Automatically generated TV favorites list

• US 20070118848A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Young, Mark, Fong, Jeffrey, Schwesinger, Mark, Jule, Todd, Schrader, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A favorite channel list for a media system is generated by observing the viewing, surfing, and recording habits of a user. The viewing habits may include the duration and frequency of viewing a channel. A user'"'"'s surfing habits, including navigation habits of a guide, the method used for navigation to a channel, and information queries made during a surfing session may be used to determine which channels may be added to a favorites list. When the user has an ability to record a program and view the program later, the user'"'"'s behavior in selecting programs for recording, and the behaviors of playing back and archiving recorded shows may also be used to identify favorite channels. In some embodiments, the favorites list may be customized for a user or node of a playback system, as well as time of day.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

collecting first recorded show data from a first user'"'"'s selection of broadcast shows recorded on a media system;

collecting first recorded show viewing data from said first user'"'"'s viewing and retention of said broadcast shows recorded on said media system;

creating a first favorite channels list using said first recorded show data and said first recorded show viewing data; and

presenting said first favorite channels list on said media system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting second recorded show data from a second user'"'"'s selection of broadcast shows recorded on a media system;

collecting second recorded show viewing data from said second user'"'"'s viewing and retention of said broadcast shows recorded on said media system;

creating a second favorite channels list using said second recorded show data and said second recorded show viewing data; and

presenting said second favorite channels list on said media system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said creating a favorite channels list comprises using time of day data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting surfing data from said first user'"'"'s navigation between channels; and

wherein said creating a first favorite channels list further comprises using said surfing data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said channel surfing data comprises direct entry of a channel.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said channel viewing data comprises a minimum threshold for viewing time.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said recorded show viewing data comprises whether a show was viewed substantially in its entirety.

8. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for executing the method recited in claim 1.

9. A method comprising:

collecting channel viewing data from a user'"'"'s operation of a media system;

collecting recorded show data from a user'"'"'s selection of broadcast shows recorded on said media system;

collecting recorded show viewing data from a user'"'"'s viewing and retention of said broadcast shows recorded on said media system;

creating a favorite channels list using said channel viewing data, said recorded show data, and said recorded show viewing data; and

presenting said favorite channels list on said media system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said creating a favorite channels list comprises using time of day data.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said creating a favorite channels list comprises using user identification data.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

collecting surfing data from a user'"'"'s navigation between channels; and

wherein said creating a favorite channels list further comprises using said surfing data.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said channel surfing data comprises direct entry of a channel.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said channel viewing data comprises a minimum threshold for viewing time.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said recorded show viewing data comprises whether a show was viewed substantially in its entirety.

16. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for executing the method recited in claim 9.

17. A system comprising:

a broadcast media input stream comprising a plurality of channels;

a media tuner adapted to select one of said plurality of channels;

a recording system adapted to record a show broadcast on said one of said plurality of channels;

a viewing device adapted to display said one of said plurality of channels and further adapted to display said show from said recording system; and

a controller adapted to;

collect channel viewing data from a user'"'"'s operation of a media system;

collect recorded show data from a user'"'"'s selection of broadcast shows recorded on said media system;

collect recorded show viewing data from a user'"'"'s viewing and retention of said broadcast shows recorded on said media system;

create a favorite channels list using said channel viewing data, said recorded show data, and said recorded show viewing data; and

present said favorite channels list on said media system.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said creating a favorite channels list comprises using time of day data.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said creating a favorite channels list comprises using user identification data.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

collecting surfing data from a user'"'"'s navigation between channels; and

wherein said creating a favorite channels list further comprises using said surfing data.