list, it remains excluded from such list even after the list is presented to the user at a later time. The user may however add a previously deleted title to the reminder title list by following the steps outlined above.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting anexample reminder window150 in which the currently highlighted media title is not yet available for rent. Anavailability indicator151 indicates to the user when such media title will become available. The user can request additional information about the media title by activating the “INFO”button81 or may delete such title from thereminder list131 by activating the “B”button89. In an alternative embodiment, media titles belonging to a reminder list are separated into separate groups based on their respective availability. In yet another embodiment, media titles are separated into two distinct reminder lists, one for media titles available for viewing at current time and the other for media titles not yet available for viewing. In this latter case, theMOD client application63 conducts the transfer of media titles as they become available from the latter reminder list to the former reminder list.
• FIGS. 11 and 12 depictexample reminder windows160,170 which illustrate an alternative embodiment toreminder window130 shown inFIG. 8. Inreminder windows160 and170, media titles that are inserted by a user into the reminder list are grouped into sub-lists based on their respective availability. An available media titles sub-list161 contains media titles that are currently available for rent, whereas a future media releases sub-list162 contains media title that will be available some time in the future. A user can designate a media sub-list as the currently scrollable media sub-list by using the left andright arrow buttons85,86. For example, a user may activate theright arrow86 while being presented withreminder window160 in order to designate the future media releases sub-list162 as the currently scrollable sub-list as illustrated inreminder window170 inFIG. 12. A currently designated media sub-list contains a highlighted media title. A user may request a currently highlighted media title from the available titles sub-list161 by activating theselect button87 or a user may view additional information about a highlighted media title from either sub-list by activating the “INFO”button81.
• FIGS. 13 and 14 depict example reminder barkers180 and190 that are presented to a user in order to remind the user of aspects pertaining to media titles belonging to a reminder list. A reminder barker may be presented to a user, for example, when the user accesses a rental selection screen or a reminder list screen. A message displayed incentral portion183 ofreminder barker180 informs the user that a media title that is part of reminder list131 (FIG. 8) has become available for rent. A message displayed in thecenter portion183 ofreminder barker190 informs the user that a media title that is part ofreminder list131 will no longer be available for rent as of a certain date. When presented with either barker, the user may activate the “A”button88 in order to rent the media title shown incentral portion183, the “B”button89 in order to remove the media title from the reminder list, the “C” button in order to receive the reminder at a later time, or the “EXIT”button91 in order to remove the reminder barker from the television screen.
• FIG. 15 depicts an end ofrental barker200 that is presented to a user at the end of a media rental that is included in the reminder list131 (FIG. 8). A message displayed incenter portion183 asks the user if the user would like to keep the media title as part of thereminder list131. The user may activate the “A”button88 in order to keep the media title as part of thereminder list131, or the “B”button89 in order to remove the media title from thereminder list131. Alternatively, the user may configure theMOD client application63 via an interactive presentation of configuration windows to permanently remove titles from the reminder list after consummation.
• In addition to a reminder list, other designated lists or containers may be set up a priori for other designated functionality. For example, a shopping list may serve as a designated container into which a user may selectively insert media titles during a media-on-demand selection session as discussed below. A user can place media titles in the shopping list as candidates for the current on-demand selection session. Hence, a user can scout the media title list for other media titles while inserting and retaining one or more media titles in the shopping list during the current on-demand selection session. Upon coalescing a set of media titles into the shopping list, the user reviews the titles in the shopping list and makes a final selection for on-demand viewing as described below.
• FIG. 16 depicts an alternative embodiment to the mediatitle selection window100 depicted inFIG. 5. Mediatitle selection window210 differs from mediatitle selection window100 in thatwindow210 suggests to the user that the user may use the “A”button88 to add a currently highlighted title to a shopping list and the “B”button89 to access theshopping list221 as illustrated inFIG. 17.FIG. 17 depicts ashopping list window220 that is presented to a user after the user activates the “B”button89 while being presented with the mediatitle selection window210. A user may request a currently highlighted media title by activating theselect button87 or may request additional information about a highlighted media title by activating the “INFO”button81. Upon the activation of the “B”button89, a currently highlighted media title is deleted and replaced by the next media title on theshopping list221. Upon activating the select button87 a “save list”barker230 is presented to the user as illustrated inFIG. 18.center portion183 of the “save list”barker230 contains a message prompting the user for input as to whether the user would like the current shopping list to be saved. The user may activate the “A”button88 to save theshopping list221 or the “B”button89 in order to delete the contents of theshopping list221.
• FIG. 19 depicts an alternative embodiment to the mediatitle selection window210 depicted inFIG. 16. Mediatitle selection window240 differs from mediatitle selection window210 in thatwindow240 suggests to the user that the user may use the “A”button88 to add a currently highlighted title to a yet undetermined list and the “B”button89 to access a browse-by list as discussed above.FIG. 20 depicts alist selection window250 that is presented to the user after the user activates the “A”button88 while being presented with mediatitle selection window240. Aselection list251 contains list selections such as areminder list selection252 and ashopping list selection253. The user can use theremote control device80 in order to specify a list for storing the highlighted media title selected via mediatitle selection window240. After the user makes a selection, the user is presented once again with mediatitle selection window240. A user may access a desired list by activating the “B”button89 and then selecting a list from the browse-by list110 (FIG.6).
• In one embodiment, each individual viewer or member of a family has a respective personalized reminder list and/or shopping list that is titled with an alphanumeric string selected by the respective viewer. A list may simply be titled with a suffix or prefix number or letter which individual viewers appropriate under personal agreement between themselves, or the titles may be input by users with input devices such as keyboards or remote control devices. In yet another embodiment multiple designated reminder lists, each titled with a different media category (such as comedy, drama and adventure) are available to users for filing media titles. Likewise, designated reminder lists may be available for filing media titles according to their respective ratings.
• In an alternative embodiment, a set of distinct functional title lists exist, each having a respective small icon representation as illustrated inFIG. 21. Each distinct icon is a small visual color image with a short text string that suggests the functionality of the respective title list. A media title selection list functionality is enhanced by displaying the small representative icons, such as forexample icons261,262, and263, inside the perimeter of themedia selection window260. The input device andMOD client application63 further comprises “drag and drop” functionality whereby a highlighted media title is dragged and “dropped” into an icon. The drag and drop functionality is initiated by the user activating the select key87 continuously and simultaneously pressing one of the fourarrow keys82. While continuing to push the select key87, the user presses a sequence ofarrow keys82 according to where the desired icon is located on the screen. For instance, if the desired icon isshopping list icon262, the user can drag a highlighted media title in that direction by pressing theright arrow key86 while continuing to hold down theselect key87. Thewindow260 is updated with a representative movie icon (not shown) in motion across the screen as the user performs the drag operation via continual arrow key presses. Once the dragged media title reaches the spatial domain of the desired title list's icon, the displayed icon is dimmed (made darker) byMOD client application63 to visually indicate to the user that the currently dragged media title (depicted on the screen to the user with a movie icon) has penetrated sufficiently into the icon's real-estate and can be dropped in. Hence, if the user decides to drop the dragged media title into the title list of the representative icon, the user ceases the press of select key87 and the media title is inserted into the respective title list.
• In one embodiment, a designated or user-created list comprises a set of “list entries” that are stored along with a set of attributes for each respective list entry inapplication memory70 ofDRAM52 or read-write non-volatile memory (not shown) ofDHCT16 and/or the MOD server. IfDHCT16 has a local storage device, either internally or externally connected via a communication port or local storage interface, it can be used to alternatively store user-created list information rather than employing the MOD server or in addition to the MOD server. Attributes comprising a list entry in a designated or user-created list can include a media title, a media title's representative image and/or thumbnail, the time and date that the user created the list entry, identification of user that created the list entry, user-created comments entered by an input device such as keyboard or remote control, and other possible attributes that may help the user recollect the user's train of thought at the time the user inserted the title into the list.
• Designated and user-created lists and their respective list entries can be structured into a database, and each set of attributes can comprise a database record in a list database (not shown). Information in designated and user-created lists described herein is read from the DHCT's memory to fill respective data fields in windows presented to a user. Alternatively, the information can be read from the DHCT's local storage (if applicable) or the MOD server.
• Regardless of where designated and user-created list information is stored, a subset of information is preferably stored in read-write non-volatile memory of theDHCT16 by theMOD client application63 for theMOD client application63 to find designated and user-created list information in the event that theDHCT16 experiences a power outage period. This set of designated and user-created list information that is stored in non-volatile memory preferably includes information as to whether there are user-created list entries in any designated or user-created list (for which a single bit of non-volatile memory can be designated), and preferably information such as a directory path or user identification for where a copy of the list database can be retrieved from the MOD server (by theMOD client application63 in communication with the MOD server) or from the DHCT's local storage device (if applicable).
• It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly any “preferred embodiments” are merely possible examples of the implementations, merely setting forth a clear understanding of the principles of the inventions. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit of the principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the disclosure and present invention and protected by the following claims.
• Therefore, having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:

Claims (18)

1. A method for managing reminders for rentable media comprising steps of:

providing a currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list including a plurality of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations listed by their respective titles as currently viewable video-on-demand presentations, wherein the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list identifies video-on-demand presentations that are currently available for on-demand viewing;

presenting an option to a viewer for selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to a video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein a viewer is provided an option for indicating interest in being reminded at a future time about a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation that is currently available for on-demand viewing;

receiving viewer input selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentation reminder list in response to the option provided for selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list;

adding the particular selected currently viewable video-on-demand presentation to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input selecting the particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list;

receiving viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list; and

providing the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein the video-on-demand presentations reminder list includes a subset of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list.

2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising steps of:

providing a coming soon video-on-demand presentations list including a plurality of video-on-demand presentations listed by their respective titles as coming soon video-on-demand presentations, wherein the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list identifies video-on-demand presentations that are scheduled to be available for video-on-demand viewing on a release date in the future and are not currently available for on-demand viewing;

presenting an option to a viewer for selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein a viewer is provided an option for indicating interest in being reminded at a future time about a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation that will be available for on-demand viewing on the release date in the future;

receiving viewer input selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentation reminder list in response to the option provided for selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list; and

adding the particular selected coming soon video-on-demand presentation to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input selecting the particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list,

wherein the video-on-demand presentations reminder list provided responsive to receiving the viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list includes a subset of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list and a subset of the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list.

3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the subset of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations and the subset of coming soon video-on-demand presentations are displayed as visually separate sub-lists of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list.

4. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the subset of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations and the subset of coming soon video-on-demand presentations are displayed as visually intermingled sub-lists of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list.

5. The method ofclaim 2, wherein each coming soon video-on-demand presentation is moved from a coming soon video-on-demand presentations reminder sub-list to a currently available video-on-demand presentation reminder sub-list when the release date for the coming soon video-on-demand presentation is no longer a date in the future.

6. The method ofclaim 2, wherein responsive to both determining that the release date for a video-on-demand presentation is no longer a date in the future and receiving additional viewer input requesting display of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list, providing to the viewer a message separate from the video-on-demand presentations reminder list that the video-on-demand presentation is now available for renting, wherein the message includes an option for the viewer to rent the video-on-demand presentation.

7. A television set-top terminal (“STT”) comprising:

memory configured to store program code; and

a processor programmed by the program code to enable the STT to provide the functions of

providing a currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list including a plurality of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations listed by their respective titles as currently viewable video-on-demand presentations, wherein the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list identifies video-on-demand presentations that are currently available for on-demand viewing,

presenting an option to a viewer for selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to a video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein a viewer is provided an option for indicating interest in being reminded at a future time about a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation that is currently available for on-demand viewing,

receiving viewer input selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentation reminder list in response to the option provided for selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list,

adding the particular selected currently viewable video-on-demand presentation to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input selecting the particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list,

receiving viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list, and

providing the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein the video-on-demand presentations reminder list includes a subset of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list.

8. The STT ofclaim 7, wherein the processor is programmed by the program code to enable the STT to provide the additional functions of

providing a coming soon video-on-demand presentations list including a plurality of video-on-demand presentations listed by their respective titles as coming soon video-on-demand presentations, wherein the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list identifies video-on-demand presentations that are scheduled to be available for video-on-demand viewing on a release date in the future and are not currently available for on-demand viewing,

presenting an option to a viewer for selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein a viewer is provided an option for indicating interest in being reminded at a future time about a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation that will be available for on-demand viewing on the release date in the future,

receiving viewer input selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentation reminder list in response to the option provided for selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list, and

adding the particular selected coming soon video-on-demand presentation to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input selecting the particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list,

wherein the video-on-demand presentations reminder list provided responsive to receiving the viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list includes a subset of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list and a subset of the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list.

9. The STT ofclaim 8, wherein the subset of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations and the subset of coming soon video-on-demand presentations are displayed as visually separate sub-lists of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list.

10. The STT ofclaim 8, wherein the subset of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations and the subset of coming soon video-on-demand presentations are displayed as visually intermingled sub-lists of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list.

11. The STT ofclaim 8, wherein each coming soon video-on-demand presentation is moved from a coming soon video-on-demand presentations reminder sub-list to a currently available video-on-demand presentation reminder sub-list when the release date for the coming soon video-on-demand presentation is no longer a date in the future.

12. The STT ofclaim 8, wherein responsive to both determining that the release date for a video-on-demand presentation is no longer a date in the future and receiving additional viewer input requesting display of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list, providing to the viewer a message separate from the video-on-demand presentations reminder list that the video-on-demand presentation is now available for renting, wherein the message includes an option for the viewer to rent the video-on-demand presentation.

13. A computer-readable medium including executable program code for performing the step of:

providing a currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list including a plurality of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations listed by their respective titles as currently viewable video-on-demand presentations, wherein the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list identifies video-on-demand presentations that are currently available for on-demand viewing;

presenting an option to a viewer for selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to a video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein a viewer is provided an option for indicating interest in being reminded at a future time about a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation that is currently available for on-demand viewing;

receiving viewer input selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentation reminder list in response to the option provided for selecting a particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation listed on the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list;

adding the particular selected currently viewable video-on-demand presentation to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input selecting the particular currently viewable video-on-demand presentation to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list;

receiving viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list; and

providing the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein the video-on-demand presentations reminder list includes a subset of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list.

14. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 13, wherein the executable program code performs the additional steps of

providing a coming soon video-on-demand presentations list including a plurality of video-on-demand presentations listed by their respective titles as coming soon video-on-demand presentations, wherein the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list identifies video-on-demand presentations that are scheduled to be available for video-on-demand viewing on a release date in the future and are not currently available for on-demand viewing;

presenting an option to a viewer for selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list, wherein a viewer is provided an option for indicating interest in being reminded at a future time about a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation that will be available for on-demand viewing on the release date in the future;

receiving viewer input selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentation reminder list in response to the option provided for selecting a particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation listed on the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list; and

adding the particular selected coming soon video-on-demand presentation to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input selecting the particular coming soon video-on-demand presentation to be added to the video-on-demand presentations reminder list,

wherein the video-on-demand presentations reminder list provided responsive to receiving the viewer input requesting display of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list includes a subset of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list and a subset of the coming soon video-on-demand presentations list.

15. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 14, wherein the subset of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations and the subset of coming soon video-on-demand presentations are displayed as visually separate sub-lists of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list.

16. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 14, wherein the subset of currently viewable video-on-demand presentations and the subset of coming soon video-on-demand presentations are displayed as visually intermingled sub-lists of the video-on-demand presentations reminder list.

17. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 14, wherein each coming soon video-on-demand presentation is moved from a coming soon video-on-demand presentations reminder sub-list to a currently available video-on-demand presentation reminder sub-list when the release date for the coming soon video-on-demand presentation is no longer a date in the future.

18. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 14, wherein responsive to both determining that the release date for a video-on-demand presentation is no longer a date in the future and receiving additional viewer input requesting display of the currently viewable video-on-demand presentations list, providing to the viewer a message separate from the video-on-demand presentations reminder list that the video-on-demand presentation is now available for renting, wherein the message includes an option for the viewer to rent the video-on-demand presentation.

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