Program guide system with preference profiles

• US 20070271582A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TV Guide Networks, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TV Guide Networks, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lemmons, Thomas, Ellis, Michael, Knee, Robert, Hassell, Joel, Knudson, Edward, Easterbrook, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/704,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may inform a program guide of the user'"'"'s interests. Information on the user'"'"'s interests may be stored in a preference profile. There may be more than one preference profile, each for a different user. Each preference profile contains a number of preference attributes (program titles, genres, viewing times, channels, broadcast characteristics, etc.). A preference level (e.g., strong or weak like, strong or weak dislike, illegal, mandatory, don'"'"'t care, etc.) that is indicative of the user'"'"'s level of interest is associated with each preference attribute. Preference profiles may be used to restrict the programs that are listed in various program listings display screens and may be used to limit the channels to which the program guide allows the user to tune.

Claims

1-180. -180. (canceled)

181. A method for using an interactive program guide implemented on user media equipment, the method comprising:

providing an option for a user to create a preference profile, wherein the preference profile is indicative of the user'"'"'s programming interests;

providing an option for the user to display a list of programs, wherein all of the programs on the list are based on the preference profile; and

displaying the list of programs in the interactive program guide.

182. The method of claim 181, wherein providing the option for the user to create the preference profile comprises:

providing an option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes that are indicative of the user'"'"'s programming interests; and

providing an option for the user to select one of at least several preference levels for each of the plurality of selected preference attributes,

wherein the selected preference attributes and the selected preference levels are associated with the preference profile.

183. The method of claim 182 further comprising:

providing an option for the user to select a preference scope that is associated with the preference profile.

184. The method of claim 181, wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on broadcast times of the listed programs.

185. The method of claim 181, wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on channels of the listed programs.

186. The method of claim 181, wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on the priorities of the listed programs.

187. The method of claim 181, wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on the titles of the listed programs.

188. The method of claim 181, wherein the user is allowed to access a plurality of preference profiles, the method further comprising:

providing an option for the user to select at least one of the plurality of preference profiles,

wherein the displayed list of programs is based on the selected preference profiles.

189. The method of claim 181 further comprising:

providing an option for the user to set a reminder for at least one of the programs on the displayed list.

190. The method of claim 181 further comprising:

providing an option for the user to tune to at least one of the available programs on the displayed list, wherein the available programs are currently available for viewing.

191. The method of claim 181, wherein providing the option for the user to create the preference profile comprises:

providing an option for the user to select at least one program; and

creating the preference profile based on the characteristics of the selected programs.

192. The method of claim 191, wherein the characteristics of the selected programs are selected from the group consisting of:

title, genre, channel, rating, series, actor, actress, topic, keyword, start time, language, critics'"'"' rating and original programming.

193. The method of claim 181 further comprising:

providing an option for the user to select at least one program; and

modifying the preference profile based on the characteristics of the selected programs.

194. The method of claim 193, wherein the characteristics of the selected programs are selected from the group consisting of:

title, genre, channel, rating, series, actor, actress, topic, keyword, start time, language, critics'"'"' rating and original programming.

195. The method of claim 181, wherein all of the programs on the displayed list are substantially currently available for viewing by the user.

196. The method of claim 181, wherein:

a program is displayed on the user media equipment; and

the displayed list of programs is displayed on top of the displayed program.

197. An interactive program guide system implemented on user media equipment, wherein the system is configured to:

provide an option for a user to create a preference profile, wherein the preference profile is indicative of the user'"'"'s programming interests;

provide an option for the user to display a list of programs, wherein all of the programs on the list are based on the preference profile; and

display the list of programs in the interactive program guide.

198. The system of claim 197, when configured to provide the option for the user to create the preference profile, is further configured to;

provide an option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes that are indicative of the user'"'"'s programming interests; and

provide an option for the user to select one of at least several preference levels for each of the plurality of selected preference attributes,

wherein the selected preference attributes and the selected preference levels are associated with the preference profile.

199. The system of claim 198, wherein the system is further configured to:

provide an option for the user to select a preference scope that is associated with the preference profile.

200. The system of claim 197, wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on broadcast times of the listed programs.

201. The system of claim 197, wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on channels of the listed programs.

202. The system of claim 197, wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on the priorities of the listed programs.

203. The system of claim 197, wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on the titles of the listed programs.

204. The system of claim 197, wherein the user is allowed to access a plurality of preference profiles and wherein the system is further configured to:

provide an option for the user to select at least one of the plurality of preference profiles,

wherein the displayed list of programs is based on the selected preference profiles.

205. The system of claim 197, wherein the system is further configured to:

provide an option for the user to set a reminder for at least one of the programs on the displayed list.

206. The system of claim 197, wherein the system is further configured to:

provide an option for the user to tune to at least one of the available programs on the displayed list, wherein the available programs are currently available for viewing.

207. The system of claim 197, when the system is configured to provide the option for the user to create the preference profile, is further configured to:

provide an option for the user to select at least one program; and

create the preference profile based on the characteristics of the selected programs.

208. The system of claim 207, wherein the characteristics of the selected programs are selected from the group consisting of:

title, genre, channel, rating, series, actor, actress, topic, keyword, start time, language, critics'"'"' rating and original programming.

209. The system of claim 197, wherein the system is further configured to:

provide an option for the user to select at least one program; and

modify the preference profile based on the characteristics of the selected programs.

210. The system of claim 209, wherein the characteristics of the selected programs are selected from the group consisting of:

title, genre, channel, rating, series, actor, actress, topic, keyword, start time, language, critics'"'"' rating and original programming.

211. The system of claim 197, wherein all of the programs on the displayed list are substantially currently available for viewing by the user.

212. The system of claim 197, wherein:

a program is displayed on the user media equipment; and

the system is further configured to display the list of programs on top of the displayed program.