Dynamic adjustment of EPG level of detail based on user behavior

• US 20040073923A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wasserman, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/185 Thawing materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Systems and methods described herein related to dynamically adjusting levels of detail of content event descriptions contained in an EPG according to a user'"'"'s behavior. Predictions are made based on the user'"'"'s behavior as to which content events the user may desire to see a more detailed description for. Rankings are assigned to future events based on the user'"'"'s behavior. When it comes time to update the EPG (i.e., download event descriptions for one or more new time periods), the rankings are utilized to determine which events should have event descriptions of a greater detail stored for them. Memory is more efficiently utilized by having high level event descriptions available for events in which the user is likely to be interested and low level event descriptions available for events in which the user is probably not interested.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

downloading an electronic programming guide (EPG) that includes multiple first level of detail event descriptions, one for each of multiple content events available via the EPG;

monitoring client behavior;

using client behavior to identify events that are likely to be of interest;

for identified events of interest, downloading a second level of detail event description.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second level of detail event descriptions are more detailed than corresponding first level of detail descriptions.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

rank ordering one or more of the multiple content events according to the monitored client behavior; and

downloading the second level of detail event description based on the ranking.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client behavior further comprises the client accessing at least one episode of a content event series, which indicates that a second level of detail event description should be downloaded for one or more future episodes of the content event series.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client behavior further comprises the client frequently accessing a particular programming channel, which indicates that a second level of detail event description should be downloaded for one or more future events appearing on the particular channel.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client behavior further comprises the client detecting an event recommendation from a content provider, which indicates that a second level of detail event description should be downloaded for an event identified by the event recommendation.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client behavior further comprises accessing at least a threshold number of events of a particular genre, which indicates that a second level of detail event description should be downloaded for one or more future events of the same genre.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the particular genre is a genre selected from the following list of genres:

drama, comedy, science fiction, documentary, mystery, western, action, or suspense.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client behavior further comprises a client request for a second level of detail event description for one or more events.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first level of detail event description further comprises an event title and event start time for an event associated with the event description.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client is a television.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client is a set top box connected to a television.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client is a computing device.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising replacing the first level of detail event description for an event with the second level of detail event description for the event when the second level of detail event description for the event is downloaded.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second level of detail event description includes all data contained in the first level of detail event description plus additional data.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the events are television programs.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the events are audio programs.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second level of detail event descriptions each include a brief summary of the respective events that is not included in the first level of detail event descriptions.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising downloading a third level of detail event description for an event when indicated by client behavior, the third level of detail event description being more detailed than the second level of event description.

20. A method, comprising:

monitoring events accessed by a client;

storing a first event description for a monitored event;

storing a second event description for the event if certain client behavior is detected by way of the monitoring of the events; and

wherein the second event description contains more detail about the event than the first event description.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein:

the certain client behavior further comprises accessing a first episode of a series event; and

the first event description and the second event description are associated with a second, future episode of the series.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein:

the certain client behavior further comprises detecting that a first content channel is accessed more frequently than other content channels; and

wherein the event is available on the first content channel.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the certain client behavior further comprises the client detecting that the event has been identified as a recommended event.

24. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the certain client behavior further comprises the client receiving a request from a user to download the second event description.

25. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

downloading an electronic programming guide (EPG) that contains a base program description for each of multiple content programs available to the client; and

wherein the first event description for the content program is a base program description included in the EPG.

26. A method, comprising:

providing, to one or more clients, a base level of detail event description that is a basic description of an event available to the one or more clients;

receiving a request from at least one of the one or more clients for a more detailed event description; and

providing an enhanced level of detail event description in response to the request.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, further comprising making multiple enhanced level of detail event descriptions available to the one or more clients, and wherein the receiving a request further comprises receiving a request for one of the multiple enhanced level of detail event description.

28. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein the level of detail event descriptions are provided over a content distribution network.

29. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein:

the base level of detail event description includes an event title and event start time for the event; and

the enhanced level of detail event description includes at least a brief summary of the event.

30. One or more computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform the following steps:

receiving an electronic programming guide (EPG) that includes a base level of detail description for each of multiple events available through the EPG;

requesting an enhanced level of detail event description for at least one of the multiple events; and

receiving the requested enhanced level of detail event description.

31. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30, further comprising replacing the EPG base level of detail description corresponding to the event for which the enhanced level of detail event description was requested with the enhanced level of detail event description.

32. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30, further comprising appending the enhanced level of detail event description to the EPG base level of detail description that corresponds to the event for which the enhanced level of detail event description was requested.

33. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30, further comprising monitoring client behavior to identify events that are likely to be of interest, and wherein the requesting an enhanced level of detail event description further comprises requesting the enhanced level of detail event description for identified events.

34. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30, wherein the events further comprises television programs.

35. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30, wherein the events further comprises multimedia programs.

36. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 30, wherein:

there are at least two enhanced level of detail event descriptions available; and

the requesting an enhanced level of detail event description further comprising requesting one of the at least two enhanced level of detail event descriptions.

37. One or more computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform the following steps:

providing an electronic programming guide (EPG) to multiple clients, the EPG including a first level of detail event description for each of multiple events available through the EPG;

storing a second level of detail event description for at least one of the multiple events, the second level of detail event description containing greater detail about an event than the first level of detail event description associated with the event;

receiving a request for a second level of detail event description; and

transmitting the requested second level of detail event description.

38. The one or more computer-executable media as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

storing a third level of detail event description for at least one event for which a second level of detail event description is available, the third level of detail event description containing greater detail than the corresponding second level of detail event description;

receiving a request for a third level of detail event description; and

transmitting the requested third level of detail event description.

39. The one or more computer-executable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the second level of detail event description includes information contained in the first level of detail event description for the corresponding event.

40. A content distribution system, comprising:

a network operator configured to broadcast multimedia content events over a broadcast network;

an electronic programming guide (EPG) server configured to provide an EPG over the broadcast network;

an EPG containing a base level of detail event description for the content events available from the network operator; and

an enhanced level of detail event description for each of at least some of the content events available from the network operator, an enhanced level of detail event description containing a more detailed description of an event than the base level of detail event description associated with the event.

41. The content distribution system as recited in claim 40, wherein the enhanced level of detail event description further comprises a second level of detail event description, the system further comprising a third level of detail event description for each of at least some of the content events available from the network operator, a third level of detail event description containing a more detailed description of an event than the second level of detail event description associated with the event.

42. The content distribution system as recited in claim 40, wherein the EPG server is further configured to receive requests from one or more clients for one or more enhanced level of detail event descriptions, and to transmit the requested enhanced level of detail event descriptions to the one or more clients.

43. A client device, comprising:

connection means to provide a connection between the client device and a broadcast network;

memory to store multiple event descriptions for events accessible by the client device over the broadcast network; and

an electronic programming guide (EPG) application configured to download an EPG over the broadcast network that displays event information for events available via the client device, the EPG containing base level of detail event descriptions for available events;

a monitor configured to monitor events accessed by the client device to determine client device behavior; and

a download module configured to request one or more enhanced level of detail event descriptions for one or more available events, the request being dependent on the monitored behavior.

44. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein the one or more enhanced level of detail event description further comprises at least a first and a second enhanced level of detail event descriptions, the first enhanced level of detail event description containing greater detail than the base level of detail event description, and the second enhanced level of detail event description containing greater detail than the first enhanced level of detail event description.

45. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the monitor is further configured to rank order one or more of the monitored events according to the monitored client device behavior; and

the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description based on the rank of an event.

46. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the monitor is further configured to determine when the client device accesses at least one episode of an event series; and

the download monitor is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for future episodes in the event series when the monitor determines that one episode of the series has been accessed.

47. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the monitor is further configured to determine when a particular channel is accessed frequently by the client device; and

the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for one or more future events on a frequently accessed channel.

48. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the monitor is further configured to determine when an event is recommended by a content provider; and

the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for events recommended by the content provider.

49. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the monitor is further configured to identify a particular event genre that is frequently accessed by the client device; and

the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for events of a frequently accessed genre.

50. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the monitor is further configured to identify an event selected by a user; and

the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for events selected by the user.

51. The client device as recited in claim 43, further comprising a set top box housing.

52. The client device as recited in claim 43, further comprising a television.

53. The client device as recited in claim 43, further comprising a personal computing device.

54. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein the download module is further configured to replace a base level of detail event description for an event with an enhanced level of detail description for the event when the enhanced level of detail description is downloaded.

55. The client device as recited in claim 43, wherein the download module is further configured to append an enhanced level of detail event description for an event to a base level of detail description for the event when the enhanced level of detail description is downloaded.