System and method for determining the desirability of video programming events using keyword matching

• US 20020087979A1
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MeeVee, Inc. (LiveUniverse, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MeeVee, Inc. (LiveUniverse, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hitt, Dale Kittrick, Barker, Jonathan Percy, Dudkiewicz, Gil Gavriel
• Granted Patent: US 6,973,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4661 Deriving a combined profile for a plurality of end-users of the same client, e.g. for family members within a home user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4665 involving classification methods, e.g. Decision trees
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• 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 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 : Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 : Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 : Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 : Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The desirability of programming events may be determined using metadata for programming events that includes goodness of fit scores associated with categories of a classification hierarchy one or more of descriptive data and keyword data. The programming events are ranked in accordance with the viewing preferences of viewers as expressed in one or more viewer profiles. The viewer profiles may each include preference scores associated with categories of the classification hierarchy and may also include one or more keywords. Ranking is performed through category matching and keyword matching using the contents of the metadata and the viewer profiles. The viewer profile keywords may be qualified keywords that are associated with specific categories of the classification hierarchy. The ranking may be performed such that qualified keyword matches generally rank higher than keyword matches, and keyword matches generally rank higher than category matches. In alternative embodiments, scores may be calculated such that the ranges of scores for qualified keyword matches, keyword matches and category matches are overlapping but are generally ordered as previously described. Related embodiments may pertain to systems that implement such methods. Program rankings may be used to generate an alert schedule for providing alerts to viewers regarding programming events.

Claims

1. A method for determining the desirability of programming events, comprising:

receiving metadata describing programming events, the metadata for a programming event comprising goodness of fit scores associated with categories of a classification hierarchy and at least one of descriptive data and keyword data; and

ranking the programming events in accordance with viewing preferences expressed in at least one viewer profile, each of the at least one viewer profiles comprising preference scores associated with categories of the classification hierarchy and at least one keyword, the ranking using the metadata goodness of fit scores and the viewer profile category preference scores to determine rank based on category matching, the ranking further using the at least one of metadata descriptive data and metadata keywords and the at least one keyword of the at least one viewer profile to determine rank based upon keyword matching.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said ranking is performed such that programming events having keyword matches are ranked higher than programming events not having keyword matches, and programming events not having keyword matches are ranked based upon category match scores.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said ranking comprises:

determining a category match score for each programming event as a function of the metadata goodness of fit scores and viewer profile preference scores of matched categories of the programming event, wherein a matched category is a category of the classification hierarchy for which there is a goodness of fit score in the metadata of the programming event and a preference score in the at least one viewer profile; and

determining a keyword match score for each programming event having a keyword match, wherein a keyword match is a match the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the programming event metadata and a keyword of the at least one viewer profile.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein each keyword match score is greater than a greatest possible category match score, and

wherein said ranking is based upon said keyword match scores and said category match scores.

5. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein said programming event metadata further comprises a time and duration of the corresponding programming event, and

wherein the method further comprises determining a programming event recording schedule in accordance with said keyword match scores and said category match scores of the programming events and the times and durations of the programming events.

6. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein said programming event metadata further comprises a time of the corresponding programming event, and

wherein the method further comprises determining a programming event alert schedule in accordance with said keyword match scores and said category match scores of the programming events and the times of the programming events.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, wherein the schedule comprises not more than a predetermined number of programming events within a given time period as specified in a viewer profile.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said ranking comprises:

determining a category match score for each programming event as a function of the metadata goodness of fit scores and viewer profile preference scores of matched categories of the programming event, wherein a matched category is a category of the classification hierarchy for which there is a goodness of fit score in the metadata of the programming event and a preference score in the at least one viewer profile;

determining a keyword match score for each programming event having a keyword match, wherein a keyword match is a match between the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the programming event metadata and a keyword of the at least one viewer profile; and

determining a qualified keyword match score for each programming event having a qualified keyword match, wherein a qualified keyword match is a match between a qualified keyword of the at least one viewer profile and the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the metadata of a programming event having a goodness of fit score in the category associated with the qualified keyword.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one viewer profile further comprises at least one qualified keyword comprising a keyword associated with a category of the category hierarchy,

wherein said ranking further uses the at least one qualified keyword of the at least one viewer profile to determine rank based upon qualified keyword matching, and

wherein said ranking is performed such that programming events having qualified keyword matches are ranked higher than programming events having keyword matches, programming events having keyword matches are ranked higher than programming events not having keyword matches and not having qualified keyword matches, and programming events not having keyword matches and not having qualified keyword matches are ranked based upon category match scores.

10. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein each qualified keyword match score is greater than a greatest possible keyword match score,

each keyword match score is greater than a greatest possible category match score, and

wherein said ranking is based upon said qualified keyword match scores, said keyword match scores and said category match scores.

11. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein a programming event having a qualified keyword match is ranked relative to other programming events having qualified keyword matches in accordance with the preference score associated with the category of each matched qualified keyword in its corresponding viewer profile.

12. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein said programming event metadata further comprises a time and duration of the corresponding programming event, and

wherein the method further comprises determining a programming event recording schedule in accordance with said qualified keyword match scores, said keyword match scores and said category match scores of the programming events and the times and durations of the programming events.

13. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein said programming event metadata further comprises a time of the corresponding programming event, and

wherein the method further comprises determining a programming event alert schedule in accordance with said qualified keyword match scores, said keyword match scores and said category match scores of the programming events and the times of the programming events.

14. The method claimed in claim 13, wherein the schedule comprises not more than a predetermined number of programming events within a given time period as specified in a viewer profile.

16. The device claimed in claim 15, wherein said ranking is performed such that programming events having keyword matches are ranked higher than programming events not having keyword matches, and programming events not having keyword matches are ranked based upon category match scores.

17. The device claimed in claim 15, wherein said ranking comprises:

determining a category match score for each programming event as a function of the metadata goodness of fit scores and viewer profile preference scores of matched categories of the programming event, wherein a matched category is a category of the classification hierarchy for which there is a goodness of fit score in the metadata of the programming event and a preference score in the at least one viewer profile; and

determining a keyword match score for each programming event having a keyword match, wherein a keyword match is a match the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the programming event metadata and a keyword of the at least one viewer profile.

18. The device claimed in claim 17, wherein each keyword match score is greater than a greatest possible category match score, and

wherein said ranking is based upon said keyword match scores and said category match scores.

19. The device claimed in claim 17, wherein said programming event metadata further comprises a time and duration of the corresponding programming event, and

wherein said processing further comprises determining a programming event recording schedule in accordance with said keyword match scores and said category match scores of the programming events and the times and durations of the programming events.

20. The device claimed in claim 17, wherein said programming event metadata further comprises a time of the corresponding programming event, and

wherein said processing further comprises determining a programming event alert schedule in accordance with said keyword match scores and said category match scores of the programming events and the times of the programming events.

21. The device claimed in claim 20, wherein the schedule comprises not more than a predetermined number of programming events within a given time period as specified in a viewer profile.

22. The device claimed in claim 15, wherein said ranking comprises:

determining a category match score for each programming event as a function of the metadata goodness of fit scores and viewer profile preference scores of matched categories of the programming event, wherein a matched category is a category of the classification hierarchy for which there is a goodness of fit score in the metadata of the programming event and a preference score in the at least one viewer profile;

determining a keyword match score for each programming event having a keyword match, wherein a keyword match is a match between the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the programming event metadata and a keyword of the at least one viewer profile; and

determining a qualified keyword match score for each programming event having a qualified keyword match, wherein a qualified keyword match is a match between a qualified keyword of the at least one viewer profile and the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the metadata of a programming event having a goodness of fit score in the category associated with the qualified keyword.

23. The device claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one viewer profile further comprises at least one qualified keyword comprising a keyword associated with a category of the category hierarchy,

wherein said ranking further uses the at least one qualified keyword of the at least one viewer profile to determine rank based upon qualified keyword matching, and

wherein said ranking is performed such that programming events having qualified keyword matches are ranked higher than programming events having keyword matches, programming events having keyword matches are ranked higher than programming events not having keyword matches and not having qualified keyword matches, and programming events not having keyword matches and not having qualified keyword matches are ranked based upon category match scores.

24. The device claimed in claim 23, wherein each qualified keyword match score is greater than a greatest possible keyword match score,

each keyword match score is greater than a greatest possible category match score, and

wherein said ranking is based upon said qualified keyword match scores, said keyword match scores and said category match scores.

25. The device claimed in claim 23, wherein a programming event having a qualified keyword match is ranked relative to other programming events having qualified keyword matches in accordance with the preference score associated with the category of each matched qualified keyword in its corresponding viewer profile.

26. The device claimed in claim 23, wherein said programming event metadata further comprises a time and duration of the corresponding programming event, and

wherein said processing further comprises determining a programming event recording schedule in accordance with said qualified keyword match scores, said keyword match scores and said category match scores of the programming events and the times and durations of the programming events.

27. The device claimed in claim 23, wherein said programming event metadata further comprises a time of the corresponding programming event, and

wherein said processing further comprises determining a programming event alert schedule in accordance with said qualified keyword match scores, said keyword match scores and said category match scores of the programming events and the times of the programming events.

28. The device claimed in claim 27, wherein the schedule comprises not more than a predetermined number of programming events within a given time period as specified in a viewer profile.

30. The method claimed in claim 29, wherein providing alerts comprises displaying a banner on a video screen describing a programming event in said programming event schedule.

31. The method claimed in claim 30, wherein a color of said banner indicates a viewer profile most closely matched by the corresponding programming event.

32. The method claimed in claim 30, wherein said banner comprises a description of said programming event including a highest scored matched keyword from metadata of said programming event, and a highest scored matched category from said programming event.

33. The method claimed in claim 32, wherein said banner further comprises scores associated with said matched keyword and said matched category.

34. The method claimed in claim 29, wherein providing an alert comprises:

determining an amount of time in advance of a programming event to display an alert for the programming event from the at least one viewer profile; and

displaying an alert for programming events in said programming event schedule in accordance with said amount of time.

35. The method claimed in claim 29, further comprising displaying said programming event alert schedule in response to viewer input.

36. The method claimed in claim 35, further comprising removing an alert from the alert schedule in response to viewer input.

37. The method claimed in claim 29, wherein determining a programming event alert schedule comprises selecting not more than a predetermined number of highest ranking programming events to occupy a given time period in said schedule.

38. The method claimed in claim 37, wherein said predetermined number and said given period of time are determined from said at least one viewer profile.

39. The method claimed in claim 29, wherein each of the at least one viewer profiles comprises preference scores associated with categories of the classification hierarchy and at least one keyword,

wherein said ranking uses the metadata goodness of fit scores and the viewer profile category preference scores to determine rank based on category matching, and

wherein said ranking further uses the at least one of metadata descriptive data and metadata keywords and the at least one keyword of the at least one viewer profile to determine rank based upon keyword matching.

40. The method claimed in claim 39, wherein said ranking comprises:

determining a category match score for each programming event as a function of the metadata goodness of fit scores and viewer profile preference scores of matched categories of the programming event, wherein a matched category is a category of the classification hierarchy for which there is a goodness of fit score in the metadata of the programming event and a preference score in the at least one viewer profile; and

determining a keyword match score for each programming event having a keyword match, wherein a keyword match is a match the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the programming event metadata and a keyword of the at least one viewer profile.

41. The method claimed in claim 39, wherein the at least one viewer profile further comprises at least one qualified keyword comprising a keyword associated with a category of the category hierarchy,

wherein said ranking further uses the at least one qualified keyword of the at least one viewer profile to determine rank based upon qualified keyword matching.

42. The method claimed in claim 41, wherein said ranking comprises:

determining a category match score for each programming event as a function of the metadata goodness of fit scores and viewer profile preference scores of matched categories of the programming event, wherein a matched category is a category of the classification hierarchy for which there is a goodness of fit score in the metadata of the programming event and a preference score in the at least one viewer profile;

determining a keyword match score for each programming event having a keyword match, wherein a keyword match is a match between the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the programming event metadata and a keyword of the at least one viewer profile; and

determining a qualified keyword match score for each programming event having a qualified keyword match, wherein a qualified keyword match is a match between a qualified keyword of the at least one viewer profile and the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the metadata of a programming event having a goodness of fit score in the category associated with the qualified keyword.

43. The method claimed in claim 29, wherein providing alerts comprises sending alerts to a communication device of the viewer.

15. A device for determining the desirability of programming events, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory coupled to the at least one processor and having stored therein programming instructions to perform data processing, comprising;

receiving metadata describing programming events, the metadata for a programming event comprising goodness of fit scores associated with categories of a classification hierarchy and at least one of descriptive data and keyword data; and

ranking the programming events in accordance with viewing preferences expressed in at least one viewer profile, each of the at least one viewer profiles comprising preference scores associated with categories of the classification hierarchy and at least one keyword, the ranking using the metadata goodness of fit scores and the viewer profile category preference scores to determine rank based on category matching, the ranking further using the at least one of metadata descriptive data and metadata keywords and the at least one keyword of the at least one viewer profile to determine rank based upon keyword matching.

29. A method of alerting a viewer of upcoming programming events of interest to the viewer, comprising:

receiving metadata describing programming events, the metadata for a programming event comprising goodness of fit scores associated with categories of a classification hierarchy and at least one of descriptive data and keyword data;

ranking the programming events in accordance viewing preferences expressed in at least one viewer profile using said metadata;

determining a programming event alert schedule in accordance with said ranking; and

providing alerts to a viewer in accordance with said alert schedule.

44. A device for alerting a viewer of upcoming programming events of interest to the viewer, comprising:

at least one processor;

a storage device for storing video; and

memory coupled to the at least one processor and having stored therein programming instructions to perform data processing, comprising;

receiving metadata describing programming events, the metadata for a programming event comprising goodness of fit scores associated with categories of a classification hierarchy and at least one of descriptive data and keyword data;

ranking the programming events in accordance viewing preferences expressed in at least one viewer profile using said metadata;

determining a programming event alert schedule in accordance with said ranking; and

providing alerts to a viewer in accordance with said alert schedule.

45. The device claimed in claim 44, wherein providing alerts comprises displaying a banner on a video screen describing a programming event in said programming event schedule.

46. The device claimed in claim 45, wherein a color of said banner indicates a viewer profile most closely matched by the corresponding programming event.

47. The device claimed in claim 45, wherein said banner comprises a description of said programming event including a highest scored matched keyword from metadata of said programming event, and a highest scored matched category from said programming event.

48. The device claimed in claim 47, wherein said banner further comprises scores associated with said matched keyword and said matched category.

49. The device claimed in claim 44, wherein providing an alert comprises:

determining an amount of time in advance of a programming event to display an alert for the programming event from the at least one viewer profile; and

displaying an alert for programming events in said programming event schedule in accordance with said amount of time.

50. The device claimed in claim 44, said processing further comprising displaying said programming event alert schedule in response to viewer input.

51. The device claimed in claim 50, said processing further comprising removing an alert from the alert schedule in response to viewer input.

52. The device claimed in claim 44, wherein determining a programming event alert schedule comprises selecting not more than a predetermined number of highest ranking programming events to occupy a given time period in said schedule.

53. The device claimed in claim 52, wherein said predetermined number and said given period of time are determined from said at least one viewer profile.

54. The device claimed in claim 44, wherein each of the at least one viewer profiles comprises preference scores associated with categories of the classification hierarchy and at least one keyword,

wherein said ranking uses the metadata goodness of fit scores and the viewer profile category preference scores to determine rank based on category matching, and

wherein said ranking further uses the at least one of metadata descriptive data and metadata keywords and the at least one keyword of the at least one viewer profile to determine rank based upon keyword matching.

55. The device claimed in claim 54, wherein said ranking comprises:

determining a category match score for each programming event as a function of the metadata goodness of fit scores and viewer profile preference scores of matched categories of the programming event, wherein a matched category is a category of the classification hierarchy for which there is a goodness of fit score in the metadata of the programming event and a preference score in the at least one viewer profile; and

determining a keyword match score for each programming event having a keyword match, wherein a keyword match is a match the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the programming event metadata and a keyword of the at least one viewer profile.

56. The device claimed in claim 54, wherein the at least one viewer profile further comprises at least one qualified keyword comprising a keyword associated with a category of the category hierarchy,

wherein said ranking further uses the at least one qualified keyword of the at least one viewer profile to determine rank based upon qualified keyword matching.

57. The device claimed in claim 56, wherein said ranking comprises:

determining a category match score for each programming event as a function of the metadata goodness of fit scores and viewer profile preference scores of matched categories of the programming event, wherein a matched category is a category of the classification hierarchy for which there is a goodness of fit score in the metadata of the programming event and a preference score in the at least one viewer profile;

determining a keyword match score for each programming event having a keyword match, wherein a keyword match is a match between the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the programming event metadata and a keyword of the at least one viewer profile; and

determining a qualified keyword match score for each programming event having a qualified keyword match, wherein a qualified keyword match is a match between a qualified keyword of the at least one viewer profile and the at least one of descriptive data and keyword data of the metadata of a programming event having a goodness of fit score in the category associated with the qualified keyword.

58. The device claimed in claim 44, wherein providing alerts comprises sending alerts to a communication device of the viewer.