CHANNEL SETTING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20070089140A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hsieh, Kuan-Hong, Li, Xiao-Guang
• Application Number:
  US11/309,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089140A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/56
• 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 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

A channel setting system is provided. The system is used in an electronic device and includes an input unit for receiving operational inputs; a timer for tracking an elapsed time when the electronic device is activated on a channel; and a control unit for calculating a total playing time of each channel during a time interval according to the elapsed time of the timer, and generating a channel playlist comprising a favorite channel sublist for each time interval based on the total playing time of each channel. A channel setting method is also provided.

Claims

1. A channel setting system used in an electronic device comprising:

an input unit for receiving operational inputs;

a timer for tracking an elapsed time when the electronic device is activated on a channel; and

a control unit for calculating a total playing time of each channel during a time interval according to the elapsed time of the timer, and generating a channel playlist comprising a favorite channel sublist for each time interval based on the total playing time of each channel.

2. The channel setting system according to claim 1, wherein favorite channels in the favorite channel sublist are channels whose total playing time is greater than a preset time value, and are arranged in a descending order in the favorite channel sublist, according to the total playing time associated therewith.

3. The channel setting system according to claim 1, wherein the channel playlist further comprises a general channel sublist.

4. The channel setting system according to claim 3, wherein general channels in the general channel sublist are channels whose total playing time are less than or equal to the preset time value, and are in a stochastic order.

5. The channel setting system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit searches for a channel playlist on the basis of current time interval, and switches to a favorite channel according to the favorite channel sublist of the channel playlist.

6. The channel setting system according to claim 5, wherein the input unit comprises a switching key for switching between favorite channels and general channels.

7. The channel setting system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit switches the current channel to a former/next favorite channel listed before/following the current favorite channel listed in the favorite channel sublist of the channel playlist for a time interval if the switching key does not receive any operational input and the input unit receives a channel tuning signal.

8. The channel setting system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit switches the current channel to a desired channel according to the general channel sublist if the switching key receives an operational input and the input unit receives a channel tuning signal.

9. A channel setting method performed on an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

tracking an elapsed time when the electronic device is activated on a channel;

calculating a total playing time of each channel according to the elapsed time during a time interval; and

generating a channel playlist comprising a favorite channel sublist for each time interval according to the total playing time of each channel.

10. The channel setting method according to claim 9, wherein favorite channels in the favorite channel sublist are channels whose total playing time is greater than a preset time value, and are arranged in a descending order in the favorite channel sublist, according to the total playing time associated therewith.

11. The channel setting method according to claim 9, wherein the channel playlist further comprises a general channel sublist.

12. The channel setting method according to claim 11, wherein general channels in the general channel sublist are channels whose total playing time is less than or equal to the preset time value, and are in a stochastic order.

13. The channel setting method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of searching for a channel playlist according a current time interval for playing a channel.

14. The channel setting method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of playing a channel according to the favorite channel sublist of the channel playlist.

15. The channel setting method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a switching key for switching between favorite channels and general channels.

16. The channel setting method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of switching the current favorite channel to a former/next favorite channel listed before/following the current favorite channel listed in the favorite channel sublist of the channel playlist for a time interval if the switching key does not receive any operational input and an input unit receives a channel tuning signal.

17. The channel setting method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of switching a current general channel to a desired general channel according to the general channel sublist of the channel playlist for a time interval if the switching key receives an operational input and an input unit receives a channel tuning signal.