Modifying content retrieved from a set-top box

• US 20030145331A1
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Escobar, George D., Cooper, Robert M., Silva, Carlos A. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/059,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• 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 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• 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 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

To help viewers access content of interest, the viewer'"'"'s interactions with the set top box may be monitored and analyzed. Content may be assembled, generated, produced, and edited for presentation to a viewer based on the monitored and analyzed viewer interactions. As a result, content of interest to the viewer may be identified and made accessible without any additional effort or knowledge required by the viewer.

Claims

1. A method for providing content to a viewer, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a set top box;

determining a viewer command associated with the signal;

analyzing the viewer command to determine content of potential interest to the viewer; and

assembling the determined content for presentation to the viewer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a trigger to indicate that the assembled content is available for viewing; and

sending the trigger to the set top box.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a signal from the set top box to access the content; and

sending the content to the set top box.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the trigger is activated in response to viewer interaction with the set top box.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein viewer commands are analyzed to determine the content.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the viewer commands of more than one viewer are analyzed to determine the content.

7. A system for providing content to a viewer, the system comprising:

an interface for receiving a signal from a set top box; and

a host for determining a viewer command associated with the signal, analyzing the viewer command to determine content of potential interest to the viewer, and assembling the determined content for presentation to the viewer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the host generates a trigger to indicate the assembled content is available for viewing and sends the trigger to the set top box.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the host receives a signal from the set top box to access the content and the host sends the content to the set top box.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the trigger is activated in response to viewer interaction with the set top box.

11. The method of claim 7 viewer commands are analyzed to determine the content.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the viewer commands of more than one viewer are analyzed to determine the content.

13. A method for displaying content to a viewer, the method comprising:

receiving a viewer command;

sending the viewer command to be analyzed; and

receiving content based on the analyzed commands,

wherein the content is selected based on analysis of the viewer command to determine content of potential interest to the viewer.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a trigger to indicate that the content is available for viewing; and

displaying an indication that the content is available when the trigger is activated.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a signal from a viewer input device to access the content; and

displaying the content.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising accessing a memory of the set top box to retrieve the content for display.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising sending a signal to request the content and receiving the content.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the trigger is activated in response to viewer interaction with the set top box.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein viewer commands are analyzed to determine the content.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the viewer commands of more than one viewer are analyzed to determine the content.

21. A set top box comprising:

a display interface configured to output display data;

an input configured to receive a viewer command;

a command interface configured to send the viewer command to be analyzed;

a content interface configured to receive content; and

a processor configured to cause the display interface to display the content received by the content interface, wherein the content is selected based on analysis of the viewer command to determine content of potential interest to the viewer.

22. The set top box of claim 21 wherein the processor is configured to process a trigger that indicates that the content is available for viewing and to send an indication that the content is available to the display interface when the trigger is activated.

23. The set top box of claim 22 wherein the processor is configured to process a signal from viewer command input to access the content and to send the content to the display interface for display.

24. The set top box of claim 23 further comprising a memory configured to store the content, wherein the processor is configured to access the memory to retrieve the content.

25. The set top box of claim 23 wherein the processor is configured to send a signal to request the content.

26. The set top box of claim 22 wherein the trigger is activated in response to viewer interaction with the set top box.

27. The set top box of claim 21 wherein viewer commands are analyzed to determine the content.

28. The set top box of claim 27 wherein the viewer commands viewer are analyzed to determine the content.