Systems, devices and methods for streaming multiple different media content in a digital container

Abstract

A user interface is configured to present a plurality of user-selectable icons. Each user-selectable icon of the plurality of user-selectable icons is individually configured to trigger playing of different streaming media content in an area on the user interface of the user-selectable icon upon a cursor-over or hover action on the user-selectable icon or other selection action by the user. The user-selectable icons are presented in a digital container wherein the container is configured to display contents of the container within a defined area on the user interface such as a Web page. The container may include a single user-selectable icon that is individually configured to trigger playing of streaming media content or multiple different user-selectable icons that are each individually configured to trigger playing of different streaming media content based on assigned specifications or selected criteria.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 configuring a user interface to present a plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players, wherein each user-selectable reduced-size media player of the plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players is individually configured to trigger playing of different streaming media content in an area on the user interface of the user-selectable reduced-size media player upon a hover action on the user-selectable reduced-size media player using a digital video frame size for playing the streaming media content that is larger than a frame size of the user-selectable reduced-size media players, enabling a user to move between and selectively play different streaming media content selections associated with the respective user-selectable reduced-size media players just by hovering; and   configuring the user interface to present the plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players in a container wherein the container is configured to display contents of the container within a defined area on the user interface and wherein the container is an object that is embedded on a graphical user interface via a network link to the object, wherein the using the digital video frame size for playing the streaming media content that is larger than the frame size of the user-selectable reduced-size media players upon the hover action on the user-selectable reduced-size media player comprises:   permitting the user to view a video preview in response to the hover action on the user-selectable reduced-size media player, the streaming media content including the video preview, the hover action being a first indication of a selection of the user-selectable reduced-size media player; and   permitting the user to view a full video program related to the video preview in response to an additional indication of the selection of the user-selectable reduced-size media player, the additional indication being different than the hover action on the user-selectable reduced-size media player.   
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , wherein the additional indication of the selection of the user-selectable reduced-size media player is a mouse click on the user-selectable reduced-size media player. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 configuring each user-selectable reduced-size media player of the plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players to play different streaming media content based upon an Internet protocol address associated with a user that selects the user-selectable reduced-size media player.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31  wherein the configuring each user-selectable reduced-size media player of the plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players to play different streaming media content includes configuring each user-selectable reduced-size media player of the plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players to play different streaming media content based upon a location associated with the Internet protocol address. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31  wherein the streaming media content includes at least streaming digital video. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 configuring the user-selectable reduced-size media player to play the video preview upon the hover action, the hover action being a cursor-over action on the user-selectable reduced-size media player; and   configuring the user-selectable reduced-size media player to play the video program upon the additional indication of the selection of the user-selectable reduced-size media player different than the cursor-over action.   
     
     
         35 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29  wherein the additional indication of the selection of the user-selectable reduced-size media player different than the hover action on the user-selectable reduced-size media player is a mouse click on the user-selectable reduced-size media player, the user-selectable reduced-size media player being configured to play the video program upon the mouse click. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 35  wherein the user-selectable reduced-size media player of the plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players is a still frame of the video program. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 35  further comprising:
 configuring the user-selectable reduced-size media player to pause the video preview at a current location in playback upon an ending of the cursor-over action; and 
 configuring the user-selectable reduced-size media player to continue to play the video preview from the current location in playback upon another cursor-over action on the user-selectable reduced-size media player. 
 
     
     
         38 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 30  wherein the hover action is hovering of a cursor over the user-selectable reduced-size media player. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29  wherein the selection of the user-selectable reduced-size media player includes touching of a touch screen in an area on the touch screen on which the user-selectable reduced-size media player is displayed. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29  wherein the container has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         41 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29  wherein the user interface is a Web page. 
     
     
         42 . A system, comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one processor-readable memory that stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to:   receive first and second input indicative of which user-selectable reduced-size media player of a plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players presented on a user interface within a container is selected, wherein the container is configured to display contents of the container within a defined area on the user interface; and   in response to the received first and second input:   select streaming media content associated with the selected user-selectable reduced-size media player for play in an area on the user interface of the selected user-selectable reduced-size media player, wherein the selected streaming media content associated with the selected user-selectable reduced-size media player is selected from among other different streaming media content associated with other user selectable icons of the plurality of user-selectable reduced-size media players; and   provide the selected streaming media content associated with the selected user-selectable reduced-size media player for play in the area on the user interface of the selected user-selectable reduced-size media player, wherein the selected streaming media content includes a video preview in response to the first input being a hover action and wherein the selected streaming media content includes a full video program related to the video preview in response to the second input.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the instructions executable by the at least one processor further cause the at least one processor to:
 receive input indicative of an Internet protocol address associated with a user that selected the selected user-selectable reduced-size media player, and wherein the selection of the video preview associated with the selected user-selectable reduced-size media player is based at least in part on the received first input being indicative of an Internet protocol address.