Meta Channel Based Media System Control Technology

Abstract

Meta-channels identify content entries and indicate an order with which to experience the content entries. The meta-channels may include a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests. A selection of a meta-channel is received and the selection of the meta-channel is mapped to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel. A media system is controlled to render content based on a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a media system based on meta-channel information, the method comprising:
 storing, in electronic storage, meta-channel information defining multiple meta-channels that identify content entries and that indicate an order with which to experience the content entries;   receiving, from a particular user, a selection of a meta-channel included in the multiple meta-channels defined by the meta-channel information;   accessing, from the electronic storage, meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel;   based on the accessed meta-channel information corresponding to the selected meta-channel, determining that the selected meta-channel defines a dynamically configurable content entry that maps to multiple possible content entries;   accessing preferences of the particular user;   selecting, from among the multiple possible content entries, a single content entry for the dynamically configurable content entry based on the accessed preferences of the particular user; and   controlling a media system to render content based on the selected content entry.