Customized electronic program guide

• US 20020053084A1
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cooper, Robert M., Escobar, George D., Silva, Carlos A. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US09/982,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053084A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/47
• 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 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for creating an electronic program guide (EPG) is described. A viewer'"'"'s input to a set top box is monitored. The monitored viewer'"'"'s input is analyzed and the content for the EPG is customized based on the viewer'"'"'s analyzed input. The viewer'"'"'s input to the set top box can be stored in a viewer file and updated with additional viewer input. The viewer'"'"'s input may include signals from a viewer input device, such as, for example, a remote control, a keypad, a keyboard, or a wireless keyboard. The viewer'"'"'s input may be sent to a host. The host performs the monitoring, the analyzing, and the customizing. In addition, the viewer'"'"'s input may be analyzed by the set top box or a combination of the set top box and the host. The viewer'"'"'s input may include signals indicating a change of channels, a guide selection, a category selection, a programming selection, a recorded programming, a viewed web page, and a rating of show. The customized EPG may include an interactive link, a web page, a chat room, an advertisement, a program guide, a TV channel, a customized viewer interactive EPG interface, and one or more mini-guides.

Claims

1. A set top box comprising:

a display interface for outputting display data;

an input for receiving viewer commands;

an interface for sending the viewer commands to be analyzed;

an interface for receiving customized electronic program guide (EPG) data; and

a processor for creating a customized EPG display from the received customized EPG data for output to the display interface, wherein the received customized EPG data is based on the analyzed viewer commands.

2. The set top box of claim 1 further comprising a memory for storing viewer commands.

3. The set top box of claim 2 wherein the stored viewer commands are periodically accessed by the processor and sent to a host for analysis.

4. The set top box of claim 1 wherein the processor runs a browser application and the browser application creates the customized EPG.

5. The set top box of claim 1 further comprising a memory for storing customized EPG data wherein the processor uses the stored customized EPG data to create the customized EPG for display.

6. The set top box of claim 5 wherein the processor receives default EPG data for creating an EPG, accesses the stored customized EPG data from the memory, and creates the customized EPG from the received default EPG data and the stored customized EPG data.

7. The set top box of claim 5 wherein the processor creates the customized EPG from the stored customized EPG data when the set top box is offline.

8. The set top box of claim 1 wherein the customized EPG data include a commercial or advertising.

9. The set top box of claim 1 wherein the customized EPG data include one or more mini-guides.

10. The set top box of claim 1 wherein processor determines the identity of a viewer from the input viewer command and creates the customized EPG based on the determined viewer identity.

11. The set top box of claim 1 further comprising a memory wherein the processor determines the identity of a viewer based on an input viewer command and stores the input viewer command in a viewer file that is associated with the determined viewer identity.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing the viewer commands.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising periodically accessing the stored viewer commands and sending the stored viewer commands to be analyzed.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising storing the customized EPG data and creating the customized EPG from the stored customized EPG data.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising using a browser application running on a processor to create the customized EPG.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving default EPG data for creating an EPG and accessing the stored customized EPG data to create a customized EPG from the received default EPG data and the stored customized EPG data.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the customized EPG data include a commercial or advertising.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining the identity of a viewer from the input viewer commands and creating the customized EPG based on the determined viewer identity.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining the identity of the viewer and storing the viewer commands in a viewer file that is associated with the determined viewer identity.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the customized EPG data include one or more mini-guides.

12. A method for display a customized electronic program guide (EPG) comprising:

receiving viewer commands;

sending the viewer commands to be analyzed;

receiving customized EPG data based on the analyzed commands;

creating a customized EPG display from the received customized EPG data; and

displaying the customized EPG.

22. A method for creating an electronic program guide (EPG) comprising:

receiving a viewer'"'"'s input to a set top box;

analyzing the viewer'"'"'s input; and

customizing content for the EPG based on the viewer'"'"'s analyzed input.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein receiving the viewer'"'"'s input include s receiving signals associated with a viewer input device.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising periodically receiving an additional viewer'"'"'s input data, analyzing the additional viewer'"'"'s input, and customizing the content for the EPG based on the additional viewer'"'"'s input.

25. The method of claim 22 comprising sending customized EPG data to the viewer for display.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising sending customized EPG data associated with a section of the customized EPG.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the receiving of the viewer'"'"'s input includes receiving data indicating at least one of a change of channels, a guide selection, a category selection, a programming selection, a recorded program, an indication of viewed web content, a purchase or transaction, and a rating of a show.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the customized EPG data include one or more mini-guides.

30. The host of claim 29 wherein the viewer'"'"'s input includes a signal from a viewer input device.

31. The host of claim 29 wherein the host periodically receives an additional viewer'"'"'s input data that is analyzed and used to determine customized content for the EPG.

32. The host of claim 29 comprising an interface for sending customized EPG data to the viewer for display.

33. The host of claim 29 further comprising an interface for sending customized EPG data associated with a section of the customized EPG.

34. The host of claim 29 wherein the viewer'"'"'s input includes data indicating at least one of a change of channels, a guide selection, a category selection, a programming selection, a recorded program, an indication of viewed web content, a purchase or transaction, and a rating of a show.

35. The host of claim 29 wherein the customized EPG data include one or more mini-guides.

37. The set top box of claim 36 further comprising a memory for storing viewer commands.

38. The set top box of claim 37 further comprising an interface for sending the viewer commands to be analyzed, wherein the stored viewer commands are periodically accessed by the processor and sent to a host for analysis.

39. The set top box of claim 36 wherein the processor runs a browser application and the browser application creates the customized EPG.

40. The set top box of claim 36 further comprising a memory for storing customized EPG data wherein the processor uses the stored customized EPG data to create the customized EPG for display.

41. The set top box of claim 36 further comprising an interface for receiving customized electronic program guide (EPG) data based on the analyzed viewer command;

wherein the processor creates an EPG using the customized EPG data.

42. The set top box of claim 36 further comprising an interface to access the Internet wherein the processor gathers content from the Internet based on the analyzed viewer commands to be included in the customized EPG.

43. The set top box of claim 36 wherein the EPG includes a commercial or advertising.

44. The set top box of claim 36 wherein processor determines the identity of a viewer from the input viewer command and creates the customized EPG based on the determined viewer identity.

45. The set top box of claim 36 further comprising a memory wherein the processor determines the identity of a viewer based on an input viewer command and stores the input viewer command in a viewer file that is associated with the determined viewer identity.

46. The set top box of claim 38 wherein the customized EPG is based on viewer commands analyzed by the processor and by the host.

47. The set top box of claim 36 wherein the customized EPG data include one or more mini-guides.

29. A host comprising:

an interface for receiving a viewer'"'"'s set top box input;

a processor for analyzing the viewer'"'"'s input; and

a processor for determining customized data for an electronic program guide (EPG) based on the viewer'"'"'s analyzed input.

36. A set top box comprising:

a display interface for outputting display data;

an input for receiving viewer commands; and

a processor for analyzing the viewer commands and creating a customized EPG display based on the analyzed viewer commands.