Method and apparatus for delivering personalized alerts to set top box users without user intervention
First Claim
1. A method for providing user selectable information to a user via a set top box comprising:
- storing a user profile regarding one or more user specifiable alerts desired to be sent to the user upon an occurrence of said one or more user specifiable alerts;
sending an alert message to a set top box associated with the user that one or more of said one or more user specifiable alerts have occurred; and
indicating on a display coupled to the set top box receipt of said alert message.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Alert/Warning Interface resides in a set top box, which is coupled to a user'"'"'s television, and an Information Server located in the cable plant origination center or head-end. The end user of the set top box is able to configure a profile that includes weather areas to be monitored, roads traveled, and schools their children attend. This profile is stored on the Information Server, along with the profiles of all other users. The Information Server monitors for alert conditions, such as bad weather, traffic jams, and school closings. If any of these events occurs, a message is sent to the set top box associated with a profile indicating the current error condition. Upon receipt of an Alert message, the set top box places an icon (or other graphic) in a predetermined portion of the screen (e.g., a top/bottom corner) indicating an alert has occurred. The user can then switch to the Alert screen view, at which time the Alert icon turns off.
95 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for providing user selectable information to a user via a set top box comprising:
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storing a user profile regarding one or more user specifiable alerts desired to be sent to the user upon an occurrence of said one or more user specifiable alerts;
sending an alert message to a set top box associated with the user that one or more of said one or more user specifiable alerts have occurred; and
indicating on a display coupled to the set top box receipt of said alert message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing user selectable information to a user via a set top box comprising:
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receiving a user profile including one or more information alerts to be monitored for the user;
storing the user profile;
comparing the user profile against a database of information alerts; and
sending one or more information alerts from the database that match the one or more user information alerts. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for providing user selectable information to a user via a set top box comprising:
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using a graphical user interface to obtain user preferences regarding one or more personal information alerts to be monitored for the user;
storing the user profile in the set top box;
triggering a personal information alert update based on a user command;
requesting matching alerts from a server. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for providing user selectable information to a user comprising:
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a set top box receiving a user profile including one or more information alerts to be monitored for the user and storing the user profile;
a server coupled to the set top box and receiving the user profile; and
a database coupled to the server and storing a plurality of information alerts, said server comparing the user profile against the database of information alerts, and said server sending to the set top box one or more information alerts from the database that match the one or more user information alerts. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification