Method and system for trending media programs for a user

Abstract

A client determines that a user is attempting to access media program recommendations. In response to the determination, the client attempts to collect media program recommendations to be presented to the user. Media program recommendations may be derived locally by the client, by the client and a multimedia device locally connected with the client, by the client and one or more additional devices, etc. In some embodiments, in response to receiving a query from the client, one or more recipient devices or servers identify media program recommendations in a plurality of trending categories. The media program recommendations may be selected based at least in part on EPG data and audience research and measurement data. The media program recommendations collected by the client are presented to the user for further exploration. The client may be one of mobile phones, tablet computers, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of media program recommendations in a plurality of trending categories, each trending category trending media programs having one or more common trending characteristics, and each trending category in the plurality of trending categories comprising one or more media program recommendations in the plurality of media program recommendations; and   displaying the plurality of trending categories with the plurality of media program recommendations.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more media programs corresponding to one or more media program recommendations in at least one trending category in the plurality of trending categories are from a remote service. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more media programs corresponding to one or more media program recommendations in at least one trending category in the plurality of trending categories is from one or more local media sources. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method is performed by a first device, and wherein the one or more local media sources are locally connected with the first device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method is performed by a first device being operated by a user, and wherein the user is able to select to view a media program that corresponds to a media program recommendation on either or both of the first device and one of the one or more local media sources locally connected with the first device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations is specifically selected for a specific user, and wherein a plurality of different media program recommendations is selected for a user different from the specific user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a media program recommendation filter setting from a user;   sending the media program recommendation filter setting to one or more sources that generate the plurality of media program recommendations;   wherein the plurality of media program recommendations is selected based at least in part on the media program recommendation filter setting.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the media program recommendation filter setting is to filter media program recommendations in a specific trending category trending media programs in a specific trending category. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a selectable control, wherein the selectable control is configured to be invoked by a user to provide one or more comments related to a media program that is accessed by the user through a media program recommendation in the plurality of media program recommendations. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying an indicator with a media program recommendation, wherein one or more non-third-party originated information items are displayed for the media program recommendation, and wherein the indicator indicates a third-party originated information item for the media program recommendation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations comprises one or more media program recommendations for media programs accessible through a channel line-up specific to a user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations comprises one or more media program recommendations for media programs accessible through an interne content provider. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a media program recommendation request;   in response to receiving the media program recommendation request, identifying a plurality of media program recommendations in a plurality of trending categories, the plurality of media program recommendations being selected based at least in part on the electronic program listing, each trending category trending media programs having one or more common trending characteristics, and each trending category in the plurality of trending categories comprising one or more media program recommendations in the plurality of media program recommendations; and   causing the plurality of trending categories with the plurality of media program recommendations to be displayed at a computing device to a user.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method is performed at least in part by a remote service to the computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method is performed at least in part by one or more local sources locally connected to the computing device. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform:
 receiving a plurality of media program recommendations in a plurality of trending categories, each trending category trending media programs having one or more common trending characteristics, and each trending category in the plurality of trending categories comprising one or more media program recommendations in the plurality of media program recommendations; and   displaying the plurality of trending categories with the plurality of media program recommendations.   
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein one or more media programs corresponding to one or more media program recommendations in at least one trending category in the plurality of trending categories are from a remote service. 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein one or more media programs corresponding to one or more media program recommendations in at least one trending category in the plurality of trending categories is from one or more local media sources. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are executed by one or more computing processors of a first device, and wherein the one or more local media sources are locally connected with the first device. 
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are executed by one or more computing processors of a first device being operated by a user, and wherein the user is able to select to view a media program that corresponds to a media program recommendation on either or both of the first device and one of the one or more local media sources locally connected with the first device. 
     
     
         21 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations is specifically selected for a specific user, and wherein a plurality of different media program recommendations is selected for a user different from the specific user. 
     
     
         22 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further comprises a set of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform:
 receiving a media program recommendation filter setting from a user;   sending the media program recommendation filter setting to one or more sources that generate the plurality of media program recommendations;   wherein the plurality of media program recommendations is selected based at least in part on the media program recommendation filter setting.   
     
     
         23 . The medium of  claim 22 , wherein the media program recommendation filter setting is to filter media program recommendations in a specific trending category trending media programs in a specific trending category. 
     
     
         24 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further comprises a set of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform: displaying a selectable control, wherein the selectable control is configured to be invoked by a user to provide one or more comments related to a media program that is accessed by the user through a media program recommendation in the plurality of media program recommendations. 
     
     
         25 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further comprises a set of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform: displaying an indicator with a media program recommendation, wherein one or more non-third-party originated information items are displayed for the media program recommendation, and wherein the indicator indicates a third-party originated information item for the media program recommendation. 
     
     
         26 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations comprises one or more media program recommendations for media programs accessible through a channel line-up specific to a user. 
     
     
         27 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations comprises one or more media program recommendations for media programs accessible through an internet content provider. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a subsystem, implemented at least in part in hardware, that is configured to receive a plurality of media program recommendations in a plurality of trending categories, each trending category trending media programs having one or more common trending characteristics, and each trending category in the plurality of trending categories comprising one or more media program recommendations in the plurality of media program recommendations; and   a subsystem, implemented at least in part in hardware, that is configured to display the plurality of trending categories with the plurality of media program recommendations.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein one or more media programs corresponding to one or more media program recommendations in at least one trending category in the plurality of trending categories are from a remote service. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein one or more media programs corresponding to one or more media program recommendations in at least one trending category in the plurality of trending categories is from one or more local media sources. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the apparatus represents a first device, and wherein the one or more local media sources are locally connected with the first device. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the apparatus represents a first device being operated by a user, and wherein the user is able to select to view a media program that corresponds to a media program recommendation on either or both of the first device and one of the one or more local media sources locally connected with the first device. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations is specifically selected for a specific user, and wherein a plurality of different media program recommendations is selected for a user different from the specific user. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a subsystem, implemented at least in part in hardware, that is configured to receive a media program recommendation filter setting from a user;   a subsystem, implemented at least in part in hardware, that is configured to send the media program recommendation filter setting to one or more sources that generate the plurality of media program recommendations;   wherein the plurality of media program recommendations is selected based at least in part on the media program recommendation filter setting.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the media program recommendation filter setting is to filter media program recommendations in a specific trending category trending media programs in a specific trending category. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising: a subsystem, implemented at least in part in hardware, that is configured to display a selectable control, wherein the selectable control is configured to be invoked by a user to provide one or more comments related to a media program that is accessed by the user through a media program recommendation in the plurality of media program recommendations. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising: a subsystem, implemented at least in part in hardware, that is configured to display an indicator with a media program recommendation, wherein one or more non-third-party originated information items are displayed for the media program recommendation, and wherein the indicator indicates a third-party originated information item for the media program recommendation. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations comprises one or more media program recommendations for media programs accessible through a channel line-up specific to a user. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of media program recommendations comprises one or more media program recommendations for media programs accessible through an interne content provider.