Methods, systems, and products for sampled content

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatuses, devices, and products provide sampled content. One such method receives a programming guide comprising a listing of available content. An ancillary stream of data is received and includes samples of content listed in the programming guide. A user input is received that selects a particular content from the programming guide. Unselected samples of content are filtered from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content. The sample is processed for preview of the selected particular content.

1 . A system for providing sample content, comprising: 
 at least one processor for receiving a programming guide comprising a listing of available content and for receiving an ancillary stream of data, the ancillary stream of data comprising multiple samples of content listed in the programming guide; and    a user interface for receiving a user input that selects a particular content from the programming guide and for communicating the user input to the processor, wherein the processor filters unselected samples of content from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content as a preview of the selected particular content.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the processor processes the sample into a video signal and communicates the video signal to the display for displaying the video signal as a preview of the selected content.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver for wirelessly communicating the sample to a communications device.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the communications device is a remote control.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ancillary stream of data comprises samples of at least a portion of the available content listed in the programming guide.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ancillary stream of data comprises samples of content matching a profile of the user.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the programming guide is an electronic programming guide.  
     
     
         8 . A method for providing sample content, the method comprising: 
 receiving a programming guide comprising a listing of available content;    receiving an ancillary stream of data comprising samples of content listed in the programming guide;    receiving a user input that selects a particular content from the programming guide;    filtering unselected samples of content from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content; and    processing the sample for preview of the selected particular content.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising processing the sample into a video signal and displaying the video signal at a communications device as a preview of the selected particular content.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the communications device is a remote control.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of at least a portion of the available content listed in the programming guide.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of content matching a profile of the user.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the programming guide is an electronic programming guide.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of all available content listed in the programming guide.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of a subset of available content listed in the programming guide.  
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium on which instructions are encoded for performing the steps of: 
 receiving a programming guide comprising a listing of available content;    receiving an ancillary stream of data comprising samples of content listed in the programming guide;    receiving a user input that selects a particular content from the programming guide;    filtering unselected samples of content from the ancillary stream of data to produce a sample of the selected particular content; and    processing the sample for preview of the selected particular content.    
     
     
         17 . A computer readable medium according to  claim 16 , wherein the sample is processed at a communications device into a video signal for display as a visual preview of the selected particular content.  
     
     
         18 . A computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the communications device is a remote control.  
     
     
         19 . A computer readable medium according to  claim 16 , wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of at least a portion of the available content listed in the programming guide.  
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium according to  claim 16 , wherein receiving the ancillary stream of data comprises receiving samples of content matching a profile of the user.