Systems and methods for program source display

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for displaying a program source indicator. A program may be selected within an electronic program guide. Metadata associated with the program may be received, wherein the metadata comprises a source identifier. A source identifier may be an Internet-streaming service, a broadband TV service, a satellite TV service, and/or a digital video recorder database. Based on the source identifier, a source indicator may be retrieved. A program source indicator may be a superimposed image, icon, or other visual indicator. The source indicator may then be temporarily overlaid on the program content within the electronic programming guide.

1 . A system for displaying a program source indicator, comprising:
 a memory configured to store non-transitory computer readable instructions; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, when executing the non-transitory computer readable instructions, is configured to:
 receive metadata associated with a program accessible from a first program source and from a second program source, wherein the metadata identifies the first program source and the second program source; 
 compare an efficiency of claying the program from the first program source and from the second program source wherein comparing the efficiency incudes source; and 
 based on the comparison of the efficiency, retrieve the program source indicator associated with a most efficient service provider, wherein the most efficient service provider is either the first program source or the second program source. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata comprises content information associated with the program. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to display a program source indicator based on the content information associated with the program. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the program is at least one of: a channel, a broadcast media item, a movie, a television show, a video clip, and an Internet streaming media item. 
     
     
         5 . The system of claim  32 , wherein the processor is further configured to change at least one display characteristic of the program source indicator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one display characteristic is at least one of: a translucence level, a color, a size, a font type, a position, a duration of display, and a file type. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the file type of the program source indicator may be at least one of: JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, SVG, and APNG. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to change the at least one display characteristic of the program source indicator based on the content information associated with the program. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to select the program within an electronic programming guide, and wherein selecting the program within the electronic programing guide comprises scrolling in a list within the electronic programming guide, wherein the list comprises a plurality of programs. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive metadata associated with the plurality of programs within the list of the electronic programming guide. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata comprises at least one source identifier, and wherein the at least one source identifier comprises at least one of: an Internet-streaming service, a broadband TV service, a satellite TV service, and a DVR. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to analyze a usage of the at least one source identifier, wherein the usage comprises at least one of: a bandwidth usage, a tuner utilization, and a throughput usage. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to select the program source indicator based on the usage of the at least one source identifier. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to display the program source indicator within the electronic programming guide for a temporary time duration. 
     
     
         15 . A method for displaying a program source indicator comprising:
 receiving metadata associated with a program accessible from a first program source and from a second program source, wherein the metadata identifies the first program source and the second program source;   comparing an efficiency of playing the program from the first program source and from the second program source wherein comparing the efficiency includes a load-balance determination between the first program source and the second program source; and   based on the comparison of the efficiency, retrieving the program source indicator associated with a most efficient service provider, wherein the most efficient service provider is either the first program source or the second program source.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the metadata source comprises content information associated with the program, and wherein the content information associated with the program comprises a primary focus area. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising displaying the program source indicator in an area opposite of the primary focus area. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the program comprises at least one of: a channel, a broadcast media item, a movie, a television show, a video clip, and an Internet streaming media item. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the metadata comprises at least one source identifier, and wherein the at least one source identifier comprises at least one of: an Internet-streaming service, a broadband TV service, a satellite TV service, and a DVR. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable media storing non-transitory computer executable instructions that when executed cause a computing system to perform a method for displaying a program source indicator comprising:
 receiving metadata associated with a program accessible from a first program source and from a second program source, wherein the metadata identifies the first program source and the second program source;   comparing an efficiency of playing the program from the first program source and from the second program source, wherein comparing the efficiency incudes a load-balance determination between the first program source and the second program source; and   based on the comparison of the efficiency, retrieving the program source indicator associated with a most efficient service provider, wherein the most efficient service provider is either the first program source or the second program source.