Video on demand methods and systems

• US 20010027563A1
• Filed: 05/29/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Goldman, Phillip Y., Bruck, Timo, White, Christopher M., Mighdoll, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/870,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers'"'"' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.

Claims

1. A method of operating a video entertainment system comprising:

generating profiles for plural users, said profiles being based, at least in part, on two video viewing habits;

presenting to a first viewer a listing of available programs that appeared favored by other viewers with similar profiles;

wherein the system can suggest to a viewer other programs based on similar viewers'"'"' preferences.

2. A method of operating a video system, the system including a video input, a controller, and a store, the method comprising:

monitoring a user'"'"'s viewing habits to determine a favorite broadcast video program; and

copying the video program to the store if the user is not viewing said program when broadcast;

wherein the user need not plan in advance to record a favorite program, because the favorite program is automatically recorded if it is not viewed by the user when broadcast.

3. The method of

claim 2

including:

monitoring the user'"'"'s viewing habits to determine a ranking of viewed broadcast video programs by viewing frequency; and

copying to the store plural programs that are not viewed by the user when broadcast, in accordance with said ranking.

4. The method of

claim 2

including:

defining plural viewing channels;

on certain of said channels, presenting television programs for viewing;

on at least one of said channels, presenting said copied video program for viewing.

5. The method of

claim 2

which includes listing the copied video in an electronic program guide associated with the system, together with a viewing channel on which the copied video can be viewed.

6. The method of

claim 4

, further comprising:

maintaining the copied video program after viewing.

7. The method of

claim 4

, wherein as space is needed, said copied video programs are overwritten in the following priority, first overwrite viewed copied video programs, then overwrite non-viewed copied video programs.

8. A method of operating a computer implemented interactive entertainment system comprising:

logging entertainment selections of plural users;

generating affinity groupings based on similarities in the entertainment selections of plural users;

determining an affinity grouping for a first user based on the first user'"'"'s entertainment selections; and

presenting to the first user available programs favored by members of the determined affinity grouping.

9. The method of

claim 8

, further comprising:

defining plural entertainment channels comprising broadcast television and at least one interactive entertainment channel; and

upon switching to an electronic programming guide, highlighting programs in the determined affinity grouping.

10. The method of

claim 8

wherein said presenting of available programs are presented in response to a viewer query.

11. The method of

claim 8

wherein said presenting of available programs are presented autonomously by the interactive entertainment system.

12. A method of operating a computer implemented interactive entertainment system comprising:

logging entertainment selections of plural users;

generating affinity groupings based on similarities in the entertainment selections logged;

polling a first user on a user interface to determine the first user'"'"'s favorite entertainment;

determining an affinity grouping similar to the first user'"'"'s favorite entertainment; and

presenting the first user a listing of available programs favored by members of the determined affinity grouping.

13. The method of

claim 12

wherein upon returning to an interactive entertainment channel, the system automatically cycles through plural selections in the determined affinity grouping.