Method and system for inserting a new channel into a list of preferred channels

• US 20020083452A1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,389,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• 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 21/4532 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A first set of channels is provided. The first set of channels is selected based on a predetermined criteria related to a viewing preference of a viewer. A first channel not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer is inserted into the first set of channels. In one embodiment, a system operator inserts the first channel into the first set of channels. In one embodiment, insertion is disallowed if a number of channels not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer that have been inserted into the first set of channels is greater than a predetermined number.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a first set of channels, the first set of channels selected based on a predetermined criteria related to a viewing preference of a viewer; and

inserting into the first set of channels a first channel not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes a system operator selecting the first channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes disallowing the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel upon determining that a number of channels not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer that have been inserted into the first set of channels is greater than a predetermined number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes setting the first channel to expire once a time limit has been reached.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes selecting the first channel from a set of channels that includes channels having at least a predetermined frequency in channels lists of other viewers in the viewer'"'"'s geographic location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes selecting the first channel from a set of channels that includes channels based on a predetermined subject matter.

7. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

providing a first set of channels, the first set of channels selected based on a predetermined criteria related to a viewing preference of a viewer; and

inserting into the first set of channels a first channel not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes a system operator selecting the first channel.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes disallowing the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel upon determining that a number of channels not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer that have been inserted into the first set of channels is greater than a predetermined number.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes setting the first channel to expire once a time limit has been reached.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes selecting the first channel from a set of channels that includes channels having at least a predetermined frequency in channels lists of other viewers in the viewer'"'"'s geographic location.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the inserting into the first set of channels the first channel includes selecting the first channel from a set of channels that includes channels based on a predetermined subject matter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first channel is selected by a system operator.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the second unit is further to disallow inserting into the first set of channels the first channel upon determining that a number of channels not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer that have been inserted into the first set of channels is greater than a predetermined number.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first channel is set to expire once a time limit has been reached.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first channel is selected from a set of channels that includes channels having at least a predetermined frequency in channels lists of other viewers in the viewer'"'"'s geographic location.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first channel is selected from a set of channels that includes channels based on a predetermined subject matter.

13. A system comprising:

a first unit to providing a first set of channels, the first set of channels selected based on a predetermined criteria related to a viewing preference of a viewer; and

a second unit coupled with the first unit to insert into the first set of channels a first channel not selected based on the predetermined criteria related to the viewing preference of the viewer.