System, device and method for collaborative zapping

• US 20070136744A1
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Nikolova, Mariana, Simons, David
• Application Number:
  US10/572,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of apparatuses for receiving content items, e.g. television sets, a method of controlling the apparatuses for receiving content items and a remote control unit for communicating with the apparatus for receiving content items. The system comprises selection control means (120, 130, 140) for controlling the apparatuses to select automatically the same content items for users having substantially the same user preferences. The selection control means may be located at the head-end of a cable network. The selection control means may comprise a selection control circuit (120), a user profiling unit (130) and/or an operator interface (140). Selection control data may be generated for transmission to the receivers, for example, by using a collaborative user profile for users with the same user preferences and EPG data.

Claims

1. A system of apparatuses (200) for receiving content items, the system comprising selection control means (120, 130, 140) for controlling the apparatuses to select automatically the same content items for users having substantially the same user preferences.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection control means is arranged to control the apparatuses to select the content items simultaneously.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection control means is arranged to control the apparatuses to select a first content item and a second content item, wherein the first and second content items are sequential in accordance with the user preferences.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the selection control means is arranged to control the apparatuses to select the second content item in response to an interruption of receiving the first content item, wherein the first and second content items are related to the same broadcast live event.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the selection control means is arranged to control the apparatuses to select the second content item being a continuation of the first content item.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising user profiling means (130) for obtaining a collaborative user profile of the users having substantially the same user preferences, and a control schedule of subsequent content items, the selection control means being arranged to obtain said control schedule to control the apparatuses accordingly.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection control means is arranged to obtain an input of an operator at a side of the selection control means being remote from the apparatuses, the operator instructing the selection control means to control the apparatuses accordingly.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the users having substantially the same user preferences are users of the same TV channel.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection control means is arranged to communicate with at least one apparatus for receiving content items by using wireless communication means (250), the wireless communication means comprising at least one mobile phone or remote control unit.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one apparatus comprises content presentation means being at least one of a TV set, a video recorder, a DVD player, a home cinema system, a portable audio player, a portable video player or a mobile phone.

11. An apparatus (200) for receiving content items, the apparatus comprising:

means (210, 220) for receiving selection control data to select automatically the same content items as another apparatus for receiving content items, with users of the apparatuses having substantially the same user preferences.

14. A computer program product enabling a programmable device, when executing said computer program product, to function as the apparatus as claimed in claim 11.

12. A remote control unit (250) for communicating with an apparatus (200) for receiving content items, wherein the remote control unit is arranged to control the apparatus to select automatically the same content items as another apparatus for receiving content items, with users of the apparatuses having substantially the same user preferences.

13. A method of controlling apparatuses for receiving content items, the method comprising the steps (310, 320, 330, 340) of controlling the apparatuses to select automatically the same content items for users having substantially the same user preferences.