Method and apparatus for providing a personalized television channel

• US 20080022309A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Begeja, Lee, Shahraray, Behzad, Liu, Zhu, Renger, Bernard S., Gibbon, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,561,103 B2
• 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/44222 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 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a personalized channel on packet networks are disclosed. For example, a customer may subscribe to a personalized channel service. In one embodiment, a network service provider determines a customer'"'"'s viewing preference and matches the customer'"'"'s viewing preference to at least one program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels. In turn, the personalized channel is populated with the at least one program, i.e., with the program of most interest to the customer.

Claims

1. A method for providing a personalized channel to a customer, comprising:

determining a customer'"'"'s viewing preference;

matching the customer'"'"'s viewing preference to at least one program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels; and

creating a personalized channel populated with said at least one program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a program guide for said personalized channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said customer'"'"'s viewing preference is determined in accordance with a user profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said customer'"'"'s viewing preference is determined dynamically by monitoring the customer'"'"'s viewing selections.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said customer'"'"'s viewing preference is determined dynamically via a set-top box.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving feedback from said customer for changing said at least one program of said personalized channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one program comprises only a portion of a program that is currently being broadcasted on one of said plurality of broadcast channels.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one program comprises portions of a plurality of programs that are currently being broadcasted on said plurality of broadcast channels, where each program is currently being broadcasted on a different channel.

9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing a personalized channel to a customer, comprising:

determining a customer'"'"'s viewing preference;

matching the customer'"'"'s viewing preference to at least one program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels; and

creating a personalized channel populated with said at least one program.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

providing a program guide for said personalized channel.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said customer'"'"'s viewing preference is determined in accordance with a user profile.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said customer'"'"'s viewing preference is determined dynamically by monitoring the customer'"'"'s viewing selections.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said customer'"'"'s viewing preference is determined dynamically via a set-top box.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving feedback from said customer for changing said at least one program of said personalized channel.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said at least one program comprises only a portion of a program that is currently being broadcasted on one of said plurality of broadcast channels.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein said at least one program comprises portions of a plurality of programs that are currently being broadcasted on said plurality of broadcast channels, where each program is currently being broadcasted on a different channel.

17. A system for providing a personalized channel to a customer, comprising:

means for determining a customer'"'"'s viewing preference;

means for matching the customer'"'"'s viewing preference to at least one program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels; and

means for creating a personalized channel populated with said at least one program.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for providing a program guide for said personalized channel.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said customer'"'"'s viewing preference is determined in accordance with a user profile or is determined dynamically by monitoring the customer'"'"'s viewing selections.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said customer'"'"'s viewing preference is determined dynamically via a set-top box.