Systems and methods for replacing television signals

• US 20020092017A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Macrae, Douglas B., Klosterman, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US09/940,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• 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

The present invention provides methods and systems to substitute alternative video and/or audio signals and/or graphics and/or text to be displayed on the viewer'"'"'s television display monitor for the video and/or audio signals that would otherwise be displayed according to the channel to which the viewer has tuned the television set. One aspect of the present invention provides methods and systems to replace and/or modify the advertisements that can be seen and heard by the television viewer.

Claims

1. A method for substituting alternative video and/or audio signals and/or graphics and/or text to be displayed on the viewer'"'"'s television display monitor in the place of the video and/or audio signals that would otherwise be displayed according to the channel to which the viewer has tuned the television set, the television set including an electronic program guide, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining at a head end provider viewer profile data based on user interactions with the electronic program guide;

monitoring at the head end provider an outgoing television signal for a first particular channel;

identifying the point in said outgoing television signal at which said signal begins to carry advertising information;

inserting in said outgoing television signal on said first particular channel an instruction to any television that receives said television signal to change channels to a second particular channel;

receiving said television signal at a viewer'"'"'s television set on said first particular channel;

recognizing said instruction at said viewer'"'"'s television set to change channels;

determining whether the television set is operating in an electronic program guide mode;

tuning said viewer'"'"'s television set to said second particular channel if the television set is operating in the electronic program guide mode; and

tuning said viewer'"'"'s television set to said first particular channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said instruction to change channels includes a duration of time and the television set is tuned to the second particular channel for said duration of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second channel is an advertisement channel providing advertisement information.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of displaying the advertisement information on a pre-determined portion of the electronic program guide.

5. A system for substituting alternative video and/or audio signals and/or graphics and/or text to be displayed on the viewer'"'"'s television display monitor in the place of the video and/or audio signals that would otherwise be displayed according to the channel to which the viewer has tuned the television set, the television set including an electronic program guide, the system comprising:

means for maintaining at a head end provider viewer profile data based on user interactions with the electronic program guide;

means at the head end provider to monitor an outgoing television signal for a first particular channel;

means to identify the point in said outgoing television signal at which said signal begins to carry advertising information;

means to insert in said outgoing television signal on said first particular channel an instruction to any television that receives said television signal to change channels to a second particular channel;

means to receive said television signal on said first particular channel;

means for determining whether the television set is operating in an electronic program guide mode;

means at a viewer'"'"'s television set to tune to said second particular channel if the television set is operating in the electronic program guide mode; and

means at said viewer'"'"'s television set to tune to said first particular channel.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the instruction to change channels includes a duration of time and the television set is tuned to the second particular channel for said duration of time.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the second channel is an advertisement channel providing advertisement information.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising means for displaying the advertisement information on a pre-determined portion of the electronic program guide.

9. A method for replacing television signals in a television system including a television set and an electronic program guide, the method comprising:

maintaining a plurality of advertisement channels, each advertisement channel providing different advertisement information;

collecting viewer profile data based on user interactions with the electronic program guide;

selecting an advertisement channel based on the collected viewer profile data;

monitoring an outgoing television signal for a particular television channel;

identifying a point in the outgoing television signal for transmitting advertisement information;

inserting in the outgoing television signal for the particular television channel an instruction to change channels;

tuning to the particular television channel;

receiving the instruction to change channels;

determining whether the television set is operating in an electronic guide mode; and

tuning to the selected advertisement channel for a duration of the advertisement carried by the selected advertisement channel if the television set is operating in the electronic guide mode.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising collecting viewer profile data based on user interactions with the television system.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting the collected viewer profile data to a head end provider.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the instruction to change channels comprises an instruction to change to the selected advertisement channel.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a user command to change to a specific television channel prior to the expiration of the duration of the advertisement carried by the selected advertisement channel;

tuning to the specific television channel; and

remaining tuned to the specific television channel after the expiration of the duration of the advertisement.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying the advertisement information on a pre-determined portion of the electronic program guide.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising tuning to the particular television channel at an expiration of the duration of the advertisement.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising means for collecting viewer profile data based on user interactions with the television system.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising means for transmitting the collected viewer profile data to a head end provider.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a user input device for selecting a specific television channel for viewing;

wherein the microprocessor causes the tuner to tune to the specific television channel upon receipt of the user selection prior to the expiration of the duration of the advertisement carried by the selected advertisement channel and remain tuned to the specific television channel after the expiration of the duration of the advertisement.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the microprocessor causes the advertisement carried by the selected advertisement channel to be displayed on a pre-determined portion of the electronic program guide.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor causes the tuner to tune to the particular television channel at an expiration of the duration of the advertisement.

16. A system for replacing television signals in a television system including a television set and an electronic program guide, the system comprising:

means for maintaining a plurality of advertisement channels, each advertisement channel providing different advertisement information;

means for collecting viewer profile data based on user interactions with the electronic program guide;

a head end monitor monitoring an outgoing television signal for a particular television channel and inserting an instruction to change channels at a point in the outgoing television signal where advertisement information is to be transmitted;

a television signal receiver including a tuner tuning to the particular television channel, the receiver receiving the instruction to change channels;

a microprocessor coupled to the television signal receiver, the microprocessor determining whether the television set is operating in an electronic guide mode and causing the tuner to tune to the selected advertisement channel for a duration of the advertisement carried by the selected advertisement channel if the television set is operating in the electronic guide mode.

22. A television system including a television set and an electronic program guide for replacing television signals, the system comprising:

means for collecting viewer profile data based on user interactions with the electronic program guide;

a television signal receiver including a tuner tuning to the particular television channel, the receiver receiving an instruction to change channels;

a memory storing advertisement schedule information for a plurality of advertisements, the information including a channel designation for each of the advertisements;

a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the television signal receiver, the microprocessor determining whether the television set is operating in an electronic guide mode, selecting an advertisement channel based on the collected viewer profile data if the television set is operating in electronic guide mode, and causing the tuner to tune to the advertisement channel for a duration of the advertisement carried by the selected advertisement channel.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising means for collecting viewer profile data based on user interactions with the television system.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the microprocessor causes the advertisement carried by the selected advertisement channel to be displayed on a pre-determined portion of the electronic program guide.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the microprocessor causes the tuner to tune to tune to the particular television channel at an expiration of the duration of the advertisement.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second content is an advertisement selected based on user profile information.

26. A system for replacing television signals, the system comprising:

a television signal receiver including a tuner tuning to a first television channel, the receiver receiving an instruction to change channels to a second channel;

a display monitor for displaying an electronic program guide while in an electronic program guide mode;

a processor coupled to the television signal receiver and display monitor, characterized in that the processor determines whether the display monitor is displaying the electronic program guide in the electronic program guide mode, causes the tuner to tune to the second channel upon receipt of the instruction to change channels if the display monitor is displaying the electronic guide in the electronic program guide mode, and further causes the display monitor to display content carried by the second channel on a pre-determined portion of the electronic program guide.

27. A system for replacing television signals, the system comprising:

a television signal receiver including a tuner tuning to a first television channel;

a display monitor displaying contents of the first television channel;

a memory storing an indicia indicating whether contents of the first television channel displayed on the display monitor are to be replaced; and

a processor coupled to the signal receiver, display, and memory, characterized in that the processor checks the indicia to determine whether the contents of the first television channel displayed on the display monitor are to be replaced, and replaces the displayed contents with a second content if the indicia indicates that the displayed contents are to be replaced.