User interface techniques for television channel changes.

(54) Title: USER INTERFACE TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGES IN THE TELEVISION CHANNEL.

(54) Title: USER INTERFACE TECHNIQUES FOR TELEVISION CHANNEL CHANGES.

(57) Summary

An improved device for user installations improves the channel switching experience. In response to an upstream or downstream channel command, a currently displayed program is resized to fit within a smaller program window. In the display area that is exposed due to the resizing of the currently displayed program, additional content is displayed, such as advance advertising or channel change information. Additional program windows that play snapshots of content from one or more upstream programs and one or more descending programs may be displayed in windows arranged in vertical alignment with the program window, of the currently displayed program. The program windows are animated or scrolled in one direction to bring up the program window of the next program desired by the user instead of the program window of the currently scheduled program. The program window for the next program is then resized to fill the entire screen.

(57) Abstract

An improved user premises device enhances the channel change experience. In response to a channel-up or a channeldown command, a currently displayed program is re-sized to fit within a smaller program window. In the display area that is exposed due to the re-sizing of the currently displayed program, additional content such as an advertisement or channel change progress Information is displayed. Additional program Windows that render snapshots of content from one or more program up and one or more program down may be displayed in Windows that are organized in a vertical alignment with the program window of the currently displayed program. The program Windows are animated or scrolled in a direction to bring the program window of the user-desired next program in place of the program window of the currently displayed programmed. The program window of the next program is then resized to occupy the entire display.

USER INTERFACE TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGES IN THE TELEVISION CHANNEL

Field of Invention

This patent document relates to the presentation of digital video programs and in one aspect, to the user experience during the change of program channels.

Background of the Invention

Digital video supply systems offer improved video quality over conventional analog video supply systems and other benefits. User experience when changing television programs or channels is an important aspect of quality parameters in digital video delivery systems. However, channel change times in certain existing digital video delivery systems tend to be slower than channel change times in analog delivery systems.

Summary of the Invention

Techniques for controlling the on-screen display of content during a channel change are discussed. In some embodiments, prior to a user initiated channel change, a current program may be displayed in the entire display area. Upon receiving a channel change request, the current program display size is reduced to make room for viewing

-2the content of the following program. In some embodiments, the display windows for the current program and for the next program are arranged in a vertical alignment. The aligned windows may not overlap and may be animated (eg, scrolled) in a vertical direction to provide visual feedback to the user that the channel change process is currently in progress. Once the window for the next program reaches a previously designated location, such as the position previously occupied by the current program window, the window for the next program is resized to occupy the entire area of ​​the display screen. In some embodiments, during the scrolling operation, other visual information, eg, animated graphics or advertisements, is displayed on the screen area not occupied by the current program or the next program.

In one aspect, a method of displaying channel changes on a monitor is described. The method includes displaying a first program in a first window at a first position on the monitor, receiving a first channel change command, changing, in response to the first channel change command, a first visual feature of the first window, displaying therefore a portion of the monitor's background layer, displaying at least a portion of a second program on the exposed portion of the monitor in a second window that is positioned in a vertical direction relative to the first window, automatically scrolling the first window and the second window through the monitor in the vertical direction , in such a way that the first window starts to exit the monitor while the second window starts

-3a move in the direction of the first position and change, after the second window is in the first position on the monitor, to a second visual characteristic of the second window in such a way that the second window occupies the monitor, disappearing the first monitor window.

In another aspect, an apparatus for providing visually continuous channel changes on a monitor having a viewing area is described. The apparatus includes a display module that displays a current program substantially over the entire monitor area, a command receiving module that receives a command to display a next program, a first resizing module that resizes, in response to the command, of visually continuously, the current program to fit within a first window on the monitor occupying the original position on the monitor, a presentation module presenting, at least a part of the following program, in a second window that is located in a second portion of the monitor that does not overlap with the first portion, a window transition module that visually translates the first window from the area display while transiting the second window to the original position previously occupied by the first window, and a second resizing module that expands the second window, after the second window is in the original position, to occupy substantially the entire display area.

In still another aspect, the stated method of controlling a monitor to provide a changing experience

-4channel enhanced includes viewing a first channel, receiving a first command to view a second channel, initiating the channel change from the first channel to the second channel, in which the channel change includes reducing the size of the first channel display, progressively viewing the video of the second channel as more and more data is received for the second channel, shift out the first channel in such a way that the first channel gradually disappears from the monitor, correspondingly shift the second channel to take the screen position of the first channel, and expand the second channel to full size after sufficient data is available for the second channel, receive, between the channel change and before expanding the second channel full size, a second command to view a third channel, and In response to the second command and the progressive display of the third channel video as more and more data is received for the third channel, shift the first channel and the second channel in such a way that the first channel and the second channel disappear from the monitor gradually, correspondingly shifting the third channel to take the position of the first channel, and expanding the third channel to full size after having sufficient data available for the third channel.

In still another aspect, the disclosed apparatus for displaying multiple video programs simultaneously includes a first display module for displaying a first video program in a first program window, a second display module for displaying a second video program in a second program window, a display window control module to control

-5 the sizes and positions of the first program window and the second program window in such a way that the second program window does not overlap with, and is positioned directly adjacent to the first program window, a command module that receives a first command to change the channel from the first program to a second program, a transition module that causes, in response to the first command, that the first program window and the second program window transition from an initial state in which the first program window is fully visible and in a first position on the monitor, and to a final state in which the first program window is program is completely invisible and the second program window is in the first position, a first resizing module that resizes the first program window from a first full screen mode in which the first program window occupies the entire display area of ​​the screen to a first window mode in which the first full-screen window program occupies less than the entire display area of ​​the screen and a second resizing module that resizes the second program window from a second window mode in wherein the second program window occupies less than the entire display area of ​​the screen and up to a second full-screen mode in which the second program window occupies the entire display area of ​​the screen.

These, and other aspects and examples of the implementations are described below in the drawings, description, and claims.

-6 Brief Description of the Figures of the Invention

Figure 1 shows an exemplary display screen on which a current program is displayed.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary display screen in which a current program is resized and displayed.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary display screen in which a current program and a next program are displayed.

Figure 4 shows an exemplary display screen in which a current program and a next program are displayed and scrolled in a vertical direction.

Figure 5 shows an exemplary display screen in which a current program and a next program are displayed and further scrolled in a vertical direction.

Figure 6 shows an exemplary display screen in which a current program and a next program are displayed and further scrolled in the vertical direction such that the second program is in an on-screen position.

Figure Ί shows an exemplary display screen in which the following program is resized to fill the entire display area.

Figure 8 shows an exemplary display screen on which the following program is displayed.

Figure 9 shows an exemplary display screen in which the following program is resized to fill the entire display area when an additional request for a channel change is received.

Figure 10 shows an exemplary display screen in which the following program is resized to reduce the area occupied to fit the program display window for another program.

Figure 11 shows an exemplary display screen in which the. current program, the next program, and the other program are simultaneously displayed in a non-overlapping vertical arrangement.

Figure 12 shows an exemplary display screen in which the current program, the next program, and the other program are simultaneously displayed and scrolled in a non-overlapping vertical arrangement.

Figure 13 shows an exemplary display screen in which the current program, the next program, and the other program are simultaneously displayed and scrolled in a non-overlapping vertical arrangement.

Figure 14 shows an exemplary display screen in which the current program, the next program, and the other program are simultaneously displayed and scrolled in a non-overlapping vertical arrangement to bring the other desired program to a position originally occupied by the current program. .

Figure 15 shows an exemplary display screen during a second consecutive channel change.

Figure 16 shows another exemplary display screen during a second consecutive channel change.

Figure 17 shows another exemplary display screen after performing a second consecutive channel change.

Figure 18 is a flow chart of a method

- 8 copy for a visual presentation of a channel change.

Figure 19 is a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus displaying channel changes in a visually continuous manner.

Figure 20 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for a channel change display in response to a sequence of multiple channel change commands.

Figure 21 is a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus that provides a display of a channel change in response to a sequence of multiple channel change commands.

Figure 22 depicts the high-level architecture of an exemplary communications network.

Figure 23 depicts a high-level architecture of an exemplary one-way communications network for delivering resized program images (or thumbnail images) to end user devices. In this example, thumbnail images are supplied using a data carousel in a manner similar to supplying program metadata over the one-way communication network.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Detailed description of the invention

In some digital program delivery networks, such as certain digital cable networks or domestically directed satellite networks, channel changes can be relatively slow and exhibit a noticeable delay, eg, a delay of 1.5 seconds to 2 seconds. In some

-9 systems, channel changes between high definition programs take an even longer amount of time, eg, 2.7 to 4.5 seconds. Certain digital delivery systems with high resolution formats, eg, ultra high definition or 4K formats, may have longer channel change times than some existing digital delivery systems. Similarly, relatively long channel change times can be experienced when switching between a broadcast program, a video-on-demand program, a program retrieved from a digital video recorder, and so on.

During the time between receipt of the channel change request and the deployment of the new desired channel, a user device (eg, a set-top box or digital television, or a portable device such as a tablet) may carry out one or more more operations such as table parsing, re-tuning a tuner, filling the decoding buffers with video data, and so on. Some digital delivery systems are used to display a black (or blank) screen with some information about the new channel until enough data is received so that the new channel can show all or part of the video for the next channel.

Some users find channel lag times excessive in some existing digital delivery systems, thus reducing the quality of the user experience. Furthermore, during the time that the user device updates the display by discontinuously displaying the current program and starts to display the

In the next program, the user has very little feedback about the progress that is currently in progress on the user device for the requested channel change. The inventors recognized that the delay time during channel change, eg, the channel change time of 2 to 4 seconds in some systems, can be used beneficially to provide additional information or useful for users to keep the user visually involved with the television viewing experience, eg, providing a great opportunity to display advertising and / or other visual content to the user. The inventors also observed that, when there is no apparent visual feedback in relation to a channel change, users may impatiently press the channel up or channel down controls at a rate faster than the time it takes to achieve the channel change. As a result, when a user places the user device in such continuous channel changing mode where the user device tries to change multiple channels in a sequence, the monitor may go blank (or may display fractured video tiles) during 2 to 10 seconds, which can alter the user's TV viewing experience.

The techniques discussed herein can be implemented in various ways that overcome the above-discussed deficiencies in a user's television viewing experience and the problems associated with the presentation of digital video programs, and furthermore, they can be implemented in ways that improve or increase the user experience when changing programs or channels of

- 11 television. In various embodiments, using the techniques set forth, switching from one program being viewed (be it a television broadcast, or content broadcast in real time, or using another delivery mechanism) to another can be implemented.

In some embodiments, a user requested channel change may last for approximately the same amount of time as in other digital systems, but instead of displaying a blank or black screen to the user during the channel change time, the monitor can present moving images and / or other content of interest to the user. For example, in some embodiments, a fortune cookie type message may be displayed to the user. In some embodiments, a general culture question may be displayed to the user, and the answer may be provided during the channel change time or the next time the user changes channels. In some embodiments, daily pre-stored comic strips may be displayed to the user during the channel change time. In various embodiments, the displayed text and graphics may be provided by a television service provider, a manufacturer of user devices, and may or may not relate to the channel that the user changes or changes to. These and other modalities use the delay in the change of channels to provide interesting or useful content.

Figure 22 depicts an exemplary content network 100. A user device 108 (eg, a set-top box, a home portal device, a digital television, a portable or mobile device, etc.)

-12 can be communicatively coupled with a content server 104 that serves, broadcasts by unicast or broadcast, multiple programs or audio / video channels to user device 108 over a network 106. Content server 104 can receive programming from programming inputs 102 from content providers. In various embodiments, the content server 104 can be implemented as a cable headend, a satellite headend, a personal video recording box at the user's residence, or a streaming server, etc. In various embodiments, network 106 can include one or more network technologies such as wired (cable, digital subscriber loop, or fiber optic lines) or wireless (802.11, microwave, 3G or 4G networks, WiMAX, satellite, etc. .).

Figure 23 depicts a block diagram representation of an exemplary communication network 2300 for supplying resized program images (or thumbnail images) to end user devices 108. User device 108 may receive a live broadcast over a wireless network such as a satellite network. On the network side, video content can be received from live broadcasts or tapes or other media to an ingest encoder. The encoder can format, encode, or process the transmissions to produce encoded video data for storage on a storage module. The storage module can also receive pre-encrypted data using transfer protocols such as the file transfer protocol. The stored data can be played back to a

-13 decoder under the control of a headend control system such as the broadcast control system (BMS) that can program, using a programming module, playback. Decoded video data can be recoded prior to transmission using a second (non-ingest) encoder, multiplexed with feed snapshots and provided for uplink.

In the example in Figure 23, the program thumbnail and metadata generator module 2302 generates JPEG images based on capturing MPEG data from the programs and commands from the channelizer module 2304 to transmit the JPEG images by mixing other program metadata. which include EMMs authorization management messages and ECMs authorization control messages. Once user device 108 receives the JPEG images, user device 108 stores the JPEG images in a database along with other program related data and uses them for display on the monitor during channel changes, as described in this document. The programmer may further provide an Extensible Markup Language (XML) description of the stored programs to module 2302 such that the notion of a channel number is associated with the programs. This notion of channel number can be used to provide previews during upstream or downstream channel operations as described herein.

Some aspects of the exposed techniques are described using two exemplary channel change scenarios.

- 14 Example 1.

Figure 1 shows an example of a program display monitor 150 in which a current program 154 is displayed in a full screen mode, ie, the window in which the current program 154 is displayed occupies substantially the entire display area. . In the illustrated example, monitor 150 may have a generally rectangular shape and may be defined by a lower edge 156, an upper edge 158, a left edge 160, and a right edge 162, all defined relative to the viewer's perspective.

While watching the current program 154, the user can initiate a channel change operation. For example, the user may press an up channel or channel down button on a remote control unit associated with the user device, or he may press a channel change or on-screen menu button on the user device.

Figure 2 shows an example of a monitor status 200 that, in response to the channel change command, updates monitor 150 such that the current program 154 is now displayed in a window 202, occupying less than the entire area. display. In some embodiments, eg, when the user device has sufficient resources (graphics memory, packet filtering, decryption, tuner, etc.), additional windows 204, 206 may present the content of one channel up / one channel up. bottom by stacking windows 202, 204 and 206 in a vertical arrangement (ie, from the top edge of the monitor 150 to the bottom edge of the monitor

150) .

In some embodiments, the previous / next channel content displayed in windows 204, 206 may initially be static, ie still images and not moving video. These still images can be received by the user device from time to time (eg, once every 5 to 10 seconds) as thumbnail graphics for the channel alignment available to the user. In some embodiments, the content of the previous / next channels displayed in windows 204, 206 can be assembled on the fly, ie, based on the data packets received for the respective channels (eg, initially decoding and presenting all intra-blocks). -coded codes received, followed by the predictively coded blocks, and so on).

The transition from the monitor state depicted in Figure 1 (the user watching a first program) to the monitor state 200 can be very fast, eg, within a single frame refresh time (33 milliseconds for a 30 frames per second or 16.7 milliseconds for a frame rate of 60 Hz). In an advantageous aspect, the rapid transition from Figure 1 to Figure 2 of the monitor state can therefore provide the user with instant feedback that the user device has received the channel change command and is working on the change of channel. channel for the user. The transition from current program 154 to window 202 can be carried out in a visually continuous manner, eg, elastically shrinking the window from full screen mode to screen minus mode.

- 16complete.

In some embodiments, a secondary program, eg, an advertisement, may be displayed on display area 208 not occluded by windows 202, 204, 206. In some embodiments, the user device may receive location information about which portion of the An ad within the image area is of utmost importance to the advertiser. This non-occluded information can be used by the user device to adjust the screen positions of the windows 202, 204, 206 such that the important content in the advertisement is visible to the user. For example, an advertiser can identify a logo, or a sales price display region as the non-occlusive region. In some embodiments, the user device can use multiple layers of graphics in a graphics memory to produce the final image on the screen. For example, advertising content 208 may correspond to a background graphics layer while program windows 202, 204, 206 may correspond to one or more foreground graphics layers. In some embodiments, alpha blending with alpha values ​​between 0 and 1 (inclusive) can be used to produce the composite image on monitor 150.

Monitor status 200 shows a point in time in which window 202 displaying current program 154 is resized (shrunk), but may be even larger than the other program windows 204 and 206. In various embodiments, the displays different display sizes of windows 202 and 204/206, they can overlap or not overlap each other and can display moving videos or images

- 17static.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary monitor state 300 in which the current program window 302 has been resized to its minimum size. In the example shown, all three windows 302, 204, and 206 are of similar or identical sizes and are in vertical alignment with respect to their left and right edges. The term vertical in this context refers to the arrangement of the windows in the direction between the upper edge of the monitor and the lower edge of the monitor from the viewer's perspective.

In some embodiment, during resizing from Figure 1 to Figure 2 to Figure 3, the video content displayed in windows 202, 302 can be kept static, eg, freezing the last image frame of the displayed program before starting the channel change. In other embodiments, the content within windows 202, 302 may be active or correspond to video content (eg, moving images).

In some embodiments, the monitor status 300 may arrange the program windows 302, 204, and 206 to not be overlapping and to have window spacing areas that can display icons 304, 306 indicative of the relationships between the displayed program windows ( eg, an upward arrow 304 indicating an upward channel direction and a downward arrow 306 indicating a downward channel direction).

In some embodiments, monitor 150 may include a visual cue that the position of program window 302 is a seed position to which the window adapts to the

-18 end of the resizing process and immediately before the displacement process or vice versa.

Figure 4 shows an example of an intermediate state of monitor 400 where the program windows 402, 404 and 406 have been animated to move in the vertical direction (from / to the upper edge and the lower edge of the monitor 150). For example, compared to windows 206 and 208, window 406 has been nearly shifted out of the active image area from the top edge of image 158, while window 404 occupies a larger portion of the monitor compared to window 204 .

Figure 5 shows an example of another intermediate state of monitor 500. The current program window 502 is only partially visible in the display area 150 because some portion of the window has moved beyond the top edge of the monitor 150. The window 504 representing the next program has grown larger as it appears to emerge from the lower edge of the monitor in an upward direction.

Figure 6 shows an example of a monitor state 600 in which the window 604 for the next channel has moved to a position previously occupied by the current program window 302 (see Figure 3).

Figure 7 shows an example of a monitor state 700 in which the window 704 for the new program is resized to expand to eventually fill the entire monitor. Windows displaying the current program 702 (which is now the previously viewed program) and the other program 706 may optionally be present. In addition, the advertisement 152 may still be partially visible.

-19 Figure 8 shows an example of a monitor state 800 where the channel change is complete, and the following program is displayed in the window 802 occupying the entire display area.

In some embodiments, the transition from the current program to the next program, as described with respect to Figure 1 and Figure 8 above, may take place for approximately the same amount of channel change time used in current techniques (eg, 1.5 to 2 seconds for a standard definition television program). In one aspect, the techniques discussed herein can provide instant visual feedback to the user that the channel change command has been received and that the channel change is in progress. For example, the transition from the display of Figure 1 (full screen) to the display of Figure 2 (resizing the current program) can be almost instantaneous (<15 to 60 milliseconds).

In another aspect, the techniques set forth herein can be implemented in ways that allow simultaneous viewing of the current program and the next program, the visual information associated with the next program being constructed as more and more data packets become available from the program. next program. Furthermore, an advertisement or a relevant secondary program may also be displayed to the user during the channel change time. In a variant, the visual information for the next program can be sent using another mechanism such as encoded images that are sent out of band with the program content, eg, in the form of thumbnails of

-20 lower resolution compressed graphics.

In another aspect, the techniques discussed herein can be implemented to shift the channel lineup (current program, next program, and other channel (s) above or below these two programs) intuitively to the user. For example, the tape made up of windows 204, 302, 206 (see Figure 3) may scroll up or down depending on whether the user has issued an upstream command or a downstream command. The vertical movement of the program windows can also be user-configurable so that the user can select the mode of operation of the channel changes (eg, move the windows up or down for an up and down channel command. similarly for a downstream command).

Example 2

With reference to Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10, Figure 11, Figure 12, Figure 13, Figure 14, Figure 15, Figure 16 and Figure 17, an exemplary embodiment is described in which the user issues multiple channel change commands before completing a first channel change.

Figure 8, as previously described, depicts a monitor state 800 where the channel change is complete. Assume that the user selects the channel down button once.

Figure 9 shows an intermediate state of monitor 900 in which window 902 is resized to a larger area.

-21 small, with a secondary program or advertisement visible in the remaining area above monitor 150.

In monitor state 1000 shown in Figure 10, the consumer issues another downstream command. Therefore, the user has selected the downstream channel button twice indicating that he would like to change the channel to the next downstream channel. In Figure 10, the current program is displayed in window 1002, with a top program and a bottom program being partially displayed in windows 1006 and 1004 respectively.

Figure 11 shows an example of a monitor state 1100 where, in response to the second channel change command, program windows 1102 (current program), 1104 (the program the user now wants to view), and 1106 (the program previously viewed) are resized to fit completely within monitor 150.

Figure 12 shows an example of a monitor 1200 state in which image windows 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, and 1210 are (either fully or partially) visible on monitor 150. These resized windows can be animated or vertically shifted to bring the user-desired program channel to a previously designated location on monitor 150. Once the program window for the next program the user wishes to view is in the previously designated position, the program window 1204 can then be resized to fill the entire monitor area.

Figure 13 shows intermediate images as all images are animated down to the next downstream channel, as represented by windows 1302, 1304,

-221306, 1308, 1310 and 1312 in vertically deployed positions with respect to the corresponding windows 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208 and 1210 respectively.

Figure 13 further shows an example of a monitor state 1300 in which all image windows are animated down to the next downstream channel, as represented by windows 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310 and 1312 in vertically deployed positions. with respect to the corresponding windows 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208 and 1210 respectively.

Figure 14 shows an example of a monitor state 1400 in which all image windows are animated down to the next downstream channel, compared to monitor state 1300, as represented by windows 1402, 1404, 1408, 1412 and 1414 in vertically deployed positions relative to corresponding windows 1302, 1304, 1308 and 1312 respectively (window 1414 corresponds to a program not previously shown in Figure 12 or Figure 13).

Figure 15 shows an example of a monitor state 1500 where the program window 1507, which corresponds to the program the user wishes to view, is in the predetermined position from which the program window 1507 can be scaled to occupy the viewing area. full display.

Figure 16 shows an example of a monitor state 1600 in which the program window 1607 (corresponding to 1507) is increased in size to scale to the entire area of ​​the display screen.

Figure 17 shows an example of a monitor status

-231700 in which the channel change to the next channel (2 channels down) is completed and the program the user wants is displayed on the full display screen.

In some embodiments, the entire transition described with respect to Figure 8 and Figure 17 can be completed in the normal channel change time for two (2) channels down (eg, 1.5 to 3 seconds).

In some embodiments, the secondary program 152, displayed on the monitor 150 as a background for the program windows, may be customizable based on the consumer's habits regarding channel changes.

In some embodiments, the monitor may comprise multiple layers that are mixed together. For example, each program window (eg, five program windows displayed at 1300) may comprise a separate graphics layer, with an additional graphics layer for background advertising. Additionally, input and output linear icons or live content tiles can be displayed on another graphics layer to the user.

In some embodiments, a graphics layer can represent a visual display widget that provides channel change progress feedback to a user. For example, in some embodiments, a time bar may be displayed, progressively filling to indicate a percentage or amount of progress made in changing a channel. In some modes, the progress bar may have visible markers or counters and the progress bar may fill to the marker when completing the corresponding task _ 24 ^— (eg, syntactically parsed program tables channel acquired video decrypted buffer full etc.) In some embodiments, text messages can be displayed to the user reporting the progress in the channel switching operation.

It will be appreciated that the techniques discussed for displaying channel changes to the user can be implemented to operate without delaying the channel change time experienced by the user. In other words, all UI changes from full screen display of one channel to full screen display of another channel can be completed within the normal channel change time.

In some embodiments, the monitor can be rectangular (eg, conventional 16: 9 or 4: 3 formats). In some embodiments, the monitor may be rectangular and may be in a portrait format mode orientation. In some examples, the monitor may include at least one curvilinear edge, eg, a circular or oval monitor. In some examples, the monitor can be a flexible monitor that can be bent in a horizontal and / or vertical direction.

In various embodiments, different shapes and sizes of monitor 150 can be used. For example, in some embodiments, the monitor may be generally circular in shape and the first window may transit out of the monitor in a linear translation in the vertical direction (up or down). down). In some embodiments, the first window may generally transit from the center of the monitor in an upward spiral fashion. Furthermore, although this document exposes techniques in which

-25 windows are animated in a vertical direction, other modalities are also possible in which the windows are rolled in the horizontal or diagonal directions. In various embodiments, the ads can include still or moving image ads or additional content elements such as graphics, system information, messages (eg, weather, horoscope, etc.), and so on.

Figure 18 is a flow chart representation of an exemplary method 1500 for displaying channel changes on a monitor.

At 1502, method 1500 displays a first program in a first window at a first position on the monitor. For example, as depicted in Figure 1, the first window can occupy the entire display area and the first position can simply overlap the display area.

At 1504, method 1500 receives a first channel change command. The channel change command can be a command to move forward through a channel or to move backward through a channel.

In 1506, method 1500 changes, in response to the first channel change command, a first visual feature of the first window, thereby exposing a portion of a background layer of the monitor. In some embodiments, the first visual characteristic can be applied, eg, by the size of the monitor window and / or the weight of the alpha value, to the window during the blending of the various graphic layers. In some embodiments, the visual characteristic can be changed by clipping the display of the first program to display only the

-26 portion that fits within the first window. In some embodiments, the first visual characteristic changes by resizing the image. That is, the user may still have the ability to view the entire video frame, but at a reduced resolution to fit within a smaller window.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 can provide a visual cue to identify the first position on the monitor. For example, as previously discussed, the seed position can be identified using a semi-transparent outline, or by using an alignment arrow.

In 1508, the method 1500 displays at least a portion of a second program on the exposed portion of the monitor in a second window that is positioned in a vertical direction relative to the first window. As previously discussed, in some embodiments, scrolling in the vertical direction can move the window toward the top edge (and away from the bottom edge) or toward the bottom edge (and away from the top edge) of the monitor.

In some embodiments, when the user command is an upstream channel command, the first and second windows move in the downward direction. This allows the replacement of the first program window by the next program window on top of it (ie, the window towards the top edge).

In some embodiments, the first channel change command includes a channel down command and the automatic scrolling moves the first window and the second window in a vertically downward direction.

-27 In some embodiments, the user is given control of specifying how the user would like to see the window movement happen for the upstream and downstream channel commands.

In the 1510, the 1500 method automatically scrolls the first window and the second window through the monitor in the vertical direction, such that the first window starts to move out of the monitor while the second window starts to move in the direction of the first. position.

In some embodiments, method 1500 displays an additional content element (eg, an advertisement or other text or information graphics) on the background layer such that at least a portion of the advertisement that does not overlap the first window and the second window is visible. The method 1500 may begin displaying the advertisement as soon as the first display characteristic changes or it may begin displaying the advertisement during the scrolling operation.

In 1512, method 1500, changes, after the second window is in the first position on the monitor, the second visual characteristic of the second window in such a way that the second window occupies the monitor, the first window disappearing from the monitor. display. The second visual feature may comprise cutting the program, resizing the program and so on.

Figure 19 is an example of a block diagram representation of an apparatus 1600 for providing visually continuous channel changes on a monitor.

The 1602 module (eg, the display module)

-28 displays the current program substantially over the entire monitor area.

Module 1604 (eg, a command receiving module) receives a command to display the next program.

Module 1606 (eg, a first resize module) visually continuously resizes, in response to command, the current program to fit within a first window on the monitor that occupies an original position on the monitor.

Module 1608 (eg, a display module) displays at least a portion of the next program in a second window that is located in a second portion of the monitor that does not overlap the first portion.

Module 1610 (eg, a window transition module) transits, visually continuously, out of the first window from the monitor while transiting in the second window to the original position previously occupied by the first window.

Module 1612 (eg, a second resizing module) expands the second window, after the second window is in the original position, to occupy substantially the entire monitor area.

In some embodiments, apparatus 1600 further includes a secondary program display module that displays a secondary program on the monitor such that the secondary program is visible in a display area not occupied by the first window and the second window. In some embodiments, apparatus 1600 includes an advertisement analysis module that determines a key portion of the secondary program, and a positioning module for

-29 window that positions, based on the key portion of the secondary program, the position for the first window on the monitor. The ad analysis module may use techniques such as pattern recognition to extract visual information in advertisements or it may be provided with non-occluded information associated with advertisements. In some embodiments, apparatus 1600 includes an advertisement selection module that selects the secondary program based on at least one of the current program and the next program (eg, if the user was watching a sports program, then it displays a relevant advertisement for sports, as indicated by the keywords associated with the ad).

In some embodiments, input programs can be received as an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) transport stream in MPEG-2 or H.264 or H.265 format. Video encoded using these formats can be encoded as intra-blocks that include all content information for decoding or as inter-encoded blocks that are encoded as a difference from another block of images. In such embodiments, apparatus 1600 may include a program decoder module that receives, during the period of time, additional video data for the next program, decodes the additional video data, and makes the additional decoded video data available to the module. display, such that the display module updates the second window to reproduce the additional decoded video data when available.

-30 In a multi-channel content delivery system, the term channel often has a contextual meaning. For example, at the physical layer, a channel can refer to a frequency band (eg, a 6 MHz frequency band in coaxial cable transmissions in the United States). At the application layer, the term channel can simply refer to an audio / video program (or an audio-only program). In analog transmission systems, a physical layer channel is frequently mapped to an application layer channel (or program). In digital video delivery, when the user presses an up channel button, to fulfill this command, the user device may or may not have to change the physical radio frequency (RE) on which the user device can receive the signal. corresponding content. In cable, digital or satellite delivery systems, the physical channel frequently carries the content for 10 to 12 video programs (application layer channels) and some user commands to advance down a channel can be fulfilled without having to make a change at the RF reception frequency. In Internet Protocol (IR) -based program delivery systems, all programs can be received on the same RF channel (physical layer), and the upstream channel downstream command can be met simply by using different filtering criteria for the packages received.

Figure 20 is an example of a flow chart representation of a method 1700 for controlling the monitor to provide an enhanced channel switching experience (eg, visually seamless).

-31 In 1702, method 1700 deploys a first channel (application layer) (eg, Figure 1). In 1704, method 1700 receives a first command to display a second channel.

In the 1706, the 1700 method initiates the channel change from the first channel to the second channel, in which the channel change includes reducing the size of the first channel display, progressively displaying the second channel video as more are received. and more data for the second channel, move the first channel out in such a way that the first channel gradually disappears from the monitor, correspondingly shifting the second channel to take the screen position of the first channel, and expanding the second channel to full size after having sufficient data for the second channel.

In the 1708, the method 1700 receives, between the channel change and before the expansion of the second channel to full size, a second command to display a third channel, and in response to the second command.

In the 1710, the 1700 method progressively displays the third channel video as more and more data is received for the third channel, shifting the first channel and second channel out in such a way that the first channel and second channel disappear gradually from the monitor, correspondingly shifts the third channel to take the position of the first channel, and expands the third channel to a full size after having sufficient data for the third channel.

As previously discussed with respect to Figure 8 through Figure 17, in some embodiments, the 1700 method may

-32 viewing at least a portion of video of the first channel and the second channel while progressively displaying the video of the third channel (eg, Figure 12, Figure 13, Figure 14, etc.). In some embodiments, the method 1700 may tune, in response to receiving the first command to display the second channel, a radio frequency tuner to a different frequency. Tuning can be performed when method 1700 determines that the next user requested channel is not available on the same physical layer channel, but is available on another carrier.

In modes that use both intra- and inter-coded video, the 1700 method can progressively display the second channel's video by initially decoding and displaying the intra-coded blocks of the second channel's video, and also decoding and displaying the inter-coded blocks of the second channel's video. Upstream channel in availability of the reference blocks for the intercoding blocks.

In some embodiments, method 1700 can reduce the sizes of the first window and the second window to make content for multiple video programs visible to the user, thus providing easy preview of programming available on other channels. For example, monitor states 1200, 1300, and 1400 each show 5 different windows in which 5 consecutive programs are simultaneously displayed to the user.

Figure 21 is an example of a block diagram representation of an apparatus 1800 for simultaneously displaying multiple video programs.

-33E1 module 1802 (eg, a first display module) displays a first video program in a first program window.

Module 1804 (eg, a second display module) displays a second video program in a second program window.

Module 1806 (eg, the display window control module) controls the sizes and positions of the first program window and the second program window in such a way that the second program window does not overlap with, and is position directly above or below the first program window. In this context, the terms over and under refer to the arrangement of the program windows (eg, windows 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208) on the display screen and tiled in a vertical direction toward or away from the edge. top 158 of monitor 150.

Module 1808 (eg, a command module) receives a first channel change command from the first program to a second program.

Module 1810 (eg, a transition module) causes, in response to the first command, the transition of the first program window and the second program window from an initial state in which the first program window is fully visible. and in a first position on the screen and a final state in which the first program window is completely invisible and the second program window is in the first position.

The module

1812 (eg, a first module of

-34resizing) resizes the first program window from a first full screen mode in which the first program window occupies the entire display area of ​​the screen to a first window mode in which the first program window occupies less of the entire display area of ​​the screen.

Module 1814 (eg, a second resizing module) resizes the second program window from a second window mode in which the second program window occupies less than the entire display area of ​​the screen and up to a second window mode. full screen in which the second program window occupies the entire screen display area.

In some embodiments, apparatus 1800 includes a secondary program display module that displays a secondary program to be visible in a display area not occupied by the first program window and the second program window.

In some embodiments, the transition module controls the transition from the initial state to the final state in an amount of time during which the image information for a full image of the second program is received.

In some embodiments, the transition module controls the transition from the initial state to the final state by scrolling the first program window and the second program window in a vertical direction such that no portion of the first program window is displayed. and the second program window that falls out

-35 from the screen.

It will be appreciated that the disclosed techniques can be used to visually engage the user by displaying animated program windows and / or advertisements and / or other animations during channel change, thus enhancing the user experience during channel change times.

It will be further appreciated that the disclosed technique provides additional opportunities for content providers, network operators, and device manufacturers to generate advertising revenue by utilizing the resources of additional time (channel change time) and screen area (non-display area). is occluded by program windows) to display advertisements to the user.

The exposed and other modalities, the operations and functional modules described in this document, can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in software, firmware or computer hardware, including the structures exposed in this document and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one. or more of them. The foregoing and other modalities can be implemented as one or more computer program products, ie, one or more computer program instruction modules encoded in a computer-readable medium for their execution, or to control the operation of, a computer apparatus. data processing. The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition of material that effects a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more

-36 of them. The term data processing apparatus encompasses all data processing apparatus, devices and machines including, by way of example, a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus may include, in addition to hardware, a code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, eg, a code that constitutes the firmware of the processor, a group of protocols, a database control system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them. A propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, eg, a machine generated electrical, optical or electromagnetic signal that is generated to encode information for transmission to a suitable receiving apparatus.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be displayed in any form, including as a stand-alone program. or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be stored in a portion of a file that contains other programs or data (eg, one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple files coordinated (eg, files that store one or more modules, applets, or portions of code). A computer program can be viewed to run on a computer or on

-37multiple computers located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected through a communications network.

The processes and logical flows described in this document can be carried out by means of one or more programmable processors that execute one or more computer programs to carry out functions by operating on input data and generating outputs. Processors and logic flows can also be implemented by means of, and the apparatus can also be implemented as, a logic circuitry for specific purposes, eg, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Device) or an ASIC (Specific Integrated Circuit for application).

Processors suitable for executing a computer program include, by way of example, microprocessors for both special and general purposes, and any or more processors of any type of digital computer. In general, the processor will receive instructions and data from read-only memory or random access memory, or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor to carry out instructions and one or more memory devices to store instructions and data. Generally the computer will also include, or be operably coupled to receive data from or to transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, eg, magnetic discs, magneto-optical discs, or optical discs. However, the computer does not need to have such devices. Appropriate computer-readable media for storing instructions and

Computer program data includes all forms of non-volatile memories, memory media and devices including, by way of example, semiconductor memory devices, eg, EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory devices; magnetic drives, eg, internal hard drives or removable drives; magneto-optical discs; and CD ROM and DVD ROM discs. The processor and memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated into, special purpose logic circuitry.

As a specific example, exemplary processing code is included below to illustrate an implementation of the processing discussed above.

Although this document contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention being claimed or what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of the specific features for particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this document in the context of separate modalities may also be implemented in combination in a single modality. Rather, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple modes separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Furthermore, although the characteristics may be found described above acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more characteristics of a claimed combination may in some cases be removed from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation on a sub-combination. Similarly, although the operations are represented in the drawings in a particular order, it should not be understood that this requires that such operations be carried out in the particular order shown or in a sequential order, or that all the illustrated operations be carried out. out to achieve desirable results.

Only some examples and implementations are exposed. Variations, modifications and improvements can be made to the examples and implementations 10 described and other implementations based on the above.