Program shortcuts

Abstract

Techniques are described that allow DVR users to create program shortcuts to different types of media content from content providers. A program shortcut comprises a reference to another media content. A user may generate a shortcut so that the user may easily find and return to media content without performing a new search. In addition, techniques may be used to automatically generate program shortcuts for a user based at least in part to user-indicated preferences or actions. Shortcuts may be generated to media content that is related to a preferred genre or media type specified by a user. Shortcuts may also be generated to content that is determined to be similar to content that is often viewed or recorded by the user.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 identifying a video content item that is relevant to a user profile;   determining whether the video content item is available for access to the user profile;   in response to determining that the video content item is not available for access to the user profile, refraining from generating a video shortcut object for the video content item;   in response to determining that the video content item is available for access to the user profile, generating the video shortcut object for the video content item that initiates a content retrieval process for retrieval of the video content item;   generating for display, in a menu, a menu item corresponding to the video content item, the menu item based on the video shortcut object generated for the video content item; and   in response to determining that input from a user associated with the user profile selecting the menu item from the menu has been received, executing the content retrieval process and generating for display the retrieved video content item.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the video content item is identified as relevant to the user profile based on determining that the video content item is of a preferred genre or media type associated with the user profile. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising sending the video shortcut object to one or more devices associated with one or more additional user profiles within a network associated with the user profile, to enable the video content item to be accessed by the one or more additional user profiles. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  22 , further comprising:
 generating for display a predefined list of reasons for sharing the video shortcut object; and   in response to determining that input from the user associated with the user profile selecting a predefined reason from the predefined list of reasons has been received:
 sending, to the one or more devices along with the video shortcut object, a message comprising the selected predefined reason for sharing the video shortcut object. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  20 , wherein:
 the video content item is identified as relevant to the user profile based on receiving a recommendation related to the video shortcut object from a different user profile; and   the method further comprises limiting ability of, or preventing, one or more other user profiles from sharing recommendations with the user profile.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein executing the content retrieval process includes at least one of: retrieving the video content item from a video on demand service, downloading the video content item, scheduling a recording of the video content item, purchasing rights to view the video content item, or receiving a stream of the video content item. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining the menu in which to present the menu item based on one or more of: a specific menu specified by a user command input, or predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the video content item is no longer retrievable via the content retrieval process, or to determining that an expiration date specified by a provider of the video content item has been reached, deleting the video shortcut object. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 executing the content retrieval process comprises receiving the video content item from a web-based source; and   the method further comprises presenting, in the menu with the menu item, a plurality of menu items corresponding to recorded content associated with the user profile.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 executing the content retrieval process comprises receiving a transcoded stream of the video content item from a computing device, other than a device associated with the user profile, that has retrieved the video content item; and   the computing device that has retrieved the video content item is in communication with the device associated with the user profile via a local area network.   
     
     
         30 . A system comprising:
 control circuitry configured to:
 identify a video content item that is relevant to a user profile; 
 determine whether the video content item is available for access to the user profile; 
 in response to determining that the video content item is not available for access to the user profile, refrain from generating a video shortcut object for the video content item; and 
 in response to determining that the video content item is available for access to the user profile, generate the video shortcut object for the video content item that initiates a content retrieval process for retrieval of the video content item; and 
   output circuitry configured to:
 generate for display, in a menu, a menu item corresponding to the video content item, the menu item based on the video shortcut object generated for the video content item; and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: 
 in response to determining that input from a user associated with the user profile selecting the menu item from the menu has been received, execute the content retrieval process and generate for display the retrieved video content item. 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the video content item is identified as relevant to the user profile based on determining that the video content item is of a preferred genre or media type associated with the user profile. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the output circuitry is further configured to:
 send the video shortcut object to one or more devices associated with one or more additional user profiles within a network associated with the user profile, to enable the video content item to be accessed by the one or more additional user profiles.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the output circuitry is further configured to:
 generate for display a predefined list of reasons for sharing the video shortcut object; and   in response to determining that input from the user associated with the user profile selecting a predefined reason from the predefined list of reasons has been received:
 send, to the one or more devices along with the video shortcut object, a message comprising the selected predefined reason for sharing the video shortcut object. 
   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the video content item is identified as relevant to the user profile based on receiving a recommendation related to the video shortcut object from a different user profile; and   the control circuitry is further configured to:
 limit ability of, or prevent, one or more other user profiles from sharing recommendations with the user profile. 
   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to execute the content retrieval process by at least one of: retrieving the video content item from a video on demand service, downloading the video content item, scheduling a recording of the video content item, purchasing rights to view the video content item, or receiving a stream of the video content item. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine the menu in which to present the menu item based on one or more of: a specific menu specified by a user command input, or predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 responsive to determining that the video content item is no longer retrievable via the content retrieval process, or to determining that an expiration date specified by a provider of the video content item has been reached, delete the video shortcut object.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the control circuitry is configured to execute the content retrieval process by receiving the video content item from a web-based source; and   the output circuitry is further configured to:
 present, in the menu with the menu item, a plurality of menu items corresponding to recorded content associated with the user profile. 
   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the control circuitry is configured to execute the content retrieval process by receiving a transcoded stream of the video content item from a computing device, other than a device associated with the user profile, that has retrieved the video content item; and   the computing device that has retrieved the video content item is in communication with the device associated with the user profile via a local area network.