Personal preferred viewing using electronic program guide

• US 20040078820A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry A. Nickum
• Original Assignee: Larry A. Nickum
• Inventors: Nickum, Larry A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A method and system for implementing a preferred viewing library of programs are disclosed. Electronic program guide data is searched for a program satisfying a criterion, and a determination is made whether the program satisfies the criterion. The criterion may be based upon the viewing activity profile of the user or may be based upon a criterion entered into the program guide by the user. In the event a program satisfies the criterion, the recording of the program is scheduled to occur at a predetermined time. The time is monitored, and a determination whether the present time is the predetermined time. At the predetermined time, the program is recorded and organized in a program library such that a user may select the program from the program library and view the recorded program at an appropriate time.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a preferred viewing library of programs, comprising:

searching electronic program guide data for a program satisfying a criterion;

determining whether a program in the program guide satisfies the criterion;

in the event a program in the program guide satisfies the criterion, scheduling to record the program at a predetermined time;

monitoring the time and then determining whether the present time is the predetermined time;

in the event the present time is the predetermined time, recording the program; and

organizing the recorded program in a program library such that a user may select the program from the program library and view the recorded program at an appropriate time.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the viewing activity of a user;

saving the viewing activity of the user in a database; and

executing said searching step and said determining step based upon the viewing activity of the user stored in the database.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a user selection criterion;

saving the user selection criterion in a database; and

executing said searching step and said determining step based upon the user selection criterion stored in the database.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of, prior to said recording step, notifying the user that the program is to be recorded.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

prior to said recording step, notifying the user that the program is to be recorded;

confirming whether the program should be recorded; and

in the event it is confirmed that the program should be recorded, executing said recording step.

6. A method as claimed as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

in the event there are two or more users, selecting one of the two or more users;

monitoring the viewing activity of the selected user;

saving the viewing activity of the selected user in a database unique to the selected user; and

executing said searching step and said determining step based upon the viewing activity of the selected user stored in the database.

7. A method as claimed as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

in the event there are two or more users, selecting one of the two or more users;

receiving a user selection criterion from the selected user;

saving the user selection criterion in a database unique to the selected user; and

executing said searching step and said determining step based upon the user selection criterion stored in the database.

8. A program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information handling system for causing an information handling system to execute steps for implementing a preferred viewing library of programs, the steps comprising:

searching electronic program guide data for a program satisfying a criterion;

determining whether a program in the program guide satisfies the criterion;

in the event a program in the program guide satisfies the criterion, scheduling to record the program at a predetermined time;

monitoring the time and then determining whether the present time is the predetermined time;

in the event the present time is the predetermined time, recording the program; and

organizing the recorded program in a program library such that a user may select the program from the program library and view the recorded program at an appropriate time.

9. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, the steps further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the viewing activity of a user;

saving the viewing activity of the user in a database; and

executing said searching step and said determining step based upon the viewing activity of the user stored in the database.

10. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, the steps further comprising the steps of:

receiving a user selection criterion;

saving the user selection criterion in a database; and

executing said searching step and said determining step based upon the user selection criterion stored in the database.

11. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, the steps further comprising the step of, prior to said recording step, notifying the user that the program is to be recorded.

12. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, the steps further comprising the steps of:

prior to said recording step, notifying the user that the program is to be recorded;

confirming whether the program should be recorded; and

in the event it is confirmed that the program should be recorded, executing said recording step.

13. A program of instructions as claimed as claimed in claim 8, the steps further comprising the steps of:

in the event there are two or more users, selecting one of the two or more users;

monitoring the viewing activity of the selected user;

saving the viewing activity of the selected user in a database unique to the selected user; and

executing said searching step and said determining step based upon the viewing activity of the selected user stored in the database.

14. A program of instructions as claimed as claimed in claim 8, the steps further comprising the steps of:

in the event there are two or more users, selecting one of the two or more users;

receiving a user selection criterion from the selected user;

saving the user selection criterion in a database unique to the selected user; and

executing said searching step and said determining step based upon the user selection criterion stored in the database.

15. A system for providing preferred viewing of one or more selected programs, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on an information handling system;

a memory, coupled to said processor, for storing the program of instructions;

an electronic program guide executed as the program of instruction by said processor;

a recording device coupled to the information handling system and controllable by said electronic program guide; and

an information storage medium, readable by the information handling system, onto which one or more programs may be stored in a library of programs on said information storage medium by said electronic program guide wherein said program guide is adapted to search program guide data for a program satisfying a predetermined condition and to record the program in the library on said information storage medium.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a user profile database stored in said memory wherein said electronic program guide searches the program guide data based upon a user profile stored in said user profile database.

17. A system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a user selection criteria database stored in said memory wherein said electronic program guide searches the program guide data based upon a user selection criterion stored in said user selection criteria database.

18. A system for providing preferred viewing of one or more selected programs, comprising:

means for executing a program of instructions on an information handling system;

means, coupled to said processor, for storing the program of instructions;

means, executed as the program of instruction by said processor, for implementing the system;

means, coupled to the information handling system and controllable by said implementing means, for recording a program; and

means, readable by the information handling system, for storing the program, said storing means capable of storing one or more programs in a library of programs on said storing means by said implementing means wherein said implementing means is adapted to search program guide data for a program satisfying a predetermined condition and to record the program in the library on said storing means.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a means for organizing data stored on said storing means wherein said implementing means searches the program guide data based upon a user profile stored in said organizing means.

20. A system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a means for organizing data stored on said storing means wherein said implementing means searches the program guide data based upon a user selection criterion stored in said organizing means.