Modifying an electronic program guide based on viewer statistics
First Claim
1. In a central processor that communicates with processing devices associated with televisions, a method of providing information to the processing devices to enable information relating to viewing behavior associated with television programs, the method comprising the acts of:
- receiving viewing behavior information from a plurality of processing devices associated with televisions, the viewing behavior information specifying viewer activity associated with television programs;
generating a report, based on the viewing behavior information, that specifies the number of viewers who have engaged in a viewing activity associated with particular television programs at the televisions; and
transmitting the report, such that the report is received by an entity that, using the report, modifies an electronic program guide to be displayed by one or more of the televisions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Displaying the numbers of viewers who are watching currently-broadcasted television programs on electronic program guides (EPGs) using information gathered via back channels from home entertainment systems. A signal source transmits a television broadcast signal to televisions used by viewers. Processing devices associated with the televisions determine which program is being displayed and transmit this information to a central server using a back channel from the home entertainment system. Viewing behavior information is gathered from a large number of viewers and is compiled into a report that is transmitted to the individual processing devices of the home entertainment systems. Using the information included in the report, the processing devices modify the EPGs to visually display the number of viewers watching the various television programs. The modification can take the form of selected colors, sizes, or shapes of the EPG entries or icons or animation displayed with the EPG.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a central processor that communicates with processing devices associated with televisions, a method of providing information to the processing devices to enable information relating to viewing behavior associated with television programs, the method comprising the acts of:
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receiving viewing behavior information from a plurality of processing devices associated with televisions, the viewing behavior information specifying viewer activity associated with television programs;
generating a report, based on the viewing behavior information, that specifies the number of viewers who have engaged in a viewing activity associated with particular television programs at the televisions; and
transmitting the report, such that the report is received by an entity that, using the report, modifies an electronic program guide to be displayed by one or more of the televisions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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14. In a processing device that is associated with a television and is included in a system in which viewing behavior information is gathered, a method of displaying information relating to viewership of currently-broadcasted television programs, the method comprising the acts of:
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receiving a viewing behavior information report that includes information specifying the number of viewers who are watching particular television programs;
based on the viewing behavior report, modifying electronic program guide data stored by the processing device to indicate the number of viewers who are watching the particular television programs; and
displaying the modified electronic program guide on the television.
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22. In a system that includes a central processor and further includes a processing device that is associated with one of a plurality of televisions included in the system and communicates with the central processor using a back channel, a method of gathering viewing behavior information that enables information relating to viewership of currently-broadcasted television programs to be displayed, the method comprising the acts of:
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generating viewer behavior information at the processing device that specifies that the television is tuned to a particular television program;
transmitting the viewer behavior information to the central processor via the back channel, wherein the central processor performs the acts of;
combining the viewer behavior information from the processing device with viewer behavior information from other processing devices to generate a viewing behavior information report; and
transmitting the report, such that the report is received by an entity that, using the report, modifies an electronic program guide to be displayed by one or more of the televisions. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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28. In a processing device that is associated with a television and is included in a system in which viewing behavior information is gathered, a method of displaying information relating to viewership of currently-broadcasted television programs, the method comprising the acts of:
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receiving a viewing behavior information report that includes information specifying at least one viewer of another television and a program being watched by the at least one viewer;
based on the viewing behavior information report, modifying electronic program guide data stored by the processing device to identify the at least one other viewer and the program being watched by the at least one other viewer; and
displaying the modified electronic program guide on the television.
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Specification