Media user interfaces using metadata from different sources

Abstract

A navigation interface display system generates a navigation element that organizes television programming data in an easy-to-use manner. The navigation element employs a hierarchical display protocol for a plurality of selection items that represent the various television programs, channels, and/or networks. The hierarchical display scheme displays a limited number of active selection items at a first magnification level and additional active selection items at a second magnification level. In addition, the selection items are displayed on distinctive areas or features of the navigation element, where such features represent different content genres or categories. Subcategories can also be displayed in a hierarchical manner, thus providing additional information related to the content as the magnification level of the navigation element changes.

1 . An interactive program guide method comprising:
 displaying a navigation object on a display element, said navigation object representing a category of televised programming;   displaying, on said display element at a first magnification level, a first number of active selection items from said category, said first number of active selection items being displayed on or proximate to said navigation object; and   displaying, on said display element at a second magnification level, a second number of active selection items from said category, said second number of active selection items being displayed on or proximate to said navigation object.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said navigation object, relative to said first magnification level; and said second number of active selection items is greater than said first number of active selection items.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein;
 said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said navigation object, relative to said first magnification level; and said first number of active selection items is a subset of said second number of active selection items.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a second navigation object on said display element, said second navigation object representing a second category of televised programming; and   displaying, on said display element, a number of active selection items from said second category, said number of active selection items from said second category being displayed on or proximate to said second navigation object.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said category represents a programming genre; and said first number of active selection items identify specific providers of content related to said programming genre.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said category represents a programming genre; and   said first number of active selection items identify specific programs related to said programming genre.   
     
     
         7 . An interactive program guide for television programming, comprising:
 a display element configured to display a plurality of selection items corresponding to a plurality of television programs;   a first subset of said selection items rendered on said display element as active selection items at a first hierarchical level; and   a second subset of said selection items rendered on said display element as active selection items at a second hierarchical level; wherein   a prioritization metric determines said first and second subsets.   
     
     
         8 . An interactive program guide according to  claim 7 , further comprising a subset of said selection items rendered on said display element as inactive selection items at said first hierarchical level. 
     
     
         9 . An interactive program guide according to  claim 8 , wherein said inactive selection items are rendered on said display element in a visually distinguishable manner relative to said active selection items. 
     
     
         10 . An interactive program guide according to  claim 7 , wherein said second subset includes said first subset of selection items. 
     
     
         11 . An interactive program guide according to  claim 7 , wherein said first and second hierarchical levels respectively correspond to relatively low and high magnification levels. 
     
     
         12 . An interactive program guide for television programming, comprising:
 a display element;   a navigation object rendered on said display element, said navigation object representing a category of televised programming;   a first number of active selection items from said category, said first number of active selection items being rendered on said display element at a first magnification level on or proximate to said navigation object; and   a second number of active selection items from said category, said second number of active selection items being rendered on said display element at a second magnification level on or proximate to said navigation object.   
     
     
         13 . An interactive program guide according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said navigation object, relative to said first magnification level; and said first number of active selection items is a subset of said second number of active selection items.   
     
     
         14 . An interactive program guide according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second navigation object rendered on said display element, said second navigation object representing a second category of televised programming; and   a number of active selection items from said second category, said number of active selection items from said second category being rendered on said display element on or proximate to said second navigation object.   
     
     
         15 . An interactive program guide according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 said category represents a programming genre; and said first number of active selection items identify specific providers of content related to said programming genre.   
     
     
         16 . An interactive program guide according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 said category represents a programming genre; and said first number of active selection items identify specific programs related to said programming genre.   
     
     
         17 - 26 . (canceled)