Prediction-based adaptative control of television viewing functionality

• US 20030110500A1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Arturo A.
• Application Number:
  US10/008,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20030110500A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for providing television functionality includes tracking viewing parameters corresponding to services that are provided to a user, determining a user preference for a viewing parameter, receiving user input requesting television functionality, and providing a user with a result that is responsive to the user input and to the user preference.

Claims

1. A method for providing television functionality comprising:

tracking viewing parameters corresponding to services that are provided to a user;

determining a user preference for a viewing parameter;

receiving user input requesting television functionality; and

providing a user with a result that is responsive to the user input and to the user preference.

2. The method of claim 1, where the user preference is determined based on a duration that a service characterized by a viewing parameter is presented to a user.

3. The method of claim 1, where the user preference is determined based on a frequency that a service characterized by a viewing parameter is presented to a user.

4. The method of claim 1, where the user preference is determined based on a duration and a frequency that a service characterized by a viewing parameter is presented to a user.

5. The method of claim 1, where the user preference is for a service.

6. The method of claim 1, where the user preference conflicts with another user preference.

7. The method of claim 1, where the user preference is defined by a user.

8. The method of claim 1, where the user preference is determined by tracking services that are provided by a digital home communication terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, where the result is only provided if a preference-adaptive mode is activated.

10. The method of claim 9, where the preference adaptive mode is activated via a switch located on a remote control device.

11. The method of claim 1, where user preference is determined based on user input.

12. The method of claim 11, where the user input indicates a preference for a viewing parameter.

13. The method of claim 11, where the user input indicates a preference against a viewing parameter.

14. The method of claim 11, where the user input indicates a preference for a first viewing parameter and a preference against a second viewing parameter.

15. The method of claim 1, where a preference tracking database is used to keep track of the user preference.

16. The method of claim 15, where the preference tracking database keeps track of user preferences for a plurality of types of viewing parameters.

17. The method of claim 15, where the user preference is tracked by assigning a score to a viewing parameter.

18. The method of claim 17, where the score for a viewing parameter may be based on a weighted linear combination of scores associated with the viewing parameter.

19. The method of claim 17, where the score for a plurality of viewing parameters may be based on a weighted linear combination of scores associated with the plurality of viewing parameter.

20. The method of claim 17, where the score for a viewing parameter changes over time.

21. The method of claim 17, where the score for a viewing parameter is revised using statistical analysis.

22. The method of claim 17, where the score for a viewing parameter is determined using an artificial intelligence technology.

23. The method of claim 1, where data identifying the user preference is stored in non-volatile memory.

24. The method of claim 1, where data identifying the user preference is stored within a digital home communication terminal.

25. The method of claim 1, where data identifying the user preference is stored within a headend device.

26. The method of claim 1, where the user preference corresponds to at least one viewing parameter.

27. The method of claim 26, where the viewing parameter is a television service.

28. The method of claim 26, where the viewing parameter is a type of television service.

29. The method of claim 26, where the viewing parameter is a television instance.

30. The method of claim 26, where the television instance is a television program.

31. The method of claim 26, where the viewing parameter is a type of television instance.

32. The method of claim 26, where a look-up table is used to determine the user preference for a viewing parameter.

33. The method of claim 26, where a look-up table is used to determine a user preference for a plurality of viewing parameters.

34. The method of claim 33, where a number of viewing parameters represented in a first look-up table entry is independent from a number of viewing parameters represented in a second look-up table entry.

35. The method of claim 26, where a plurality of look-up tables are used to determine a user preference for a plurality of viewing parameters.

36. The method of claim 26, where the television functionality comprises a presentation of an interactive program guide (IPG).

37. The method of claim 36, where the result is an IPG that does not provide information corresponding to a time slot that is not in accordance with the user preference.

38. The method of claim 36, where the result is an IPG that is configured in accordance with the user preference.

39. The method of claim 36, where the result is a presentation of an initial IPG screen that lists at least one television service that corresponds to the viewing parameter.

40. The method of claim 39, where the initial IPG screen lists a plurality of television services that correspond to the viewing parameter.

41. The method of claim 39, where the initial IPG screen does not list any television services that do not correspond to the viewing parameter.

42. The method of claim 26, where the television functionality comprises tuning to a television service.

43. The method of claim 42, where the result comprises tuning to a television service that corresponds to the viewing parameter.

44. The method of claim 26, where the television functionality comprises tuning to a user identified television service.

45. The method of claim 44, where the user identified television service corresponds to the viewing parameter.

46. The method of claim 45, where the result comprises not tuning to the user identified television service.

47. The method of claim 46, where the result comprises prompting a user to provide additional input.

48. The method of claim 47, where the additional input comprises a personal identification number (PIN).

49. A system for providing television functionality comprising:

logic for tracking viewing parameters corresponding to services that are provided to a user;

logic for determining a user preference for a viewing parameter; and

logic for providing a user with a result that is responsive to the user input and to the user preference.

50. The system of claim 49, where the user preference is determined based on a duration that a service characterized by a viewing parameter is presented to a user.

51. The system of claim 49, where the user preference is determined based on a frequency that a service characterized by a viewing parameter is presented to a user.

52. The system of claim 49, where the user preference is determined based on a duration and a frequency that a service characterized by a viewing parameter is presented to a user.

53. The system of claim 49, where the user preference varies over time.

54. The system of claim 49, where the user preference is for a service.

55. The system of claim 49, where the user preference conflicts with another user preference.

56. The system of claim 49, where the user preference is defined by a user.

57. The system of claim 49, where the user preference is determined based on tracking services that are provided by a digital home communication terminal.

58. The system of claim 49, where the result is only provided if a preference-adaptive mode is activated.

59. The system of claim 58, where the preference adaptive mode is activated via a switch located on a remote control device.

60. The system of claim 49, where user preference is determined based on user input.

61. The system of claim 60, where the user input indicates a preference for a viewing parameter.

62. The system of claim 60, where the user input indicates a preference against a viewing parameter.

63. The system of claim 60, where the user input indicates a preference for a first viewing parameter and a preference against a second viewing parameter.

64. The system of claim 49, where a preference tracking database is used to keep track of the user preference.

65. The system of claim 64, where the preference tracking database keeps track of user preferences for a plurality of types of viewing parameters.

66. The system of claim 64, where the user preference is tracked by assigning a score to a viewing parameter.

67. The system of claim 66, where the score for a viewing parameter may be based on a weighted linear combination of scores associated with the viewing parameter.

68. The system of claim 66, where the score for a plurality of viewing parameters may be based on a weighted linear combination of scores associated with the plurality of viewing parameter.

69. The system of claim 66, where the score for a viewing parameter changes over time.

70. The system of claim 66, where the score for a viewing parameter is revised using statistical analysis.

71. The system of claim 66, where the score for a viewing parameter is determined using an artificial intelligence technology.

72. The system of claim 49, where data identifying the user preference is stored in non-volatile memory.

73. The system of claim 49, where data identifying the user preference is stored within a digital home communication terminal.

74. The system of claim 49, where data identifying the user preference is stored within a headend device.

75. The system of claim 49, where the user preference corresponds to at least one viewing parameter.

76. The system of claim 75, where the viewing parameter is a television service.

77. The system of claim 75, where the viewing parameter is a type of television service.

78. The system of claim 75, where the viewing parameter is a television instance.

79. The system of claim 75, where the television instance is a television program.

80. The system of claim 75, where the viewing parameter is a type of television instance.

81. The system of claim 75, where a look-up table is used to determine the user preference for a viewing parameter.

82. The system of claim 75, where a look-up table is used to determine a user preference for a plurality of viewing parameters.

83. The system of claim 82, where a number of viewing parameters represented in a first look-up table entry is independent from a number of viewing parameters represented in a second look-up table entry.

84. The system of claim 75, where a plurality of look-up tables are used to determine a user preference for a plurality of viewing parameters.

85. The system of claim 75, where the television functionality comprises presenting an interactive program guide (IPG).

86. The system of claim 93, where the result comprises an IPG that does not provide information corresponding to a time slot that is not in accordance with the user preference.

87. The system of claim 93, where the result comprises an IPG that is configured in accordance with the user preference.

88. The system of claim 93, where the result comprises presenting an initial IPG screen that lists at least one television service that corresponds to the viewing parameter.

89. The system of claim 94, where the initial IPG screen lists a plurality of television services that correspond to the viewing parameter.

90. The system of claim 94, where the initial IPG screen does not list any television services that do not correspond to the viewing parameter.

91. The system of claim 75, where the television functionality comprises tuning to a television service.

92. The system of claim 91, where the result comprises tuning to a television service that corresponds to the viewing parameter.

93. The system of claim 75, where the television functionality comprises tuning to a user identified television service.

94. The system of claim 93, where the user identified television service corresponds to the viewing parameter.

95. The system of claim 94, where the result comprises not tuning to the user identified television service.

96. The system of claim 95, where the result comprises prompting a user to provide additional input.

97. The system of claim 96, where the additional input comprises a personal identification number (PIN).

98. A method for providing television functionality comprising:

tracking viewing parameters corresponding to services that are provided to a user;

determining a user preference for a viewing parameter;

receiving user input requesting television functionality; and

providing a user with a result that is responsive to the user input and to the user preference;

where the user preference corresponds to at least one viewing parameter;

where the user preference is determined based on a duration that a service characterized by a viewing parameter is presented to a user;

where the user preference is determined by tracking services that are provided by a digital home communication terminal;

where a preference tracking database keeps track of user preferences for a plurality of types of viewing parameters;

where the user preference is tracked by assigning a score to a viewing parameter;

where data identifying the user preference is stored within a digital home communication terminal;

where a look-up table is used to determine the user preference for a viewing parameter.

99. A method for providing television functionality comprising:

tracking viewing parameters corresponding to services that are provided to a user;

determining a user preference for a viewing parameter;

receiving user input requesting an interactive program guide; and

providing a user with an interactive program guide that is responsive to the user input and to the user preference.

100. The method of claim 99, where the step of tracking comprises measuring time periods that services corresponding to one or more of the viewing parameters are provided to a user.

101. The method of claim 99, where the step of tracking comprises determining a number of times that services corresponding to one or more of the viewing parameters are provided to a user.

102. A method for providing television functionality comprising:

tracking viewing parameters corresponding to services that are provided to a user;

determining a user preference for a viewing parameter;

receiving user input requesting a television service; and

providing a user with a television service that is responsive to the user input and to the user preference.

103. The method of claim 102, where the step of tracking comprises measuring time periods that services corresponding to one or more of the viewing parameters are provided to a user.

104. The method of claim 102, where the step of tracking comprises determining a number of times that services corresponding to one or more of the viewing parameters are provided to a user.