Presentation of automated personalized television programming with preference notations using a wireless hand-held computing device

• US 20030023977A1
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, William P., Jacob, Joseph, Udom, Charlie
• Application Number:
  US09/917,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023977A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• 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 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and wireless hand-held computing device for providing personalized, wireless television programming together with program information for programs matching the viewer'"'"'s preferences. In one embodiment the method includes receiving programming codes in combination with corresponding television programming information and inputting, by a viewer, names of selected programs for viewing. Then, programming software in the wireless hand-held computing device may be used to select, automatically, the programming codes for the selected programs for viewing, to activate the television when the selected programs are broadcast and, where desired, to indicate when at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is to be shown.

Claims

1. A method for providing personalized, wireless television programming together with program information for programs matching the viewer'"'"'s preferences using a wireless hand-held computing device, comprising the steps of:

receiving programming codes in combination with corresponding television programming information;

inputting, by a viewer, a name of a selected program for viewing; and

utilizing the wireless hand-held computing device to select, automatically, the programming code for the selected program for viewing and to activate the television when the selected program is broadcast.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming codes are video cassette recorder plus codes for programming a video cassette recorder to activate the television when the selected program is broadcast.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming codes are codes for a personal digital assistant to use to program cable boxes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein utilizing the wireless hand-held computing device includes utilizing programming software in the wireless hand-held computing device.

5. The method of claim 1 further including indicating, by the wireless hand-held computing device, when at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is to be shown.

6. The method of claim 4, further including activating, by the programming software, an audio alert for the viewer when a selected program is being broadcast.

7. The method of claim 1, further including displaying on a video screen, by the programming software, a name of the at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences, a channel on which the at least one television program is being shown, and a time the at least one television program is being shown.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the video screen is located on the wireless hand-held computing device.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the video screen is located on a television that is showing a program the viewer has selected for viewing.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the video screen is a picture-in-picture on the television.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the video screen is a screen of the television and information for at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is shown immediately prior to the program selected by the viewer.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein utilizing the wireless hand-held computing device to select, automatically, the programming code for the selected program for viewing and to activate the television when the selected program is broadcast includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording names of programs watched by the viewer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein using the tracking and forecasting software in the programming software of the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the names of programs watched by the viewer.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein utilizing the wireless hand-held computing device to select, automatically, the programming code for the selected program for viewing and to activate the television when the selected program is broadcast includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording types of programs watched by the viewer.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein using the tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the types of programs watched by the viewer.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein utilizing the wireless hand-held computing device to select, automatically, the programming code for the selected program for viewing and to activate the television when the selected program is broadcast includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording keywords for programs watched by the viewer.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the keywords of programs watched by the viewer.

18. A method for providing personalized, wireless television programming together with program information for programs matching the viewer'"'"'s preferences using a wireless hand-held computing device, comprising the steps of:

receiving video cassette recorder plus codes in combination with corresponding television programming information;

inputting, by a viewer, names of selected programs for viewing; and

utilizing programming software in the wireless hand-held computing device to select, automatically, the video cassette recorder plus codes for the selected programs for viewing, to program the video cassette recorder to activate the television when the selected programs are broadcast and to indicate when at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is to be shown.

19. The method of claim 18, further including activating, by the programming software, an audio alert for the viewer when a selected program is being broadcast.

20. The method of claim 18, further including displaying on a video screen, by the programming software, a name of the at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences, a channel on which the at least one television program is being shown, and a time the at least one television program is being shown.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the video screen is located on the wireless hand-held computing device.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the video screen is located on a television that is showing a program the viewer has selected for viewing.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the video screen is a picture-in-picture on the television.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the video screen is a screen of the television and information for the at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is shown immediately prior to the program selected by the viewer.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein utilizing the programming software includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording names of programs watched by the viewer.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein using the tracking and forecasting software in the programming software of the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the names of programs watched by the viewer.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein utilizing the programming software includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording types of programs watched by the viewer.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein using the tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the types of programs watched by the viewer.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein utilizing the programming software includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording keywords for programs watched by the viewer.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the keywords of programs watched by the viewer.

31. A method for providing personalized, wireless television programming together with program information for programs matching the viewer'"'"'s preferences using a wireless hand-held computing device, comprising the steps of:

downloading programming codes in combination with corresponding television programming information from the Internet;

inputting, by a viewer, names of selected programs for viewing; and

utilizing programming software in the wireless hand-held computing device to select, automatically, the video cassette recorder plus codes for the selected programs for viewing, to program the video cassette recorder to activate the television when the selected programs are broadcast and to indicate when at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is to be shown.

32. The method of claim 31, further including activating, by the programming software, an audio alert for the viewer when a selected program is being broadcast.

33. The method of claim 31, further including displaying on a video screen, by the programming software, a name of the at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences, a channel on which the at least one television program is being shown, and a time the at least one television program is being shown.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the video screen is located on the wireless hand-held computing device.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the video screen is located on a television that is showing a program the viewer has selected for viewing.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the video screen is a picture-in-picture on the television.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the video screen is a screen of the television and information for the at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is shown immediately prior to the program selected by the viewer.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein utilizing the programming software includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording names of programs watched by the viewer.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the names of programs watched by the viewer.

40. The method of claim 31 wherein utilizing the programming software includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording types of programs watched by the viewer.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the types of programs watched by the viewer.

42. The method of claim 31 wherein utilizing the programming software includes using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer for recording keywords for programs watched by the viewer.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein using tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer includes forecasting preferences of the viewer based on the keywords of programs watched by the viewer.

44. A wireless hand-held computing device arranged for providing personalized, wireless television programming together with program information for programs matching the viewer'"'"'s preferences, comprising:

a wireless code receiver, arranged to receive programming codes in combination with corresponding television programming information and to send said codes and said programming information to a memory unit coupled to a processor;

a plurality of programming input buttons, coupled to the processor, for inputting, by a viewer, names of selected programs for viewing;

programming software, loaded in the processor, for selecting, automatically, the programming codes for the selected programs for viewing, automatically activating the television when the selected programs are broadcast; and

the processor, coupled to the memory unit and the plurality of programming buttons, with the programming software loaded thereon, for utilizing the programming software.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the programming codes are video cassette recorder plus codes for programming a video cassette recorder to activate the television when the selected programs are broadcast.

46. The device of claim 44 wherein the programming codes are codes for a personal digital assistant to use to program cable boxes.

47. The device of claim 44 wherein the wireless hand-held computing device includes programming software.

48. The device of claim 44 wherein the wireless hand-held computing device indicates when at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is to be shown.

49. The device of claim 44, wherein the programming software further provides an audio alert for the viewer when a selected program is being broadcast.

50. The device of claim 44, wherein the programming software provides, on a video screen, a name of the at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences, a channel on which the at least one television program is being shown, and a time the at least one television program is being shown.

51. The device of claim 50 wherein the video screen is located on the wireless hand-held computing device.

52. The device of claim 50 wherein the video screen is located on a television that is showing a program the viewer has selected for viewing.

53. The device of claim 50 wherein the video screen is a picture-in-picture on the television.

54. The device of claim 50 wherein the video screen is a screen of the television and information for at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is shown immediately prior to the program selected by the viewer.

55. The device of claim 44 wherein the programming software includes tracking and forecasting software to record names of programs watched by the viewer.

56. The device of claim 55 wherein the tracking and forecasting software automatically forecasts preferences of the viewer based on the names of programs watched by the viewer.

57. The device of claim 44 wherein the programming software includes tracking and forecasting software to record types of programs watched by the viewer.

58. The device of claim 57 wherein the tracking and forecasting software automatically forecasts preferences of the viewer based on the types of programs watched by the viewer.

59. The device of claim 44 wherein the programming software includes tracking and forecasting software to record keywords for programs watched by the viewer.

60. The device of claim 59 wherein the tracking and forecasting software automatically forecasts preferences of the viewer based on the keywords of programs watched by the viewer.

61. A wireless hand-held computing device for providing personalized, wireless television programming together with program information for programs matching the viewer'"'"'s preferences, comprising:

a wireless Internet access unit, arranged to provide for downloading programming codes in combination with corresponding television programming information from the Internet to a memory unit that is coupled to a processor;

a plurality of programming input buttons, coupled to the processor, inputting, by a viewer, names of selected programs for viewing;

programming software loaded in the processor, to select, automatically, programming codes for the selected programs for viewing, to activate the television when the selected programs are broadcast and to indicate when at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is to be shown; and

the processor, coupled to the memory unit and the plurality of programming input buttons, for utilizing the programming software.

62. The device of claim 61, wherein the programming codes are video cassette recorder plus codes for programming a video cassette recorder to activate the television when the selected programs are broadcast.

63. The device of claim 61 wherein the programming codes are codes for a personal digital assistant to use to program cable boxes.

64. The device of claim 61 wherein the wireless hand-held computing device indicates when at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is to be shown.

65. The device of claim 61, wherein the programming software provides an audio alert for the viewer when a selected program is being broadcast.

66. The device of claim 61, wherein the programming software displays on a video screen a name of the at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences, a channel on which the at least one television program is being shown, and a time the at least one television program is being shown.

67. The device of claim 66 wherein the video screen is located on the wireless hand-held computing device.

68. The device of claim 66 wherein the video screen is located on a television that is showing a program the viewer has selected for viewing.

69. The device of claim 66 wherein the video screen is a picture-in-picture on the television.

70. The device of claim 66 wherein the video screen is a screen of the television and information for at least one television program that matches the viewer'"'"'s preferences is shown immediately prior to the program selected by the viewer.

71. The device of claim 61 wherein the programming software includes tracking and forecasting software that records names of programs watched by the viewer.

72. The device of claim 71 wherein the programming software includes tracking and forecasting software to forecast preferences of the viewer based on the names of programs watched by the viewer.

73. The device of claim 61 wherein programming software includes tracking and forecasting software that records types of programs watched by the viewer.

74. The device of claim 73 wherein the tracking and forecasting software forecasts preferences of the viewer based on the types of programs watched by the viewer.

75. The device of claim 61 wherein the programming software includes tracking and forecasting software in the wireless hand-held computer to record keywords for programs watched by the viewer.

76. The device of claim 75 wherein the tracking and forecasting software forecasts preferences of the viewer based on the keywords of programs watched by the viewer.