System and method for picture-in-picture assisted time-adaptive surfing for a content presentation system

• US 20080316358A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imagine Communications Limited (Gores Broadcast Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Imagine Communications Limited (Gores Broadcast Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Beadle, Edward R., DeLay, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user'"'"'s pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user'"'"'s identifying and use information. Specifically, disclosed are systems and/or methods for switching from a first signal provided to a second signal, including identifying a user of a first content presentation system, creating a first preferred channel list which includes channel information for each of select ones of plural signals, where the preferred channel list is created based on the identity of the user and based on channel use information for the user during a recurring first time period, presenting substantially simultaneously to the user a first signal of the select ones of plural signals in a first frame and a second signal of the select ones of plural signals in a second frame.

Claims

1. A method for switching from a first signal provided by a content provider to a second signal provided by the content provider, comprising:

(a) identifying a user of a first content presentation system that is operatively connected to said content provider, wherein said content provider provides a plurality of signals to said first content presentation system;

(b) creating a first preferred channel list which includes channel information for each of select ones of said plural signals, wherein said preferred channel list is created based on the identity of said user and based on channel use information for said user during a recurring first time period;

(c) presenting substantially simultaneously to said user via said first content presentation system a first signal of said select ones of plural signals in a first frame and a second signal of said select ones of plural signals in a second frame, wherein said first frame is larger than said second frame; and

(d) switching said content presentation system so that said second signal is presented in a third frame that is larger than said second frame.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining of said identity of said user comprises:

(a)(i) providing a first portable device to interact with said first content presentation system, wherein said first portable device includes a first actuator which is operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system via said first portable device, and wherein said first actuator obtains biometric information from said user;

(a)(ii) operating said first actuator by said user;

(a)(iii) obtaining biometric information from said user via said first actuator; and

(a)(iv) providing the obtained biometric information to said content provider.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining at said content provider said identification of said user based on the provided biometric information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein determining said identification of said user includes comparing said provided biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

transmitting a signal from said content provider based at least on said provided biometric information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the creating said first preferred channel list comprises:

(b)(i) collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user'"'"'s interaction with said first content presentation system;

(b)(ii) storing the channel use information;

(b)(iii) determining a value for each of said plural channels as a function of the channel use information; and

(b)(iv) creating said first preferred channel list for said plural channels as a function of the determined value.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) creating a second preferred channel list based on the identity of said user and based on previously determined information for said user wherein said information is determined for a recurring second time period;

(f) associating said second preferred channel list with a first actuator operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system; and

(g) operating said first actuator to thereby switch said first content presentation system from presenting a third signal provided by said content provider to presenting a fourth signal provided by said content provider.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said first and said third signals are the same.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said second and said fourth signals are the same.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, an internet-connected device, a portable entertainment device, a device having a video screen, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said content presentation system includes a video display screen wherein said first frame is substantially the same size as the video display screen.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said second frame comprises a picture-in-picture display.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said third frame is substantially the same size as the video display screen.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first frame is not displayed.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said content presentation system includes a video display screen wherein each signal of said select ones of plural signals is displayed in a separate frame.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein a resolution of said first signal presented in said first frame is greater than a resolution of said second signal presented in said second frame.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said first signal includes a video component and an associated audio component.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said second signal includes a video component and an associated audio component.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said audio component of said second signal is muted when said second signal is presented in said second frame.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein if said second signal comprises advertising content during a time when said second signal is presented in said second frame, said second signal is not displayed and said second frame displays a screen of a uniform color.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein if said second signal comprises advertising content during a time when said second signal is presented in said second frame, a saved version of said second signal comprising nonadvertising content is displayed in said second frame and a color of said second frame is a predetermined color.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein said content provider is selected from the group consisting of:

one or more broadcasters, one or more cable television systems, one or more magnetic storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, one or more electronic storage devices, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein said channel information comprises at least one of a channel number and a network identifier.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said channel information includes a brief description of an entertainment program.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein said channel use information includes information selected from the group consisting of:

a channel number of a first one of said plural signals, a time of initiating a presentation of content associated with said first signal to the user;

a date of initiating a presentation of content associated with said first signal to the user;

a duration of a presentation of content associated with said first signal to the user;

a total duration of a presentation of content associated with each of said plural signals to the user, and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein said recurring first time period is a time period of one half hour duration.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at the same time of day for a plurality of days.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at the same time of day on the same day of the week for a plurality of weeks.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein said recurring first time period is a time period of one hour duration.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at the same time of day for a plurality of days.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at the same time of day on the same day of the week for a plurality of weeks.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

33. A system for switching from a first signal provided by a content provider to a second signal provided by the content provider, comprising:

a first content presentation system;

circuitry for determining an identity of a user of said first content presentation system that is operatively connected to said content provider, wherein said content provider provides a plurality of signals to said first content presentation system;

circuitry for creating a first preferred channel list which includes channel information for each of select ones of said plural signals, wherein said preferred channel list is created based on the identity of said user and based on channel use information for said user during a recurring first time period;

circuitry for presenting substantially simultaneously to said user via said first content presentation system a first signal of said select ones of plural signals in a first frame and a second signal of said select ones of plural signals in a second frame, wherein said first frame is larger than said second frame; and

circuitry for switching said content presentation system so that said second signal is presented in a third frame that is larger than said second frame.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said circuitry for determining said identity of said user comprises:

a first portable device including a first actuator which is operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system, and wherein said first actuator obtains biometric information from said user;

circuitry for obtaining biometric information from said user via said first actuator; and

circuitry for providing the obtained biometric information to said content provider.

35. The system of claim 34 further comprising:

circuitry for determining at said content provider said identification of said user based on the provided biometric information.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said circuitry for determining said identification of said user includes circuitry for comparing said provided biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

37. The system of claim 36 further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a signal from said content provider based at least on said provided biometric information.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein said circuitry for creating said first preferred channel list comprises:

circuitry for collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user'"'"'s interaction with said first content presentation system;

a memory device for storing the channel use information;

circuitry for determining a value for each of said plural channels as a function of the channel use information; and

circuitry for creating said first preferred channel list for said plural channels as a function of the determined value.

39. The system of claim 33 further comprising:

circuitry for creating a second preferred channel list based on the identity of said user and based on previously determined information for said user wherein said information is determined for a recurring second time period;

a first portable device including a first actuator which is operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system; and

circuitry for associating said second preferred channel list with said first actuator operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system, wherein operating said first actuator switches said first content presentation system from presenting a third signal provided by said content provider to presenting a fourth signal provided by said content provider.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said first and said third signals are the same.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said second and said fourth signals are the same.

42. The system of claim 33 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, an internet-connected device, a portable entertainment device, a device having a video screen, and combinations thereof.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein said content presentation system includes a video display screen wherein said first frame is substantially the same size as the video display screen.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said second frame comprises a picture-in-picture display.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein said third frame is substantially the same size as the video display screen.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein said first frame is not displayed.

47. The system of claim 33 wherein said content presentation system includes a video display screen wherein each signal of said select ones of plural signals is displayed in a separate frame.

48. The system of claim 33 wherein a resolution of said first signal presented in said first frame is greater than a resolution of said second signal presented in said second frame.

49. The system of claim 33 wherein said first signal includes a video component and an associated audio component.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein said second signal includes a video component and an associated audio component.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said audio component of said second signal is muted when said second signal is presented in said second frame.

52. The system of claim 33 wherein if said second signal comprises advertising content during a time when said second signal is presented in said second frame, said second signal is not displayed and said second frame displays a screen of a uniform color.

53. The system of claim 33 wherein if said second signal comprises advertising content during a time when said second signal is presented in said second frame, a saved version of said second signal comprising nonadvertising content is displayed in said second frame and a color of said second frame is a predetermined color.

54. The system of claim 33 wherein said content provider is selected from the group consisting of:

one or more broadcasters, one or more cable television systems, one or more magnetic storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, one or more electronic storage devices, and combinations thereof.

55. The system of claim 33 wherein said channel information comprises at least one of a channel number and a network identifier.

56. The system of claim 33 wherein said channel information includes a brief description of an entertainment program.

57. The system of claim 33 wherein said channel use information includes information selected from the group consisting of:

a channel number of a first one of said plural signals, a time of initiating a presentation of content associated with said first signal to the user;

a date of initiating a presentation of content associated with said first signal to the user;

a duration of a presentation of content associated with said first signal to the user;

a total duration of a presentation of content associated with each of said plural signals to the user, and combinations thereof.

58. The system of claim 33 wherein said recurring first time period is a time period of one half hour duration.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at the same time of day for a plurality of days.

60. The system of claim 58 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at the same time of day on the same day of the week for a plurality of weeks.

61. The system of claim 33 wherein said recurring first time period is a time period of one hour duration.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at the same time of day for a plurality of days.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at the same time of day on the same day of the week for a plurality of weeks.

64. The method of claim 33 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.