US20180359535A1

US20180359535A1 - User interfaces for content access devices

Info

Publication number: US20180359535A1
Application number: US16/001,640
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Hasek; Jeffrey Binder; Vic Odryna
Original assignee: Layer3 TV Inc
Current assignee: Layer3 TV Inc
Priority date: 2017-06-08
Filing date: 2018-06-06
Publication date: 2018-12-13
Also published as: US11166081B2; US20200236433A1

Abstract

A content access device is operable to present a user interface that includes content type menu elements arranged on a first axis, content category menu elements arranged on a second axis, and content selection elements arranged in an area between the first axis and the second axis. The content selection elements arranged in the area between the first and second axes may correspond to a selected content type menu element and a selected content category menu element. The content access device may change the content selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of a different content type menu element and/or a different content category menu element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a nonprovisional patent application of and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/516,865, filed Jun. 8, 2017 and titled “User Interfaces for Content Access Devices,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The described embodiments relate generally to content access devices. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to user interfaces that facilitate user location of content to access.

BACKGROUND

Many different electronic devices may function as content access devices by facilitating user access to various content assets. These content access devices may include computing devices, smart phones, tablet computing devices, and so on. Content access devices may present (such as via a display, speaker, and so on) and/or otherwise access content stored by the content access device, received or otherwise accessible via various communication media, and so on.
For example, a content access device may be a set top box, digital video recorder, network digital video recorder, and/or other device that allows a user to access content provided by a content delivery network and/or other networks, such as the Internet or one or more social media networks. Examples of a content delivery network include a satellite or cable television, movie, and/or other content provider.
Content access devices may provide access to a great deal of content of a variety of different types from a number of different sources. Content access devices may provide content access/navigation menus and/or other user interfaces that allow users to find the content they wish to access amidst all of the accessible content.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a content access device that is operable to present and/or otherwise provide a user interface. The user interface may be operable to navigate accessible content. The content access device may position a first group of menu elements along a first axis or direction, a second group of menu elements along a second axis or direction, and a content selection area between the first and second axes. The first group of menu elements may be content category menu elements and the second group of menu elements may be content type menu elements. The content access device may present selection elements in the content selection area based on a received content type menu element selection and a received content category menu element selection. Upon a change to the received content type menu element selection or the received content category menu element selection, the content access device may change all of the selection elements in the content selection area.
In various embodiments, a content access device includes a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions and a processing unit. The processing unit executes the instructions to present a user interface. The user interface includes content type menu elements arranged on a first axis, content category menu elements arranged on a second axis, and content selection elements corresponding to a selected content type menu element and a selected content category menu element arranged in an area between the first axis and the second axis. The processing unit changes the content selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of a different content type menu element or a different content category menu element.
In some examples, the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. In numerous examples, the content type menu elements include a television shows menu element and a movies menu element and the content category menu elements include a comedy menu element and a drama menu element.
In various examples, the processing unit changes all of the content selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of the different content type menu element or the different content category menu element. In some examples, the processing unit presents content associated with a content selection element in response to selection of the content selection element.
In numerous examples, a content selection element indicates that it is unavailable. In various examples, the content selection elements include thumbnail images associated with corresponding content.
In some embodiments, a method for facilitating content navigation using a content access device includes presenting, using the content access device, a user interface including a first group of menu elements, a second group of menu elements positioned perpendicular to the first group of menu elements, and a content selection area positioned between the first and second groups of menu elements; including content selection elements in the content selection area using the content access device based on a selected first menu element of the first group of menu elements and a selected second menu element of the second group of menu elements; and changing all of the content selection elements in response to receiving a selection change of the selected first menu element or the selected second menu element.
In various examples, the method further includes presenting an additional user interface including a grid of selectable content elements organized by source and time. In some examples, the method further includes presenting an additional user interface including a first menu element area that presents content determined to be most likely to be accessed by a user, a secondary menu element area including a number of still images corresponding to a first group of content determined to be secondarily most likely to be accessed by the user, and a third menu element area including text descriptions of a second group of content determined to be tertiarily most likely to be accessed by the user.
In numerous examples, the method further includes presenting instructions on how to make unavailable content available in response to receiving a selection of a content selection element that is associated with the unavailable content. In various examples, the method further includes presenting information about an indicated one of the content selection elements. In such examples, the content selection area is positioned between the information about the indicated one of the content selection elements and the second group of menu elements.
In some examples, including the content selection elements in the content selection area includes arranging the content selection elements in rows and columns in the content selection area.
In numerous embodiments, a content access device includes a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions and a processing unit. The processing unit executes the instructions to present an on demand user interface by positioning content type menu elements along a first axis, content category menu elements along a second axis, and a content selection area between the first and second axes; presenting selection elements in the content selection area based on a received content type menu element selection and a received content category menu element selection; and changing all of the selection elements in the content selection area based on a change to the received content type menu element selection or the received content category menu element selection.
In various examples, the processing unit moves an indicator between the content type menu elements, the content category menu elements, and the selection elements based on user input. In some examples, the processing unit allows selection between multiple versions of content associated with a selection element in response to selection of the selection element. In such examples, the multiple versions may include at least one of rental and purchase versions, different quality versions, or different rated versions.
In numerous examples, the content type menu elements include a first element associated with video content and a second element associated with music content. In various examples, the content category menu elements include an element associated with content categorized as determined to be most likely to be accessed by a current user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements.

FIG. 1A depicts a first example user interface that may be presented by a content access device.

FIG. 1B depicts the first example user interface of FIG. 1A after user input is received changing the selected content type menu element and changing the selected content category menu element.

FIG. 1C depicts the first example user interface of FIG. 1B after user input is received changing the selected content category menu element.

FIG. 2 depicts a second example user interface that may be presented by a content access device.

FIG. 3 depicts a third example user interface that may be presented by a content access device.

FIG. 4 presents a first example method for facilitating content navigation using a content access device. The method may present one or more of the user interfaces of FIGS. 1A-3.

FIG. 5 presents a second example method for facilitating content navigation using a content access device. The method may present one or more of the user interfaces of FIGS. 1A-3.

FIG. 6 depicts a content access system. The content access system may perform one or more of the methods of FIGS. 4-5 and/or present one or more of the user interfaces of FIGS. 1A-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.
The description that follows includes sample systems, methods, and computer program products that embody various elements of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the described disclosure may be practiced in a variety of forms in addition to those described herein.
The following disclosure relates to a content access device that is operable to present one or more user interfaces to facilitate user location of content. The user interface may include a first group of menu elements (such as content type menu elements) arranged on a first axis or in another first orientation, a second group of menu elements (such as content category menu elements) arranged on a second axis or in another second orientation, and selection elements (such as content selection elements) arranged in an area between the first and second menu elements. For example, the content access device may include the selection elements in an area between the first axis and the second axis. The selection elements included in the area may correspond to a selected first menu element of the first group of menu elements and a selected second menu element of the second group of menu elements. The content access device may change all of the selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of a different first and/or second menu element.
This may allow users to view more accessible content at a time than other user interfaces. Further, this may allow users to locate accessible content more easily than other user interfaces. Additionally, this may allow users to better filter accessible content by category, type, and so on than other user interfaces. Moreover, this may allow users to more intuitively navigate accessible content than other user interfaces.
These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 1A-6. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.
FIG. 1A depicts a first example user interface 100A that may be presented by a content access device which is operable to present one or more instances of available content (such as one or more television programs, movies, music, audio files, images, On Demand content, digital video recorder content, and so on). For example, the first example user interface 100A may be a user interface for locating and accessing On Demand content. The first example user interface 100A may include a first group 102 of content type menu elements 104 arranged on a first axis Y, a second group 101 of content category menu elements 103 arranged on a second axis X, and content selection elements 108 arranged in a content selection or other area 107 between the first axis Y and the second axis X. The content selection elements 108 arranged in the area 107 may correspond to a selected content type menu element 106 (shown as indicted by a content type menu element indicator) and a selected content category menu element 105 (shown as indicted by a content category menu element indicator). In response to a selection of one or more of the content selection elements 108, the content access device may present the associated content. This may facilitate user location and access of available content and thus improve operation of the content access device as users may accomplish tasks while providing fewer instructions than if more cumbersome and inefficient user interfaces were used.
For example, as shown, a selected content type menu element 106 may be a TV content type and a selected content category menu element 105 may be a COMEDY content category. As such, the content selection elements 108 disposed in the content selection area 107 may be all of a TV content type and a COMEDY content category.
The content access device may change the content selection elements 108 arranged in the area 107 upon selection of a different content type menu element 106, a different content category menu element 105, and/or another selection change. Such a change may change all of the content selection elements 108 arranged in the area 107.
For example, FIG. 1B illustrates the first example user interface 100B as modified after the selected content type menu element 106 has been changed to a MOVIES content type (shown by the content type menu element indicator having been moved from TV to MOVIES) and the selected content category menu element 105 has been changed to a MOST POPULAR content category (shown by the content type menu element indicator having been moved from COMEDY to MOST POPULAR). As such, the content selection elements 108 arranged in the area 107 have all been changed to be all of a MOVIES content type and a MOST POPULAR content category.
By way of further example, FIG. 1C illustrates the first example user interface 100C as modified after the selected content category menu element 105 has been changed from the MOST POPULAR content category back to the COMEDY content category (shown by the content type menu element indicator having been moved from MOST POPULAR back to COMEDY). As such, the content selection elements 108 arranged in the area 107 have all been changed to be all of a MOVIES content type and a COMEDY content category.
Selection of the content selection elements 108 may be indicated by navigating a selection indicator 109. The selection indicator 109 may be navigable by a user to indicate and/or select one or more of the content selection elements 108. In some implementations, the content selection elements 108 may be moveable between the content selection area 107 and the first group 102 of content type menu elements 104 and the second group 101 of content category menu elements 103. In other implementations, the content selection elements 108 may be moveable within the content selection area 107 while other one or more other indicators may be used to separately navigate among the first group 102 of content type menu elements 104 and the second group 101 of content category menu elements 103. Various configurations are possible and contemplated.
As shown, information 110 regarding content associated with a content selection element 108 indicated by the selection indicator 109 may be displayed. As shown, in the first example user interface 100A-100C, the content selection area 107 is positioned between the information 110 and the second group 101 of content category menu elements 103. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the information 110 may include information about one or more versions of the content associated with the content selection element 108 that are accessible. Such versions may include rental versions, purchase versions, different quality versions (such as high definition, standard definition, and so on), different rated versions (such as director's cut editions, unrated editions, standard editions, edited for television editions, and so on), and the like. Selection of the content selection element 108 may allow the user to select among the various accessible versions of the content.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the first example user interface 100A may include content selection elements 108 that are unavailable. As such, a user may not be able to instruct presentation of that content by selecting the associated content selection element 108. As shown, the associated content selection element may include a graphic, text, and/or other indicator illustrating that the associated content is unavailable. In this example, content selection elements 108 associated with unavailable are illustrated as darkened and bearing an UNAVAILABLE text legend. However, as also illustrated in this example, the first example user interface 100A may further include instructions 111 that may offer information directing a user how to make unavailable content. Such instructions 111 may be presented in response to receiving a selection of a content selection element 108 associated with unavailable content.
The first example user interface 100A may include a variety of other elements, controls, and/or other components. For example, the first example user interface 100A may include a filtering element 112. The filtering element 112 may be manipulated by a user to filter the content selection elements 108 included in the content selection area 107. As shown, the filtering element 112 is set to RENT+FREE. As such, the content selection elements 108 included in the content selection area 107 may only be associated with content that is either rentable or free. The filtering element 112 may include options to filter based on any characteristic of the content. Such characteristics may include rent, buy, free, high definition, standard definition, various ratings, a combination thereof, and so on.
As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the first axis Y is shown perpendicular to the second axis X. However, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, the axes may be configured in arrangements that are not perpendicular, such as various transverse configurations, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As also shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the first group 102 of content type menu elements 104 includes a TV menu element (which may be associated with television programming content), a MOVIES menu element (which may be associated with movie content), a NETWORKS menu element (which may be associated with content available from one of the major television networks), a KIDS menu element (which may be associated with content made available for children), and a MUSIC menu element (which may be associated with music content). However, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, menu elements may be included corresponding to any type (such as classifications related to the source of content as opposed to the elements included in the content) by which content may be classified without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As also shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the second group 101 of content category menu elements 103 includes a FOR ME menu element (which may be associated with content that is classified as of interest to the current user based on monitoring of the current user's content access behaviors), a MOST POPULAR menu element (which may be associated with content that is classified as of interest to a majority of users based on monitoring of content accessed by various users, various rating systems, and the like), a PRIMETIME menu element (which may be associated with content that is broadcasted during a time slot defined as prime time), a COMEDY menu element (which may be associated with content that includes comedic elements), a DRAMA menu element (which may be associated with content that includes dramatic elements), a REALITY menu element (which may be associated with reality programming content), a LIFESTYLE menu element (which may be associated with content that includes elements focusing on the lifestyles of people), a FAMILY menu element (which may be associated with content that is classified as suitable for families), and a SCIENCE FICTION menu element (which may be associated with content that includes science fiction elements). Further, an arrow indicator is included to indicate that other categories may be available and the arrow indicator may be selected to reveal additional content category menu elements 103. However, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, menu elements may be included corresponding to any category (such as classifications related to the elements included in the content as opposed to the source of the content) by which content may be classified without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Additionally, the first example user interface 100A-100C is shown as including content selection elements 108 that are thumbnail images associated with corresponding instances of content arranged in rows and columns in the content selection area 107. However, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, the content selection elements 108 may be any kind of graphic and/or non-graphic indicator that may or may not correspond to the associated content in a variety of different ways without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Although the above illustrates and describes the first example user interface 100A-100C as including a first group 102 of content type menu elements 104 arranged on a first axis Y and a second group 101 of content category menu elements 103 arranged on a second axis X, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, various first and second groups of menu elements may be positioned, arranged, disposed, and/or configured in various ways, such as along one or more axes, directions, and so on, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In such implementations, various selection or other elements may be positioned, arranged, disposed, and/or configured in one or more selection of other elements between the first and second groups of menu elements.
The above describes the user interface 100A as presented by a content access device. The content access device may be any kind of electronic device (such as a set top box, digital video recorder or player, a television, a smart phone, a laptop computing device, a cellular telephone, a digital media player, a wearable device, a tablet computing device, a mobile computing device, a desktop computing device, or the like) that is operable to access and/or present content. In some implementations, the content access device may be multiple electronic devices working together, such as in a cloud computing or other arrangement. An example of a content access device is elaborated with respect to FIG. 6 below.
Although the above illustrates and describes a particular user interface, various of the techniques discussed herein may be used to generate and/or present other user interfaces that may have different arrangements than those illustrated and described above. In various implementations, a content access device may be operable to generate and present multiple different user interfaces, such as where the content access device presents the first example user interface 100A-100C as an On Demand user interface and presents other user interfaces in other contexts.
FIG. 2 depicts a second example user interface 200 that may be presented by a content access device. The second example user interface 200 may be a home screen or other default or home user interface. For example, as shown, the second example user interface 200 may include at least a first menu element area 201, a second menu element area 202, and a third menu element area 203.
In some implementations, such as show, the first menu element area 201 may present content determined to be most likely to be accessed by a user. The second menu element area 202 may include a number of still images corresponding to a first group of content determined to be secondarily most likely to be accessed by the user. Each of the still images may be smaller, and thus less emphasized in the second example user interface 200, than the content presented in the first menu element area 201. The third menu element area 203 may include text descriptions 204 of a second group of content determined to be tertiarily most likely to be accessed by the user. Each of the text descriptions 204 may be smaller, and thus less emphasized in the second example user interface 200, than the still images presented in the second menu element area 202.
In this way, a user may be presented with the most likely content they would access while they have a more emphasized set of secondarily likely set of choices to choose from and a less emphasized set of tertiarily likely set of choices to choose from. This may allow a user to locate and access desired content quickly, efficiently, and intuitively. The likelihoods may be based on monitoring previous user behaviors under the same and/or similar circumstances to current circumstances, such as time, location, particular content access device, and so on.
In numerous implementations, the content access device may modify the second example user interface 200 during operation. For example, the content access device may receive user input selecting content associated with a selectable element of the second example user interface 200 and may switch from the second example user interface 200 to present that selected content. The content access device may also subsequently receive a request to switch back, whereupon the content access device may present a modified version of the second example user interface 200 where the previously accessed content is presented in the first menu element area 201 and one or more of the second menu element area 202 and/or the third menu element area 203 are modified in one or more various other ways.
In various implementations, the second example user interface 200 may also include a number of tabs 206-208 and/or other selection elements. In this example, the third menu element area 203 may be a component corresponding to a “FOR ME” or other tab 206 and tabs 207 and 208 may be selectable to access other user interfaces or functions, such as a DVR (digital video recorder) user interface, an On Demand user interface, and so on.
In some implementations, the second example user interface 200 may further include selectors 209 for indicating other media to include in a media area 210. Such media may be posts, updates, or other notifications related to one or more social media networks and/or other data sources.
In one or more implementations, a content access device may be operable to present both the first example user interface 100A-100C and the second example user interface 200. Such a content access device may present either the first example user interface 100A-100C or the second example user interface 200 depending on user input and/or other triggering events such as the content access device powering on.
FIG. 3 depicts a third example user interface 300 that may be presented by a content access device. The third example user interface 300 may be a program or other guide user interface. For example, as shown, the third example user interface 300 may be a grid of selectable content elements 303 organized by source 302 and time 301. In various implementations, such as the one shown, the selectable content elements 303 may be text descriptions of content that may be selected to signal the content access device to present that associated or corresponding content.
In various implementations, a content access device may be operable to present one or more of the first example user interface 100A-100C, the second example user interface 200, and/or the third example user interface 300. For example, a content access device may default to a home screen such as the second example user interface 200, be operable to present an On Demand interface such as the first example user interface 100A-100C upon receiving a request or other associated input from a user, and be operable to present a program guide such as the third example user interface 300 upon request or other triggering condition. Various implementations are possible and contemplated.
FIG. 4 presents a first example method 400 for facilitating content navigation using a content access device. The method 400 may present one or more of the user interfaces of FIGS. 1A-3.
At 401, a content access device operates. The flow then proceeds to 402 where the content access device determines whether or not to present an On Demand user interface. If so, the flow proceeds to 403. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to 411.
At 403, after the content access device determines to present an On Demand user interface, the content access device presents the On Demand user interface. The content access device may determine to present the On Demand user interface based on a received request to present the On Demand user interface and/or other user input.
In some implementations, the On Demand user interface may be a user interface 100A-100C as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A-1C. In various implementations, the On Demand user interface may include content type menu elements arranged on a first axis, content category menu elements arranged on a second axis, and content selection elements corresponding to a selected content type menu element and a selected content category menu element arranged in an area between the first axis and the second axis. In other implementations, the On Demand user interface may include a first group of menu elements, a second group of menu elements positioned perpendicular to the first group of menu elements, and a content selection area positioned between the first and second groups of menu elements. In such implementations, content selection elements may be included in the content selection area based on a selected first menu element of the first group of menu elements and a selected second menu element of the second group of menu elements. In still other implementations, the On Demand user interface may include content type menu elements positioned along a first axis, content category menu elements positioned along a second axis, and a content selection area positioned between the first and second axes. In such implementations, selection elements may be presented in the content selection area based on a received content type menu element selection and a received content category menu element selection.
After the content access device presents the On Demand user interface, the flow proceeds to 404 where the content access device determines whether or not to change the On Demand user interface. The content access device may determine to change the user interface based on received user input. Such user input may be a change to one or more selected menu elements, selection of content to present, a request for a different user interface, and so on. If so, the flow proceeds to 405. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to 407.
At 405, after the content access device determines to change the On Demand user interface, the content access device changes the On Demand user interface. The flow then proceeds to 406 where the content access device presents the changed On Demand user interface. Next, the flow returns to 404 where the content access device determines whether or not to again change the changed On Demand user interface.
At 407, after the content access device determines not to change the On Demand user interface, the content access device determines whether or not to continue presenting the On Demand user interface. The content access device may determine whether or not to continue presenting the On Demand user interface based on whether or not user input is received, such as user input selecting content to present, requesting a different user interface, and so on. If so, the flow returns to 403 where the content access device continues presenting the On Demand user interface. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to 408.
At 408, the content access device determines whether or not to present content. If so, the flow proceeds to 409. Otherwise, the flow returns to 401 where the content access device continues to operate.
At 409, after the content access device determines to present content, the content access device presents the content. Such content may include one or more movies, television programs, videos, songs, audio files, images, text or other files, and so on. The flow then proceeds to 410 where the content access device determines whether or not to continue presenting the content. If so, the flow returns to 409 where the content access device continues presenting the content. Otherwise, the flow returns to 401 where the content access device continues to operate.
At 411, after the content access device determines not to present an On Demand user interface, the content access device determines whether or not to present a home user interface. The content access device may determine to present the home user interface based on a received request to present the home user interface and/or other user input. If so, the flow proceeds to 412. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to 414.
At 412, the content access device presents the home user interface. The home user interface may be a home screen user interface 200 as described above with respect to FIG. 2. The flow then proceeds to 413 where the content access device determines whether or not to continue presenting the home user interface. If so, the flow returns to 412 where the content access device continues presenting the home user interface. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to 408 where the content access device determines whether or not to present content.
At 414, after the content access device determines not to present a home user interface, the content access device determines whether or not to present a guide user interface. The content access device may determine to present the guide user interface based on a received request to present the guide user interface and/or other user input. If so, the flow proceeds to 415. Otherwise, the flow returns to 401 where the content access device continues to operate.
At 415, after the content access device determines to present a guide user interface, the content access device presents the guide user interface. The guide user interface may be a program guide user interface 300 as described above with respect to FIG. 3. The flow then proceeds to 416 where the content access device determines whether or not to continue presenting the guide user interface. If so, the flow returns to 415 where the content access device continues presenting the guide user interface. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to 408 where the content access device determines whether or not to present content.
Although the example method 400 is illustrated and described as including particular operations performed in a particular order, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, various orders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
For example, the method 400 is illustrated and described as presenting an On Demand user interface, a home user interface, and a guide user interface. However, it is understood that these are examples. In various implementations, one or more of a variety of different user interfaces may be presented, which may include one or more features of the user interfaces discussed herein, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Further, although the method 400 is illustrated and described as determining whether or not to present an On Demand user interface, a home user interface, and a guide user interface in a particular, sequential order, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, such operations may be performed in a variety of different orders without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a content access device may first determine whether or not to present a home user interface and then determine whether or not to present an On Demand user interface or a guide user interface. Various configurations are possible and contemplated.
FIG. 5 presents a second example method 500 for facilitating content navigation using a content access device. The method 500 may present one or more of the user interfaces of FIGS. 1A-3.
At 501, a content access device operates. The flow the proceeds to 502 where the content access device determines whether or not to present a user interface. If so, the flow proceeds to 503. Otherwise, the flow returns to 501 and the content access device continues to operate.
At 503, after the content access device determines to present the user interface, the content access device presents the user interface. The flow then proceeds to 504 where the content access device includes content selection elements in a content selection area of the user interface. The content access device may include content selection elements in the content selection area based on selections from a first group of menu elements of the user interface and/or a second group of menu elements of the user interface.
Next, the flow proceeds to 505 where the content access device determines whether or not to change the user interface. If so, the flow proceeds to 506. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to 508.
At 505, after the content access device determines to change the user interface, the content access device changes the user interface. The flow then proceeds to 507 where the content access device changes the user interface. Next, the flow returns to 505 where the content access device determines whether or not to again change the changed user interface.
At 508, after the content access device determines not to change the user interface, the content access device determines whether or not to continue presenting the user interface. If so, the flow returns to 503 where the content access device continues presenting the user interface. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to 509.
At 509, after the content access device determines not to continue presenting the user interface, the content access device determines whether or not to present content. If so, the flow proceeds to 510 where the content access device presents the content. Otherwise, the flow returns to 501 where the content access device continues to operate.
After the content access device presents the content at 510, the flow proceeds to 511 where the content access device determines whether or not to continue presenting the content. If so, the flow returns to 510 where the content access device continues presenting the content. Otherwise, the flow returns to 501 where the content access device continues to operate.
Although the example method 500 is illustrated and described as including particular operations performed in a particular order, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, various orders of the same, similar, and/or different operations may be performed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
For example, the method 500 illustrates and describes presentation of the user interface at 503 and inclusion of the content selection elements at 504 as separate, linearly performed operations. However, it is understood that this is an example. In various implementations, such operations may be performed as part of the same operations, performed in different orders, and so on without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 depicts a content access system 600. The content access system 600 may perform one or more of the methods of FIGS. 4-5 and/or present one or more of the user interfaces of FIGS. 1A-3.
The content access system 600 may include a content access device 620. The content access device 620 may be any kind of electronic device capable of displaying and/or otherwise presenting stored and/or received content. Examples of such electronic devices include, but are not limited to, set top boxes, cable boxes, digital video recorders, network digital video recorders, digital media players, desktop computing devices, laptop computing devices, digital video disc players, video cassette recorders, tablet computing devices, smart phones, mobile computing devices, cellular telephones, wearable devices, and so on.
The content access device 620 may include one or more processing units 623, one or more non-transitory storage media 624 (which may take the form of, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium; optical storage medium; magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory; random access memory; erasable programmable memory; flash memory; and so on), one or more communication components 625, and/or other components such as user interface components and so on. The processing unit 623 may execute instructions stored in the storage medium 624 to perform various functions, such as to receive and/or store content from one or more content provider devices 621 via one or more communication networks 622, present and/or otherwise access content, prevent one or more user interfaces, and so on.
Similarly, the content provider device 621 may include one or more processing units 626, storage media 627, communication components 628, and so on. In various implementations, the processing unit 626 may be operable to perform one or more functions discussed above on behalf of the content access device 620. Various configurations are possible and contemplated.
As described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures, the present disclosure relates to a content access device that is operable to present one or more user interfaces to facilitate user location of content. The user interface may include a first group of menu elements (such as content type menu elements) arranged on a first axis or in another first orientation, a second group of menu elements (such as content category menu elements) arranged on a second axis or in another second orientation, and selection elements (such as content selection elements) arranged in an area between the first and second menu elements. For example, the content access device may include the selection elements in an area between the first axis and the second axis. The selection elements included in the area may correspond to a selected first menu element of the first group of menu elements and a selected second menu element of the second group of menu elements. The content access device may change all of the selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of a different first and/or second menu element.
In the present disclosure, the methods disclosed may be implemented as sets of instructions or software readable by a device. Further, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed are examples of sample approaches. In other embodiments, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the disclosed subject matter. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not necessarily meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
The described disclosure may be provided as a computer program product, or software, that may include a non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to the present disclosure. A non-transitory machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form (e.g., software, processing application) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). The non-transitory machine-readable medium may take the form of, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage medium (e.g., floppy diskette, video cassette, and so on); optical storage medium (e.g., CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM and EEPROM); flash memory; and so on.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A content access device, comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions; and

a processing unit that executes the instructions to present a user interface comprising:

content type menu elements arranged on a first axis;

content category menu elements arranged on a second axis; and

content selection elements corresponding to a selected content type menu element and a selected content category menu element arranged in an area between the first axis and the second axis; wherein

the processing unit changes the content selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of a different content type menu element or a different content category menu element.

2. The content access device of claim 1, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

3. The content access device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit changes all of the content selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of the different content type menu element or the different content category menu element.

4. The content access device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit presents content associated with a content selection element in response to selection of the content selection element.

5. The content access device of claim 1, wherein a content selection element indicates that it is unavailable.

6. The content access device of claim 1, wherein the content selection elements comprise thumbnail images associated with corresponding content.

7. The content access device of claim 1, wherein:

the content type menu elements include a television shows menu element and a movies menu element; and

the content category menu elements include a comedy menu element and a drama menu element.

8. A method for facilitating content navigation using a content access device, comprising:

presenting, using the content access device, a user interface including a first group of menu elements, a second group of menu elements positioned perpendicular to the first group of menu elements, and a content selection area positioned between the first and second groups of menu elements;

including content selection elements in the content selection area using the content access device based on a selected first menu element of the first group of menu elements and a selected second menu element of the second group of menu elements; and

changing all of the content selection elements in response to receiving a selection change of the selected first menu element or the selected second menu element.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising presenting an additional user interface comprising a grid of selectable content elements organized by source and time.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising presenting an additional user interface comprising:

a first menu element area that presents content determined to be most likely to be accessed by a user;

a secondary menu element area including a number of still images corresponding to a first group of content determined to be secondarily most likely to be accessed by the user; and

a third menu element area including text descriptions of a second group of content determined to be tertiarily most likely to be accessed by the user.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising presenting instructions on how to make unavailable content available in response to receiving a selection of a content selection element that is associated with the unavailable content.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein including the content selection elements in the content selection area comprises arranging the content selection elements in rows and columns in the content selection area.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising presenting information about an indicated one of the content selection elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the content selection area is positioned between the information about the indicated one of the content selection elements and the second group of menu elements.

15. A content access device, comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions; and

a processing unit that executes the instructions to present an on demand user interface by:

positioning content type menu elements along a first axis, content category menu elements along a second axis, and a content selection area between the first and second axes;

presenting selection elements in the content selection area based on a received content type menu element selection and a received content category menu element selection; and

changing all of the selection elements in the content selection area based on a change to the received content type menu element selection or the received content category menu element selection.

16. The content access device of claim 15, wherein the processing unit moves an indicator between the content type menu elements, the content category menu elements, and the selection elements based on user input.

17. The content access device of claim 15, wherein the processing unit allows selection between multiple versions of content associated with a selection element in response to selection of the selection element.

18. The content access device of claim 17, wherein the multiple versions include at least one of rental and purchase versions, different quality versions, or different rated versions.

19. The content access device of claim 15, wherein the content type menu elements include a first element associated with video content and a second element associated with music content.

20. The content access device of claim 15, wherein the content category menu elements include an element associated with content categorized as determined to be most likely to be accessed by a current user.