Method and user interface for accessing groups of media assets

Abstract

Improved systems and methods to navigate, browse, search and/or playback digital media assets (e.g., media items) hosted on a media server are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention pertains to a user interface arrangement, such as a hierarchical menu system, that facilitates navigation, browsing and playing of media items remotely stored on a media server. The user interface arrangement enables user scrolling or browsing with respect to a list or set of information pertaining to media items, where the list or set can be expanded to include information for additional media items that are subsequently acquired. The user interface arrangement can also present and permit navigation of categorized media items. The user interface arrangement can be presented on a display device associated with a client device. In one embodiment, the display device can be a television and the client device can be an electronic apparatus that can couple to the media server via a network.

1 . A method for media searching comprising:
 receiving a first selection of a search item from a first menu of video access categories from a video access category screen;   causing a search screen to be displayed in response to the first selection;   after receipt of a first one or more characters of a search string having a plurality of characters and before receiving a second one or more characters of the search string:
 causing a search query to be generated based on a received first one or more characters of the plurality of characters; 
 transmitting the search query to a media server; 
 receiving search results associated with the search query from the media server, the search results including media information related to a plurality of media items available from the media server, the media information including an image associated with each respective media item of the plurality of media items; and 
 causing to be displayed, in response to receiving search results, a listing of the plurality of media items based on the search results, the listing including a respective image associated with each media item listed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search screen includes a character selection region and the receipt of the first one or more characters comprises receiving a second selection of a character from the character selection region. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a third selection, from the listing of the plurality of media items, of a first media item of the plurality of media items; and   causing to be displayed, in response to receiving the third selection of the first media item, detailed information for the first media item the detailed information based on the received search results, wherein the detailed information is different than the listing for the first media item.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 causing to be displayed, in response to receiving the third selection, a video item associated with the first media item;   receiving a fourth selection of the video item; and   causing to be played, in response to receiving the fourth selection, the video item.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein causing to be displayed detailed information for the first media item comprises causing the character selection region to be replaced by the detailed information for the first media item. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication to continue searching; and   causing to be displayed, in response to receiving the indication to continue searching, the listing of the plurality of media items, the character selection region, and the received first one or more characters of the plurality of characters.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the second one or more characters of the search string, wherein the search string is an ordered string and the second one or more characters comprising characters that directly follow the first one or more characters;   generating an updated search query based on the first one or more characters and second one or more characters;   transmitting the updated search query to the media server;   receiving updated search results associated with the updated search query; and   updating the listing of the plurality of media items based on the updated search results.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a first selection of a search item from a first menu of video access categories from a video access category screen; 
 cause a search screen to be displayed in response to the first selection; 
 after receipt of a first one or more characters of a search string having a plurality of characters and before receiving a second one or more characters of the search string:
 cause a search query to be generated based on a received first one or more characters of the plurality of characters; 
 transmit the search query to a media server; 
 receive search results associated with the search query from the media server, the search results including media information related to a plurality of media items available from the media server, the media information including an image associated with each respective media item of the plurality of media items; and 
 cause to be displayed, in response to receiving search results, a listing of the plurality of media items based on the search results, the listing including a respective image associated with each media item listed. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the search screen includes a character selection region and the receipt of the first one or more characters comprises receiving a second selection of a character from the character selection region. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one computer-readable storage medium stores instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a third selection, from the listing of the plurality of media items, of a first media item of the plurality of media items; and   cause to be displayed, in response to receiving the third selection of the first media item, detailed information for the first media item the detailed information based on the received search results, wherein the detailed information is different than the listing for the first media item.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one computer-readable storage medium stores instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
 cause to be displayed, in response to receiving the third selection, a video item associated with the first media item;   receive a fourth selection of the video item; and   cause to be played, in response to receiving the fourth selection, the video item.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause to be displayed detailed information for the first media item comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause the character selection region to be replaced by the detailed information for the first media item. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one computer-readable storage medium stores instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive an indication to continue searching; and   cause to be displayed, in response to receiving the indication to continue searching, the listing of the plurality of media items, the character selection region, and the received first one or more characters of the plurality of characters.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one computer-readable storage medium stores instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive the second one or more characters of the search string, wherein the search string is an ordered string and the second one or more characters comprising characters that directly follow the first one or more characters;   generate an updated search query based on the first one or more characters and second one or more characters;   transmit the updated search query to the media server;   receive updated search results associated with the updated search query; and   update the listing of the plurality of media items based on the updated search results.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
 instructions stored therein which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a first selection of a search item from a first menu of video access categories from a video access category screen; 
 cause a search screen to be displayed in response to the first selection; 
 after receipt of a first one or more characters of a search string having a plurality of characters and before receiving a second one or more characters of the search string:
 cause a search query to be generated based on a received first one or more characters of the plurality of characters; 
 transmit the search query to a media server; 
 receive search results associated with the search query from the media server, the search results including media information related to a plurality of media items available from the media server, the media information including an image associated with each respective media item of the plurality of media items; and 
 cause to be displayed, in response to receiving search results, a listing of the plurality of media items based on the search results, the listing including a respective image associated with each media item listed. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the search screen includes a character selection region and the receipt of the first one or more characters comprises receiving a second selection of a character from the character selection region. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a third selection, from the listing of the plurality of media items, of a first media item of the plurality of media items; and   cause to be displayed, in response to receiving the third selection of the first media item, detailed information for the first media item the detailed information based on the received search results, wherein the detailed information is different than the listing for the first media item.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause to be displayed detailed information for the first media item comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to cause the character selection region to be replaced by the detailed information for the first media item. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive an indication to continue searching; and   cause to be displayed, in response to receiving the indication to continue searching, the listing of the plurality of media items, the character selection region, and the received first one or more characters of the plurality of characters.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
 receive the second one or more characters of the search string, wherein the search string is an ordered string and the second one or more characters comprising characters that directly follow the first one or more characters;   generate an updated search query based on the first one or more characters and second one or more characters;   transmit the updated search query to the media server;   receive updated search results associated with the updated search query; and   update the listing of the plurality of media items based on the updated search results.