Simplified user interface by adaptation based on usage history

• US 20030090515A1
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SONY CORPORATION AND SONY ELECTRONICS INC.
• Inventors: Eyer, Mark Kenneth, Candelore, Brant L., Shintani, Peter Rae, Zustak, Frederick J., Colsey, Nicholas, Proehl, Andrew M., Golden, Dayan Ivy, Krishnan, Aditya, Chang, Matthew S., Yang, David K.L.
• Application Number:
  US10/054,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090515A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An adaptive user interface and method thereof for simplifying the use of new electronic devices, such as set top boxes, by adapting the user interface on the basis of usage history. The adaptive user interface monitors input commands to the user interface and tracks usage statistics for use in determining whether to add or remove features from the interface. A ramp-up embodiment of the invention automatically adds user interface features as the user becomes more proficient with a device. A ramp-down embodiment of the invention automatically removes seldom used interface features. By tracking users'"'"' actions, the user interface can more accurately be modified to fit actual use habits of each user, rather than relying on user perception of what functionality is used.

Claims

1. A method of adapting a user interface for simplifying use of a consumer electronic device, comprising the steps of:

initially configuring a display on said user interface with a plurality of features of said consumer electronic device;

monitoring usage of each of said plurality of features by the user of said consumer electronic device;

said monitoring step generating usage statistics on a user-by-user basis based on the monitored usage;

adapting said plurality of features on the basis of the usage; and

reconfiguring said display with the adapted plurality of features.

2. The method of adapting a user interface according to claim 1, wherein said adapting step adds features to said plurality of features when the generated statistics indicate the user has achieved a predetermined level of proficiency.

3. The method of adapting a user interface according to claim 1, wherein said adapting step removes features from said plurality of features when the generated statistics indicate the user infrequently accesses the features to be removed.

4. The method of adapting a user interface according to claim 1, further comprising the step of prompting the user to accept or reject changes to said plurality of features prior to reconfiguring said display.

5. The method of adapting a user interface according to claim 1, wherein the user manually adapts said plurality of features for display.

6. The method of adapting a user interface according to claim 2, further comprising the step of prompting the user to enable said adapting step, thereby placing said user interface into a learning mode.

7. The method of adapting a user interface according to claim 3, further comprising the step of prompting the user to enable said adapting step, thereby placing said user interface into a simplifying mode.

8. An adaptable user interface for simplifying use of a consumer electronic device, comprising:

a display for displaying a plurality of features of said consumer electronic device;

input means for inputting commands corresponding to the displayed plurality of features;

monitoring means for monitoring usage of each of said plurality of features by the user of said consumer electronic device;

generating means for generating usage statistics based on the monitored usage;

adapting means for adapting said plurality of features on the basis of the usage; and

reconfiguring means for reconfiguring said display with the adapted plurality of features.

9. The adaptable user interface according to claim 8, wherein said adapting means adds features to said plurality of features when the generated statistics indicate the user has achieved a predetermined level of proficiency.

10. The adaptable user interface according to claim 8, wherein said adapting means removes features from said plurality of features when the generated statistics indicate the user infrequently accesses the features to be removed.

11. The adaptable user interface according to claim 8, wherein said display prompts the user to accept or reject changes to said plurality of features prior to said reconfiguring means reconfiguring said display.

12. The adaptable user interface according to claim 8, wherein said input means includes a configuring command whereby the user manually adapts said plurality of features for display.

13. The adaptable user interface according to claim 8, wherein said consumer electronic device is a set-top box.

14. The adaptable user interface according to claim 8, wherein said input means is integrated into said consumer electronic device.

15. The adaptable user interface according to claim 8, wherein said input means is a remote control for use with said consumer electronic device.

16. The adaptable user interface according to claim 8, wherein said input means is integrated with said display.

17. The adaptable user interface according to claim 9, wherein said display prompts the user to enable said adapting means, thereby placing said user interface into a learning mode.

18. The adaptable user interface according to claim 10, wherein said display prompts the user to enable said adapting means, thereby placing said user interface into a simplifying mode.