System and method for distributing media content from multiple sources

Abstract

A media content distribution system is provided that comprises a subscriber unit. The subscriber unit can be configured to receive media content from a media content source, present a media guide on a display, and cause predetermined media content to be displayed in a hover-over window overlaying a storefront in response to user interaction with the storefront. The media guide can comprise an interactive storefront associated with the media content, where the storefront can comprise an active link to the media content source, an alternate source for the media content, and the hover-over window associated with the storefront.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for media content distribution, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores executable instructions for causing the processor to
 receive media content from a media content source, 
 present the media content in an interactive storefront on a display, the storefront comprises
 an active link to the media content source, 
 an alternate source for the media content, and 
 a hover-over window associated with the storefront, and 
 
 cause predetermined media content to be displayed in the hover-over window overlaying the storefront in response to user interaction with the storefront. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storefront is one of a plurality of storefronts, wherein the plurality of storefronts are associated with a media guide. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the media guide comprises
 a navigable bar for displaying a navigable subcategory, the navigable subcategory comprises a predetermined interactive selection frame that ranges from a time slot to a different narrow down of a main category;   a category section for displaying labels representing pre-defined categories; and   a sub-category section for displaying labels representing predefined sub-categories keyed to a predetermined category.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the media guide is configured to enable a user to customize the plurality of storefronts by making a category selection in the category section and a sub-category selection in the sub-category section. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storefront further comprises a source identification section for identifying a source of the media content and an information section for displaying information concerning the media content. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the information section comprises an interactive control drop down button for providing user access to a control drop down panel, the control drop down panel comprises a control configured to cause a media content selection to be added to a predetermined sub-category and an interactive position control configured to allow customization of a position of the storefront within a storefront section. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hover-over window comes into view over top of the storefront when a pointer is placed over the storefront displayed on the display. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hover-over window comprises a link to a web page of a predetermined source for predetermined media content associated with the storefront. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined media content in the hover-over window is a preview to the web page of the predetermined source. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hover-over window comprises a link to a streaming video feed of the predetermined media content from a predetermined media server. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further causes the processor to measure user interactions with the hover-over window. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:
 receive media content from a media content source;   present the media content in a storefront section on a display comprising a plurality of interactive storefronts, each storefront comprising a link to a predetermined source for a predetermined media content and a predetermined alternate source for the predetermined media content, the predetermined media content is accessible during a predetermined time slot indicated by a navigable bar; and   cause the predetermined media content to be displayed in a hover-over window overlaying a particular storefront in response to user interaction with the particular storefront.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined media content in the hover-over window is a preview to a web page of the predetermined source. 
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a subscriber unit, media content from a media content source;   displaying, by the subscriber unit, a plurality of interactive storefronts, each storefront associated with a particular media content, each storefront comprises
 an active link to a particular media content source, 
 an alternate source for the particular media content, and 
 a hover-over window associated with each storefront; 
   receiving, by the subscriber unit, user interaction with a particular storefront; and   in response to receiving the user interaction with the particular storefront, displaying, by the subscriber unit, predetermined media content in the hover-over window associated with the particular storefront as an overlay.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of interactive storefronts further comprises:
 a navigable time bar for displaying a time slot, the navigable time bar comprises a predetermined time frame that ranges from a past time slot to a current time slot;   a category section for displaying labels representing pre-defined categories; and   a sub-category section for displaying labels representing predefined sub-categories keyed to a predetermined category.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of interactive storefronts are configured to enable a user to customize each storefront by making a category selection in the category section and a sub-category selection in the sub-category section. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the storefront further comprises a source identification section for identifying a source of the media content and an information section for displaying information concerning the media content. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein the information section comprises an interactive control drop down button for providing user access to a control drop down panel, the control drop down panel comprises a control configured to cause a media content selection to be added to a predetermined sub-category and an interactive position control configured to allow customization of a position of the storefront within a storefront section. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the hover-over window further comprises a link to a web page of a predetermined source for the predetermined media content associated with the storefront. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined media content in the hover-over window is a preview to the web page of the predetermined source.