Virtual video channels

Abstract

Embodiments are configured to populate one or more virtual channels with accessible video content from disparate sources. Users are oftentimes overwhelmed with an abundance of available video content. Embodiments of the present invention may be utilized to generate an index of all video content to which a user has access from various video content providing systems and cross-match the index of video content with tagged video metadata. The cross-matched video content may be processed through various filters and mapped to one or more classifications. One or more virtual channels may be generated according to the one or more classifications and populated with the cross-matched video content. The virtual channels are customized to the user based on the availability of the content to the user and on user preference data.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 generating an index of user accessible video content;   applying a tunable algorithm to the video content to categorize the content according to classifications;   generating one or more virtual channels according to one or more classifications;   determining if a paid streaming content limit has been reached; and   filtering the one or more generated virtual channels to remove paid streaming content if the limit has been reached.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating an index of user accessible video content includes acquiring one or more indexes of video content available to the user, the video content available to the user including one or more of free streaming video content, on-demand video content, subscription programming video content, paid streaming video content, and local video content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein filtering further-comprises culling unwanted video content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a selection of video content provided in a virtual channel and providing the selected video content to the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 filtering the video content into a subset of video content to categorize; adding descriptive tags to metadata associated with each piece of video content of the subset of video content;   cross-matching the index of user accessible video content with the tagged subset of video content; and   analyzing the metadata associated with the cross-matched video content and mapping the cross-matched video content and associated metadata to one or more classifications.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein filtering video content into a subset of video content to categorize includes utilizing a filtering algorithm to filter the video content into a subset of video content to categorize according to one or more of popular video content and video content applicable to a given geographic region. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising adding descriptive tags to metadata associated with each piece of video content of the subset of video content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising gathering user preference data to generate a user profile for a user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein gathering user preference data includes gathering preference data input by the user and gathering preference data associated with video content selection choices made by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 analyzing the metadata associated with the cross-matched video content and mapping the cross-matched video content and associated metadata to one or more classifications associated with the user profile;   generating one or more virtual channels according to one or more classifications associated with the user profile; and   populating the one or more generated virtual channels with cross-matched video content and associated metadata having a similar mapping to the one or more classifications associated with the user profile.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising analyzing the metadata associated with the cross-matched video content and identifying video content that is part of a series grouping. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising if one or more generated virtual channels comprise video content that is part of a series grouping, populating the one or more generated virtual channels with other identified video content that is part of the series grouping. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving authorization from a user for automated video content purchases;   receiving automated video content purchasing rules from the user;   analyzing the cross-matched video content and associated metadata for available paid streaming video content having a similar mapping to one or more classifications associated with the user profile, the available paid streaming video content having not been purchased previously by the user;   determining a best match for a paid streaming video content purchase according to user preference data and received automated video content purchasing rules;   recommending the best match for a paid streaming video content purchase to the user;   receiving an indication of a selection of the recommended paid streaming video content;   automatically purchasing the paid streaming video content; and   providing the selected paid streaming video content to the user.   
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 one or more filters operable to:
 generate one or more virtual channels according to one or more classifications; 
 populate the one or more generated virtual channels with video content having one or more classifications; 
 determine if a paid streaming content limit has been reached; and 
 filter the generated virtual channel to remove paid streaming content if the limit has been reached. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a recommendation and purchase engine operable to:
 receive authorization from a user for automated video content purchases;   receive automated video content purchasing rules from the user;   analyze the video content and associated metadata for available paid streaming video content having a similar mapping to one or more classifications associated with the user profile, the available paid streaming video content having not been purchased previously by the user;   determine a best match for a paid streaming video content purchase according to user preference data and received automated video content purchasing rules;   recommend the best match for a paid streaming video content purchase to the user;   receive an indication of a selection of the recommended paid streaming video content;   automatically purchase the paid streaming video content; and   provide the selected paid streaming video content to the user.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , the one or more filters further operable to:
 gather user preference data to generate a user profile for a user, wherein gathering user preference data includes gathering preference data input by the user and gathering preference data associated with video content selection choices made by the user;   analyze metadata associated with the video content and map matched video content and associated metadata to one or more classifications associated with the user profile;   generate one or more virtual channels according to one or more classifications associated with the user profile; and   populate the one or more generated virtual channels with cross-matched video content and associated metadata having a similar mapping to the one or more classifications associated with the user profile.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , the one or more filters being further operable to analyze the metadata associated with the cross-matched video content and identify video content that is part of a series grouping. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising if one or more generated virtual channels comprising video content that is part of a series grouping, the one or more second filters being further operable to populate the one or more generated virtual channels with other identified video content that is part of the series grouping. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method, the method comprising:
 generating an index of user accessible video content;   gathering user preference data to generate a user profile for the user;   cross-matching the index of user accessible video content with the user preference data;   mapping the cross-matched video content to one or more classifications;   generating one or more virtual channels according to one or more classifications;   populating the one or more generated virtual channels with cross-matched video content;   determining if a paid streaming content limit has been reached; and   filtering the generated virtual channel to remove paid streaming content if the limit has been reached.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , the method further comprising:
 receiving authorization from a user for automated video content purchases;   receiving automated video content purchasing rules from the user;   analyzing the cross-matched video content for available paid streaming video content having a similar mapping to one or more classifications associated with the user profile, the available paid streaming video content having not been purchased previously by the user;   determining a best match for a paid streaming video content purchase according to user preference data and received automated video content purchasing rules;   recommending the best match for a paid streaming video content purchase to the user;   receiving an indication of a selection of the recommended paid streaming video content;   automatically purchasing the paid streaming video content; and   providing the selected paid streaming video content to the user.