Personal information database with privacy for targeted advertising

• US 20020124253A1
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Eyer, Mark Kenneth, Candelore, Brant L., Zustak, Fred J., Shintani, Peter Rae, Colsey, Nicholas, Proehl, Andrew M., Yang, David K. L., Golden, Dayan Ivy, Krishnan, Aditya, Chang, Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US09/798,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124253A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• 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 21/6582 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 7/163 by receiver means only
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

An information network, such an interactive set-top box, is provided to enable user to receive targeted information through use of a personal information database. Through interaction with the set-top box, the user may establish a personal profile database that specifies his or her interests, preferences and other information. This information is communicated to a service provider. Based on this information, the service provider builds a personal information database and creates customized and directed advertising targeted to that user. The customized advertising may be download to the user'"'"'s multimedia storage device (either within the set-top box or external to it). The user information may also be passed to vendors, but the user'"'"'s identity is withheld, thereby ensuring the privacy of the user.

Claims

1. A system enabling a user to receive targeted information from a remote service provider, said system comprising:

a memory element operable to store a personal information database of information related to the user;

a first output element, operably connected to said memory element, operable to transmit the targeted information from said personal information database to said remote service provider;

a first input element operable to receive the targeted information from said remote service provider;

a multimedia storage element, operably connected to said first input element, operable to store said targeted information; and

a second output element operable to transmit the targeted information to a display device where it may be viewed by the user;

wherein the remote service provider selects the targeted information in accordance with said personal information database of information related to the user.

2. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

a second input element operable to receive a broadcast television signal; and

a channel selection element, operably coupled to said multimedia storage element and to said second input element, configured to select between a broadcast television channel and an output from said multimedia storage element;

wherein an output from said channel selection element is transmitted via said second output element to a display device.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said first input element and said first output element are combined in a bidirectional communications port.

4. A system as in claim 2, wherein said first and second input elements are combined.

5. A system as in claim 2, wherein said first and second input elements and said first output element are combined in a bidirectional communications port.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said bidirectional communications port is a cable modem.

7. A system as in claim 1 and further comprising:

a third input element for receiving a plurality of signals from a user input device;

wherein said personal information database is updated according to said plurality of signals from the user input device.

8. A system as in claim 2, wherein said system is incorporated into a set-top box.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said set-top box includes a web browser and said personal information database is updated by the user in response to a questionnaire displayed by said web browser.

10. A system as in claim 8, wherein said set-top box has a unique Internet protocol (IP) address, whereby the service provider may request transmission of said personal information database via the Internet.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said multimedia storage device is a hard disc drive.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein said multimedia storage device is a video recorder.

14. A method as in claim 13 and further comprising:

uploading a second personal information database from the user'"'"'s set-top box to the service provider over a second communications link; and

updating said first personal information database according to data contained in said second personal information database;

wherein said second personal information database originates from the user.

15. A method as in claim 13 and further comprising:

identifying one or more target vendors according to information in said first personal information database;

transmitting requests for information to said one or more target vendors;

receiving targeted information from said one or more target vendors; and

transmitting said targeted information to the user'"'"'s set-top box.

16. A method as in claim 13 and further comprising:

providing a database of information related to said first personal information database;

providing access to said database to said one or more target vendors via the Internet;

receiving targeted information from said one or more target vendors; and

transmitting said targeted information to the user'"'"'s set-top box.

17. A method as in claim 13, further comprising:

withholding an identity of the user corresponding to the first personal information database to ensure the privacy of the user.

18. A method as in claim 13, wherein said targeted information includes one or more of a video clip, an audio clip, a custom web page and a URL link.

19. A method as in claim 13 and further comprising:

transmitting a plurality of broadcast television channels to the set-top box;

uploading, over a second communications link to the set-top box, information related to a viewing history of the user; and

updating said first personal information database in accordance with said information related to the viewing history of the user.

20. A method as in claim 13, wherein said targeted information includes one or more video advertisements.

21. A method as in claim 15, wherein said service provider acts as an agent for said targeted vendors and further comprising:

updating said first personal information database according to a purchasing history of the user.

22. A method as in claim 16, wherein said service provider acts as an agent for said targeted vendors and further comprising:

updating said first personal information database according to a purchasing history of the user.

13. A method for a service provider to distribute targeted information to a user'"'"'s set-top box and thereby to a visual display unit for viewing by a user, said method comprising:

storing a first personal information database, accessible to the service provider, said first personal information database including information related to one or more of the user'"'"'s interests, specific requests, and financial information;

selecting the targeted information according to the information in said first personal information database; and

transmitting the targeted information to the user'"'"'s set-top box over a first communications link.