Presenting linear and nonlinear content via dvr

Abstract

Embodiments related to the presentation of linear content and non-linear content in an integrated user experience are disclosed. One embodiment provides a method of identifying linear content and non-linear content for presentation via a video recording device. The method includes detecting a trigger to perform a search for content items, and providing, responsive to the trigger, a search request to one or more metadata sources, each metadata source containing locations of one or more of linear content items and non-linear content items available at one or more content sources. The method further includes receiving from each metadata source a search response including metadata associated with available content at one or more of the content sources, and outputting a list of content items identifying one or more linear content items and one or more non-linear content items from one or more metadata sources.

1 . A video recording device configured to provide access to scheduled content and on-demand content, the video recording device comprising:
 a logic subsystem; and   a data-holding subsystem comprising instructions stored thereon that are executable by the logic subsystem to
 output, to a display device, an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of scheduled content items available via broadcast; and 
 output, to the display device, for each scheduled content item determined to be available via one or more alternate content sources, a designator associated with the scheduled content item indicating availability of the scheduled content item at the one or more alternate content sources. 
   
     
     
         2 . The video recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to output the electronic program guide as a grid of content items available from a plurality of channels. 
     
     
         3 . The video recording device of  claim 2 , wherein the grid comprises a plurality of blocks, each block representing a content item available via broadcast, and wherein outputting the designator associated with the scheduled content item comprises outputting the designator within a block representing the scheduled content item. 
     
     
         4 . The video recording device of  claim 1 , wherein each designator is interactive. 
     
     
         5 . The video recording device of  claim 4 , wherein the instructions are further executable to
 receive a user interaction with a first designator; and   at least in response to receiving the user interaction with the first designator, access an alternate content source from which a first content item associated with the first designator is determined to be available and initiate playback of the first content item from the alternate content source.   
     
     
         6 . The video recording device of  claim 4 , wherein the instructions are further executable to
 receive a user interaction with a first designator; and   at least in response to receiving the user interaction with the first designator, output to the display device information regarding one or more content sources from which a first content item associated with the first designator is determined to be available.   
     
     
         7 . The video recording device of  claim 6 , wherein the information comprises an interactive list. 
     
     
         8 . The video recording device of  claim 4 , wherein the instructions are further executable to
 receive user interaction with a first designator; and   at least in response to receiving the user interaction with the first designator, output to the display device information regarding one or more content sources from which a first content item associated with the first designator is available to be scheduled for recording.   
     
     
         9 . The video recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the designator comprises one or more of a text and/or a graphic displayed within the electronic program guide. 
     
     
         10 . The video recording device of  claim 1 , wherein the designator comprises a modification to one or more of a color, a size, a text style, and/or a background of displayed information for the scheduled content item within the electronic program guide. 
     
     
         11 . A video recording device configured to provide access to scheduled content and on-demand content, the video recording device comprising:
 a logic subsystem; and   a data-holding subsystem comprising instructions stored thereon that are executable by the logic subsystem to obtain an electronic program guide listing a plurality of scheduled content items available via broadcast;
 obtain a determination regarding whether one or more scheduled content items listed in the electronic program guide are available for current viewing at one or more alternative content sources; and 
 output the electronic program guide to a display device and also output, within the electronic program guide, a designator for each scheduled content item that is determined to be available for current viewing. 
   
     
     
         12 . The video recording device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable to obtain the determination from a remote search service. 
     
     
         13 . The video recording device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable to obtain the determination by, for each scheduled content item querying one or more content sources for the one or more scheduled content items. 
     
     
         14 . The video recording device of  claim 11 , wherein the designator comprises one or more of a text and/or a graphic displayed within the electronic program guide. 
     
     
         15 . The video recording device of  claim 11 , wherein the designator comprises a modification to one or more of a color, a size, a text style, and/or a background of displayed information for the scheduled content item within the electronic program guide. 
     
     
         16 . The video recording device of  claim 11 , wherein the designator is interactive, and wherein the instructions are executable to access a first scheduled content item from an alternative content source at least in response to receiving user interaction with a first designator associated with the first scheduled content item. 
     
     
         17 . On a computing device, a method comprising:
 obtaining an electronic program guide listing a plurality of scheduled content items available via broadcast;   outputting, to a display device, the electronic program guide; and   also outputting, to the display device and within the electronic program guide, for each scheduled content item available via one or more alternate content sources, a designator associated with the scheduled content item indicating availability of the scheduled content item at the one or more alternate content sources.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising determining whether the scheduled content item is available via another content source. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the designator is interactive, and wherein the method further comprises
 receiving user interaction with a first designator; and   at least in response to receiving the user interaction with the first designator, outputting to the display device information regarding one or more content sources from which a first scheduled content item associated with the first designator is available.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the designator is interactive, and wherein the method further comprises
 receiving user interaction with a first designator; and   at least in response to receiving the user interaction with the first designator, accessing an alternate content source from which a first scheduled content item associated with the first designator is available.