Method and system for delivering video content from multiple platforms to subscribers

Abstract

An integrated content delivery interface enables a user to access content from a multi-channel service provider (such as a cable television service) and over-the-top sources. The system displays a set of cable channels and over-the-top channels based on a combination of the user's subscription status for the various services, personalization criteria, and device type. The system may provide the user with a playlist of available videos for each channel. For videos from over-the-top sources, when a user selects the video for on-demand play the user's device will directly access the video as served by the over-the-top source. Before including any video in the playlist, the system will ensure that the video is available to the user based on subscription status and/or device type, and it will ensure that the over-the-top source serves the video in a format that is compatible with the user's device.

1 . A method for providing video content to a user, comprising:
 presenting an identifying symbol for each user-selectable channel of a set of user-selectable channels in a first row of a content delivery interface of an electronic device, the user-selectable channels being served by a plurality of different over-the-top (“OTT”) video content sources to which the user subscribes and are not under any control of a service provider;   presenting a first playlist of first identifying information for video assets available from a first channel of the user-selectable channels in a second row of the content delivery interface concurrently with the presentation of the identifying symbols for the set of user-selectable channels in the first row of the content delivery interface;   receiving a user input selecting the identifying symbol associated with a second channel from the set of user-selectable channels in the first row of the content delivery interface that is of interest to the user; and   in response to the reception of the user input, dynamically replacing the first playlist with a second playlist of second identifying information for video assets exclusively available from the selected second channel, the second playlist being presented in the second row of the content delivery interface concurrently with the presentation of the identifying symbols for the set of user-selectable channels in the first row of the content delivery interface;   wherein each of the first and second identifying information comprises at least one visual image or graphic symbol.   
     
     
         2 . A method for providing media content to a user, comprising:
 presenting an identifying symbol for each user-selectable channel of a first set of user-selectable channels in a first section of a content delivery interface of an electronic device, the user-selectable channels being served by a plurality of different over-the-top (“OTT”) video content sources to which a user subscribes and which are not under any control of a service provider;   presenting a first playlist of first identifying information for video assets available from a first channel of the user-selectable channels in a second section of the content delivery interface concurrently with the presentation of the identifying symbols for the first set of user-selectable channels in the first section of the content delivery interface;   receiving at least a portion of a first media item of a first type that is playing within reach of the electronic device;   processing the first media item to determine second identifying information therefore;   using the second identifying information to search the plurality of different OTT content sources for purposes of identifying at least one first OTT content source from which a plurality of second media items related to the first media item is made available, each second media item being of a second type that is different than the first type of the first media item;   automatically generating a second playlist of third identifying information for the plurality of second media items available from a second channel of the user-selectable channels being served by the at least one first OTT content source; and   dynamically replacing the first playlist with the second playlist so that the second playlist is presented in the second section of the content delivery interface.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first type is audio, the second type is video, and said processing the first media item means identifying the audio playing within reach of the electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and third identifying information comprises at least one visual image or graphic symbol. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein a second set of user-selectable channels is also presented in the first section of the content delivery interface along with the first set of user-selectable channels, the user-selectable channels of the second set being served by the service provider. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the third identifying information is selected to exclusively identify media assets in a format compatible with that supported by the electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the third identifying information is selected to exclusively identify media assets for whom the electronic device's current location does not violate a geographic restriction. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising updating the second playlist to include fourth identifying information for new media items available from the second channel of the user-selectable channels being served by the at least one first OTT content source. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising updating the second playlist to remove at least some of the third identifying information for media items that are no longer available from the second channel of the user-selectable channels being served by the at least one first OTT content source. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the second playlist is displayed in the second section of the content delivery interface concurrently with the presentation of user-selectable identifying symbols for the different OTT content sources in the first section of the content delivery interface. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first section of the content delivery interface is a first row and the second section of the content delivery interface is a second row located below the first row. 
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable medium comprising programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to implement a content delivery interface at an electronic device, wherein the programming instructions comprise instructions to:   present an identifying symbol for each user-selectable channel of a first set of user-selectable channels in a first section of a content delivery interface of an electronic device, the user-selectable channels being served by a plurality of different over-the-top (“OTT”) video content sources to which a user subscribes and which are not under any control of a service provider;   present a first playlist of first identifying information for video assets available from a first channel of the user-selectable channels in a second section of the content delivery interface concurrently with the presentation of the identifying symbols for the first set of user-selectable channels in the first section of the content delivery interface;   receive at least a portion of a first media item of a first type that is playing within reach of the electronic device;   process the first media item to determine second identifying information therefore;   use the second identifying information to search the plurality of different OTT content sources for purposes of identifying at least one first OTT content source from which a plurality of second media items related to the first media item is made available, each second media item being of a second type that is different than the first type of the first media item;   automatically generate a second playlist of third identifying information for the plurality of second media items available from a second channel of the user-selectable channels being served by the at least one first OTT content source; and   dynamically replace the first playlist with the second playlist so that the second playlist is presented in the second section of the content delivery interface.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first type is audio, the second type is video, and said processing the first media item means identifying the audio playing within reach of the electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and third identifying information comprises at least one visual image or graphic symbol. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein a second set of user-selectable channels is also presented in the first section of the content delivery interface along with the first set of user-selectable channels, the user-selectable channels of the second set being served by the service provider. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the third identifying information is selected to exclusively identify media assets in a format compatible with that supported by the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the third identifying information is selected to exclusively identify media assets for whom the electronic device's current location does not violate a geographic restriction. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the programming instructions further comprise instructions to update the second playlist to include fourth identifying information for new media items available from the second channel of the user-selectable channels being served by the at least one first OTT content source. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the programming instructions further comprise instructions to update the second playlist to remove at least some of the third identifying information for media items that are no longer available from the second channel of the user-selectable channels being served by the at least one first OTT content source. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the second playlist is displayed in the second section of the content delivery interface concurrently with the presentation of user-selectable identifying symbols for the different OTT content sources in the first section of the content delivery interface.