Systems and methods for overlaying a digital mini guide onto a video stream

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for superimposing a program guide browser onto a video stream. The method includes receiving a request from the client while media content is displayed at the host; in response to the request, transmitting a user interface (UI) to the client; and displaying the UI at the client without interrupting the displayed media content; wherein the UI comprises a horizontally scrollable ribbon. Additional or alternate features may be provided as desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated process executed by a host device that communicates with a client device over a network, the automated process comprising:
 receiving, by the host device, a request from the client device while a video stream is displayed at the host device; and   in response to the request, the host device transmitting a user interface (UI) to the client device for display of the UI by the client device without interrupting the displayed video stream;   wherein the UI comprises a horizontally scrollable first ribbon comprising a plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles, wherein each tile of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles comprises an image indicative of an additional media content category;   wherein the UI further comprises a horizontally-scrollable second ribbon, disposed vertically-adjacent to the horizontally-scrollable first ribbon, comprising a plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles, wherein each tile of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles comprises an image of additional media content that is different from the video stream being displayed, and   wherein the horizontally-scrollable second ribbon is dependent upon the horizontally-scrollable first ribbon such that each time the horizontally-scrollable first ribbon is scrolled to the left or right, the horizontally-scrollable second ribbon is comprised of a new plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles.   
     
     
         2 . The automated process of  claim 1  wherein the images indicative of additional media content categories are different from a category of the media content being displayed at the host device, wherein each image in the first tiles corresponds to a television channel logo, and wherein at least two of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles and their respective images are simultaneously viewable within the horizontally-scrollable first ribbon. 
     
     
         3 . The automated process of  claim 2  wherein the image of additional media content of each tile of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles pertains to the additional media content category of one of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles, wherein each image in the second tiles corresponds to a logo of a television program viewable on the television channel corresponding to the one of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles, and wherein at least two of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles and their respective images are simultaneously viewable within the horizontally-scrollable second ribbon. 
     
     
         4 . The automated process of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the UI comprises overlaying the UI on top of the displayed media content while maintaining the shape size of the displayed media content. 
     
     
         5 . The automated process of  claim 4  wherein displaying the UI comprises overlaying the UI on a bottom portion of the displayed media content. 
     
     
         6 . The automated process of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom portion comprises in the range of 10% to 50% of the height of the displayed media content. 
     
     
         7 . The automated process of  claim 1  wherein transmitting the UI comprises the host device forming a web page with program guide information and transmitting the web page to an application executing on the client device. 
     
     
         8 . The automated process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to a user selecting one of the detail tiles, changing the then current media content to display new media content corresponding to the selected detail tile.   
     
     
         9 . The automated process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to a user selecting one of the detail tiles, presenting a third ribbon comprising further detail corresponding to the selected detail tile.   
     
     
         10 . A media delivery host system configured to simultaneously transmit a video stream and an interactive program guide browser to a client device via a network, wherein the client device decodes the video stream and provides the video stream and the interactive program guide browser for simultaneous presentation, the media delivery host system comprising:
 a non-transitory data storage configured to store computer-executable instructions; and   a processor configured to execute the instructions stored by the non-transitory data storage to perform and automated process that provides an integrated display to the client device, the integrated display comprising:
 a master ribbon comprising a plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles, wherein each tile of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles comprises an image indicative of an additional media content category, and 
 a detail ribbon, disposed vertically-adjacent to the master ribbon, comprising a plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles overlaid on the bottom portion of the video frame, wherein each tile of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles comprises an image of additional media content, different from the media content being displayed, 
 wherein the detail ribbon is dependent upon the master ribbon such that each time the master ribbon is scrolled to the left or right, the detail ribbon is comprised of a new plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles. 
   
     
     
         11 . The media delivery host system of  claim 10  wherein the additional media content category is overlaid onto a bottom portion of a video frame, wherein each image in the first tiles corresponds to a television channel logo, and wherein at least two of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles and their respective images are simultaneously viewable within the master ribbon 
     
     
         12 . The media delivery host system of  claim 11  wherein the image of additional media content of each tile of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles pertains to the additional media content category of one of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles, wherein each image in the second tiles corresponds to a logo of a television program viewable on the television channel corresponding to the one of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent first tiles, and wherein at least two of the plurality of horizontally-adjacent second tiles and their respective images are simultaneously viewable within the detail ribbon. 
     
     
         13 . The media delivery host system of  claim 10 , wherein the detail ribbon abuts a bottom horizontal edge of the video frame, and the master ribbon abuts a top horizontal edge of the detail ribbon. 
     
     
         14 . The media delivery host system of  claim 10 , wherein the master and detail ribbons are independently horizontally scrollable. 
     
     
         15 . The media delivery host system of  claim 10 , wherein the integrated display further includes:
 a third ribbon disposed adjacent the detail ribbon and comprising additional information corresponding to a selected program tile.   
     
     
         16 . The media delivery host system of  claim 10 , wherein the browser is overlaid upon the video stream without interrupting the video stream. 
     
     
         17 . The media delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the browser is overlaid upon the video stream while maintaining the shape size of the video frame. 
     
     
         18 . The media delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one program tile comprises textual, photographic, and branding imagery. 
     
     
         19 . The media delivery system of  claim 10 , further configured to change the then current video stream and to display a new video stream in response to a user selecting one of the program tiles.