Automatically Preparing Streaming Video Programming Guides

Abstract

A programming guide for streaming video files may be automatically compiled in response to a user request. The user may provide keywords for categories of streaming video files that are of interest. A graphical user interface is automatically developed which splits responsive streaming video files into categories requested by the user. Each streaming video file may be represented in a user selected fashion. For example, the streaming videos may be represented by a representative frame, title or other information. The user can then click on any of the streaming video files, broken down into the appropriate categories, to begin viewing a streaming video file of interest.

1 . A method comprising:
 selecting streaming video files from a plurality of web sites based on a text search;   based at least in part on the text search, automatically providing a graphical user interface including selectable elements representing the selected streaming video files;   providing information with each of the selectable elements to allow a user to determine whether to play the corresponding streaming video file; and   in response to a user selection of one of the selectable elements, playing the video file corresponding to the selected element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing information includes providing descriptive information. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein providing descriptive information includes providing a title and a length of the video file. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , including accessing said video file over the Internet in response to a user selection of said video file. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a graphical user interface for the user to input a keyword. 
     
     
         6 . A computer storage medium storing instructions to:
 select streaming video files from a plurality of web sites based on a text search;   based at least in part on the text search, automatically provide a graphical user interface including selectable elements representing the selected streaming video files;   provide information with each of the selectable elements to allow a user to determine whether to play the corresponding streaming video file; and   in response to a user selection of one of the selectable elements, playing the video file corresponding to the selected element.   
     
     
         7 . The computer accessible medium of  claim 6 , wherein the provided information is descriptive information. 
     
     
         8 . The computer accessible medium of  claim 7 , wherein the descriptive information includes a title and a length of the video file. 
     
     
         9 . The computer accessible medium of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions to provide a graphical user interface for the user to input the selected category and the keyword. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a storage coupled to said processor, said storage storing instructions that enable the processor to:   select streaming video files from a plurality of web sites based on a text search;   based at least in part on the text search, provide a graphical user interface including selectable elements representing the selected streaming video files;   provide information with each of the selectable elements to allow a user to determine whether to play the corresponding streaming video file; and   in response to a user selection of one of the selectable elements, play the video file corresponding to the selected element.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said representations include a selectable thumbnail. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said instructions enable the processor to provide descriptive information with the thumbnail to allow a user to determine whether to play the corresponding streaming video file. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a television display to display the graphical user interface, to display the representations of said selected streaming video files, and to display the playing video file.