Convergence of interactive television and wireless technologies

• US 20040073915A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Dureau, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• 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 21/6582 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing user profiles in an interactive television system. An interactive television system includes a broadcast station, a set-top box, and a remote mobile or fixed unit. The system is configured to create and/or update a user profile in response to an access made in a first access mode. In response to detecting a user access in a second access mode, the system accesses the user profile, selects data based at least in part on the user profile, and transmits the data to the user.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a user profile in an interactive television system, the method comprising:

updating a user profile responsive to a first user access in a first access mode;

initiating a second user access in a second access mode;

accessing the user profile in response to the second user access;

transmitting data to a user responsive to the second user access, wherein the transmitted data is based at least in part on the user profile.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating said user profile in response to said second user access.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said first access mode corresponds to television viewing activity, and said second access mode is performed via a remote device.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said first access mode corresponds to an access via a remote device, and said second access mode corresponds to television viewing activity.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

determining said second access mode in response to said second user access;

accessing a device profile corresponding to said second access mode; and

formatting said data to correspond to said device profile prior to transmitting the data.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising selecting non-requested data based on said user profile and transmitting said non-requested data.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said non-requested data comprises an advertisement targeted to the user.

8. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said first access mode is via a set-top box, said remote device is a wireless mobile unit, and wherein said set-top box and mobile unit are configured to communicate with one another.

9. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising storing the user profile at one or more of a television broadcast station, user set-top box, or other remote location configured to communicate within the system.

10. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising selecting the data to be transmitted at least in part on the physical location of a user performing an access.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating the user profile in response to detecting a physical location of a user'"'"'s location trackable mobile unit.

12. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the remote device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, and fixed unit, and a portable computer system.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user profile is based on data obtained in a passive manner, active manner, or both.

14. An interactive television system comprising:

a remote unit;

a set-top box; and

a broadcast station coupled to convey a programming signal to the set-top box;

wherein the system is configured to update a user profile responsive to a first access of a user in a first access mode, detect a second access of a user in a second access mode, access the user profile in response to the second access, and transmit data responsive to the second access, wherein the transmitted data is based at least in part on the user profile.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the system is configured to update the user profile in response to the second access.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first access mode is performed via the set-top box, and the second access mode is performed via the remote unit.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said first access mode is via the remote unit, and the second access mode corresponds to the set-top box.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the system is further configured to:

determine the second access mode in response to the second access;

access a device profile corresponding to the second access mode; and

format the data to correspond to the device profile prior to transmitting the data.

19. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the system is further configured to select non-requested data based on said user profile and transmit said non-requested data to a user.

20. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said set-top box and mobile unit are configured to communicate with one another.

21. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the user profile is stored at one or more of a television broadcast station, user set-top box, or other remote location configured to communicate within the television system.

22. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the system is further configured to detect a physical location of a user performing an access and select the data to be transmitted at least in part on the detected location.

23. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the system is further configured to update the user profile in response to detecting a physical location of a user'"'"'s location trackable mobile unit.

24. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the remote device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a fixed unit, and a portable computer system.

25. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the user profile is based on data obtained in a passive manner, active manner, or both.

32. The carrier medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the user profile is based on data obtained in a passive manner, active manner, or both.

26. A carrier medium comprising program instructions, or triggers to launch execution of program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

update a user profile responsive to a first access of a user in a first access mode;

detect a second access of a user in a second access mode;

access the user profile in response to the second access; and

transmit data responsive to the second access, wherein the transmitted data is based at least in part on the user profile.

27. The carrier medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the first access mode is performed via a set-top box, and the second access mode is performed via the remote unit.

28. The carrier medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine the second access mode in response to the second access;

access a device profile corresponding to the second access mode; and

format the data to correspond to the device profile prior to transmitting the data.

29. The carrier medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the program instructions are executable to select non-requested data based on said user profile and transmit said non-requested data to a user.

30. The carrier medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the program instructions are executable to further configured to select the data to be transmitted at least in part on the physical location of a user performing an access.

31. The carrier medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the remote unit is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a fixed unit, and a portable computer system.