Systems and methods for automatic personalizing of channel favorites in a set top box

• US 20020188948A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Ventures Inc. (Vulcan, Inc.)
• Inventors: Florence, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,434,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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

Abstract

A set top box for use in interactive television systems includes a generation engine and a display engine. The generation engine automatically stores channel favorites in a channel favorites table. The generation engine may include cumulative viewing time for each channel in the table as well as the number of times each channel in the table has been viewed. The display engine, upon request, displays a list of channels in the channel favorites tables according to a viewer order preference.

Claims

1. A method for generating a list of channel favorites in an interactive television system, comprising:

receiving a first notification, the first notification indicating a first channel activity;

receiving a second notification, the second notification indicating a second channel activity;

calculating a time difference between the first and the second notifications; and

updating a channel favorites table based on the calculated time difference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating includes adding the calculated time difference to a first channel cumulative time field in the favorites table.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating further includes incrementing a counter in a first channel view frequency field of the favorites table.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the favorites tables includes a favorites display preference.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying a list of channels from the channel favorites table.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the list of channels is displayed according to the favorites display preference.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a viewer of the interactive television system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating is performed if the calculated time difference is larger than a predefined length of time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predefined length of time is about ten seconds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second notifications are electronic program guide notifications received from an electronic program guide.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second activities include selecting a first and second channel, respectively.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second activities include viewing a first and second channel, respectively.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the instruction to update includes adding the calculated time difference to a first channel cumulative time field in the favorites table.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the instruction to update further includes incrementing a counter in a first channel view frequency field of the favorites table.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the favorites tables includes a favorites display preference.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16, further comprising an instruction to display a list of channels from the channel favorites table.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the instruction to display includes an instruction to display the list of channels according to the favorites display preference.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 13, further comprising an instruction to identify a viewer of the first and second channels.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the instruction to update is performed if the calculated time difference is larger than a predefined length of time.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 20, wherein the predefined length of time is about ten seconds.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the first and second notifications are electronic program guide notifications received from an electronic program guide.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the first and second activities include selecting a first and second channel, respectively.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the first and second activities include viewing a first and second channel, respectively.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the channel favorites table is further capable to store a display preference of a viewer.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the display engine is capable to display contents of the channel favorites table according to the display preference of a viewer.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the generation engine and display engine are further capable to identify the viewer.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the generation engine is further capable to filter channel changes based on the calculated time difference.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the generation engine filters channel changes if the calculated time difference is less than about ten seconds.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the notifications are electronic program guide notifications received from an electronic program guide.

33. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the channel activity includes selecting a channel.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the channel activity includes viewing a channel.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

a filter engine executable by the processor and capable to select a channel to be included in the list.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon an associated numeral of a channel.

39. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon a viewing time of a channel.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon an amount of selection of a channel.

41. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the list is associated with a first identification.

42. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the generation engine is capable to generate a second list associated with a second identification.

13. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;

receive a first notification, the first notification indicating a first channel activity;

receive a second notification, the second notification indicating a second channel activity;

calculate a time difference between the first and the second notifications; and

update a channel favorites table based on the calculated time difference.

25. An apparatus for creating favorite channels in interactive television system, comprising:

means for receiving a first notification, the first notification indicating a first channel activity;

communicatively coupled to the means for receiving the first notification, means for receiving a second notification, the second notification indicating a second channel activity;

communicatively coupled to the means for receiving the second notification, means for calculating a time difference between the first and the second notifications; and

communicatively coupled to the calculating means, means for updating a channel favorites table based on the calculated time difference.

26. An apparatus for generating favorite channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

a channel favorites table capable to store channel favorites of a viewer;

a generation engine communicatively coupled to the channel favorites table and capable to receive a notification, the notification indicating a channel activity, the generation engine further capable to calculate a time difference between receipt of notifications and to update the channel favorites table based on the calculated time difference; and

a display engine communicatively coupled to the channel favorites table and capable to display contents of the channel favorites table.

35. A server that can be communicatively coupled to interactive television system, comprising:

means for receiving, from a set top box, a first electronic program guide notification, the first notification indicating a selection of a first channel;

means for receiving, from the set top box, a second electronic program guide notification, the second notification indicating a selection of a second channel;

means for calculating a time difference between the first and the second notifications; and

means for updating a channel favorites table based on the calculated time difference.

36. An apparatus for creating favorite channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

a processor;

a generation engine executable by the processor and capable to generate a list including at least one favorite channel based upon a selection of a channel; and

a display engine executable by the processor and capable to enable the display of the list.

43. An apparatus for creating favorite channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

a set top box including a processor, a generation engine executable by the processor and capable to detect a selection of a channel and capture information related to the selected channel, and a display engine executable by the processor and capable to enable the display of a list including at least one favorite channel;

a processing device communicatively coupled to the set top box and capable to receive the captured information from the generation engine to generate the list.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the processing device is capable to transmit a list including at least one favorite channel to the set top box to enable the display of the list.

45. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the processing device is capable to transmit a hypertext markup language (HTML) link to the set top box, where the HTML link is associated with a list including at least one favorite channel.

46. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the set top box further comprises a filter engine executable by the processor and capable to select a channel to be included in the list.

47. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon an associated numeral of a channel.

48. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon a viewing time of a channel.

49. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon an amount of selection of a channel.

50. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the list is associated with a first identification.

51. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the generation engine is capable to generate a second list including at least one channel, the second list associated with a second identification.

52. A method of creating favorite channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

capturing channel viewing data related to a channel change event; and

generating a list including at least one favorite channel based upon the captured channel viewing data.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

analyzing the captured channel data to selectively add a channel to the list.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

displaying the list for viewing.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon an associated numeral of a channel.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon a viewing time of a channel.

57. The method of claim 54 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon an amount of selection of a channel.

58. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

associating the list with a first identification.

59. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

generating a second list including at least one channel; and

associating the second list with a second identification.

60. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;

capture channel viewing data related to a channel change event; and

generate a list including at least one favorite channel based upon the captured channel viewing data.

61. An apparatus for generating favorite channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

means for capturing channel viewing data related to a channel change event; and

communicatively coupled to the capturing means, means for generating a list including at least one favorite channel based upon the captured channel viewing data.

62. A method of displaying favorites channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

identifying a viewer;

determining a display preference of the identified viewer; and

displaying a list of favorite channels associated with the identified viewer, the list shown according to the display preference of the identified viewer.

63. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;

identify a viewer;

determine a display preference of the identified viewer; and

display a list of favorite channels associated with the identified viewer, the list shown according to the display preference of the identified viewer.

64. An apparatus for displaying favorites channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

means for identifying a viewer;

communicatively coupled to the identifying means, means for determining a display preference of the identified viewer; and

communicatively coupled to the determining means, means for displaying a list of favorite channels associated with the identified viewer, the list shown according to the display preference of the identified viewer.

65. A method of creating favorites channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

capturing channel viewing data related to a channel change event;

transmitting the channel viewing data to a remote processing device; and

generating, in the remote processing device, a list including at least one favorite channel based upon the channel viewing data.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

transmitting, by the remote processing device, the list for viewing.

67. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

transmitting, by the remote processing device, a hypertext markup language (HTML) link associated with the list.

68. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

analyzing the captured channel data to selectively add a channel to the list.

69. The method of claim 65 further comprising:

displaying the list for viewing.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon an associated numeral of a channel.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon a viewing time of a channel.

72. The method of claim 69 wherein the list includes a plurality of channels listed based upon an amount of selection of a channel.

73. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

associating the list with a first identification.

74. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

generating a second list including at least one channel; and

associating the second list with a second identification.

75. An apparatus for creating favorite channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

a first engine capable capture channel viewing data related to a channel change event; and

a second engine communicatively coupled to the first engine and capable to generate a list including at least one favorite channel based upon the captured channel viewing data.

76. A method for generating a list of channel favorites in an interactive television system, comprising:

receiving, from an electronic program guide, a first electronic program guide notification, the first notification indicating viewing of a first channel;

receiving, from the electronic program guide, a second electronic program guide notification, the second notification indicating viewing of a second channel;

calculating a time difference between the first and the second notifications;

prompting a viewer for authorization to update a channel favorites list; and

if authorization is received, updating the channel favorites list based on the calculated time difference.

77. A method for generating a list of channel favorites in an interactive television system, comprising:

receiving, from an electronic program guide, a first electronic program guide notification, the first notification indicating selection of a first channel;

receiving, from the electronic program guide, a second electronic program guide notification, the second notification indicating selection of a second channel;

calculating a time difference between the first and the second notifications;

if the calculated time difference is larger than a predefined length of time, updating the channel favorites list based on the calculated time difference

78. An apparatus for generating favorite channels in an interactive television system, comprising:

a channel favorites table capable to store channel favorites of a viewer;

a generation engine communicatively coupled to the channel favorites table and capable to receive a notification, the notification indicating a channel activity, the generation engine further capable to calculate a time difference between receipt of notifications and to update the channel favorites table based on the calculated time difference if the calculated time difference is larger than a predefined length of time; and

a display engine communicatively coupled to the channel favorites table and capable to display contents of the channel favorites table.