Contextual programming

• US 20020056088A1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Houghton, William, Cooper, Robert M., Escobar, George D., Silva, Carlos A. Jr., Kirsh, Laurence F.
• Application Number:
  US09/828,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• 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 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and techniques for providing content relevant to television programming currently displayed to a viewer by determining television programming being viewed by a viewer at a particular time; determining context information associated with the television programming available for delivery to the viewer; making an intelligent selection from the available context information; and delivering the selected context information to the viewer.

Claims

1. A method of providing content relevant to television programming, the method comprising:

determining television programming being viewed by a viewer at a particular time;

determining context information associated with the television programming available for delivery to the viewer;

making an intelligent selection from the available context information; and

delivering the selected context information to the viewer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining television programming being viewed comprises determining the television programming tuned to by a set-top box.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining television programming being viewed comprises determining the television programming based upon an EPG.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a television signal received by a set-top box.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a channel identification number.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a broadcaster identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a television show.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon an episode of a television show.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon an EPG identifier.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining context information associated with the television programming comprises determining context information based upon a program content category.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein making an intelligent selection comprises selecting context information based upon a predetermined hierarchy.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the hierarchy is determined by an episode of a television program.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the hierarchy is determined by a television program.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the hierarchy is determined by a broadcaster identifier.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the hierarchy is determined by an EPG identifier.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the hierarchy comprises:

first selecting context information based upon an episode of a television program;

where no context information based upon an episode is found, selecting context information based upon a television program;

where no context information based upon a television program is found, selecting context information based upon a broadcaster identifier; and

where no context information based upon a broadcaster identifier is found, selecting context information based upon a content category.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein making an intelligent selection comprises selecting context information based upon a viewer selected hierarchy.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein making an intelligent selection comprises selecting context information based upon a dynamically determined hierarchy.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein delivering the selected context information to the viewer comprises displaying the context information by a set-top box.

20. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer system to perform the following operations:

determine television programming being viewed by a viewer at a particular time;

determine context information associated with the television programming available for delivery to the viewer;

make an intelligent selection from the available context information; and

deliver the selected context information to the viewer.

21. The computer program of claim 20 wherein the computer readable medium is a disc.

22. The computer program of claim 20 wherein the computer readable medium is a client device.

23. The computer program of claim 20 wherein the computer readable medium is a host device.

24. The computer program of claim 20 wherein the computer readable medium is a propagated signal.