End of show handling

Abstract

A content delivery system that works in a broadcast and linear content environment causing real time display of received linear content. The system limits the display of the linear content by determining a time to automatically change the display of the linear content based upon program guide information and other factors, unless a signal is or has been received from a user indicating further interest in the content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented on a computer system to display a linear content, comprising:
 receiving program guide information associated with the linear content, the program guide information including program boundary information for the linear content;   receiving the linear content via IP streaming;   causing display of the received linear content, in real time with respect to the receiving, on a display in communication with the computer system; and   determining if a specific transition time has been reached, and if reached, automatically stopping the display of linear content unless a signal is or has been received from a user by the computer system within a set time period before the specific transition time;   wherein the signal is received from the user without the computer system transmitting any notice that user input is necessary to avoid stoppage of the display.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the specific transition time is a program end time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the specific transition time is a defined time after a program end time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the computer system buffers the IP stream for a defined time after display of linear content is stopped. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying an interactive menu on the display after stopping the display of the linear content, wherein the interactive menu enables the user to select from option including continuing to display the selected linear content, and displaying other linear content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the set time period is adaptable based on the identity of a user, and further comprising the steps of identifying a user, storing user activity in the computer system per user, and selecting the set time period for content displayed to the user based on that user's past activity. 
     
     
         7 . A computer system configured to display a linear content, comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive program guide information associated with the linear content and to receive the linear content via IP streaming;   the program guide information comprising program boundary information for the linear content;   the computer system being configured to cause display of the received linear content in real time with respect to the receiving of the linear content, the displaying being on a display in communication with the computer system;   an end of show handler module configured to determine if a specific transition time has been reached, and if reached, to automatically cause the display of linear content to stop unless a signal is or has been received from a user by the computer system within a set time period of the program end time; and   wherein the end of show handler is further configured to display an interactive menu on the display after stopping the streaming of the linear content, the interactive menu enabling the user to select from options comprising continuing to display the selected linear content.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the specific transition time is the program end time or a defined time after the program end time. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the computer system is further configured to buffer the IP stream for a defined time after displaying the interactive menu. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the set time period is adaptable based on an identity of a user, wherein the computer system identifies a user, stores user activity information per user, and sets the set time period for at least one content item displayed to the user based on user activity for that user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the program guide information comprises information about the type of program being streamed and a scheduled end time for the program being streamed;
 the method further comprising selecting a specific transition time which is later than the scheduled end time when the program is a live event.   
     
     
         12 . A method of end of show handling comprising:
 (a) receiving and displaying content consisting of at least one program on a customer premises equipment, the customer premises equipment having an end of show handler and a display screen;   (b) determining a specific transition time for the content;   (c) monitoring whether a user signal is or is not received by the customer premises equipment during a set time period before the specific transition time;   (d) changing the display of the content on the customer premises equipment at the specific transition time if the customer premises equipment does not receive a user signal within the set time period; and   (e) setting a system-wide maximum time limit on all set time periods stored in the customer premises equipment, wherein set time periods used with the method are never longer than the system-wide maximum time limit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of end of show handling of  claim 12  wherein the content is an IP stream of linear content and the changing of the display of the content comprises switching the display to a broadcast content. 
     
     
         14 . The method of end of show handling of  claim 12  further comprising storing user activity information in the customer premises equipment, identifying a user of the customer premises equipment, and determining the set time period based on the user activity information for the identified user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of end of show handling of  claim 12  further comprising receiving program guide information for the content at the customer premises equipment and determining the specific transition time based on the program guide information. 
     
     
         16 . The method of end of show handling of  claim 12  wherein the program guide information includes at least a program end time and an indication of whether the program is a live event;
 the method further comprising determining a specific transition time after the program end time when the program is a live event. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of end of show handling of  claim 12  wherein the specific transition time is the end of the program. 
     
     
         18 . The method of end of show handling of  claim 12  wherein the specific transition time is a defined time after the end of the program. 
     
     
         19 . The method of end of show handling of  claim 12 , further comprising terminating the receiving and displaying of content, in addition to said changing the display of the content, at the specific transition time if the customer premises equipment does not receive a user signal within the set time period. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the computer system buffers the IP stream for a defined time after the display is changed at the specific transition time.