METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SOCIAL NOTIFICATION FOR A SET-TOP BOX

• US 20100058417A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: RONDEAU, DAVID, Lafreniere, Gary W., Emerson, David, Goergen, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/201,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20100058417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9536 Search customisation based on social or collaborative filtering
• 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 21/44226 on social networks
• 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 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and system for providing a social notification for a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that determines media content received by a set-top box and the media content selected for display by a first member of a social network, determines a social notification preference associated with a second member of the social network and the social notification preference has a social notification rule to monitor the media content received by the set-top box and sends a social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference. Another embodiment is disclosed that determines media content received by a set-top box and the media content selected for display by a first member of a social network, determines a social notification preference associated with a second member of a social network and the social notification rule comprises at least one descriptor of media content, queries a database for usage information for the first member of the social network in accordance with the social notification rule, and sends a social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference.

Claims

1. A method for providing a social notification for a set-top box, comprising:

determining media content received by a set-top box, the media content selected for display by a first member of a social network;

determining a social notification preference associated with a second member of the social network, wherein the social notification preference comprises a social notification rule to monitor the media content received by the set-top box; and

sending a social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the social notification comprises a message sent to a mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

querying a database for usage information for the set-top box of the first member.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

querying a database for usage information for a plurality of members of a social network; and

identifying patterns in usage information for the plurality of members.

5. A method for providing a social notification, comprising:

determining media content received by a set-top box, the media content selected for display by a first member of a social network;

determining a social notification preference associated with a second member of a social network, wherein the social notification rule comprises at least one descriptor of media content;

querying a database for usage information for the first member of the social network in accordance with the social notification rule; and

sending a social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the social notification comprises a message sent to a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one descriptor of media content comprises a category of media content.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

querying a database for usage information for a plurality of members of a social network; and

identifying patterns in usage information for the plurality of members.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

querying a database to retrieve one or more scheduled media content selections from a broadcasting programming guide in accordance with the social notification rule.

10. A method for providing an interface for social notifications, comprising:

receiving input for security information at a social network portal, the security information comprises identification information for a first member authorized to access usage history of a second member;

servicing a request to create a social notification preference for a set-top box of the second member in response to successful entry of security information, the social notification preference comprises a social notification rule to monitor media content received by the set-top box of the second member;

receiving input to establish the social notification rule for monitoring content at the set-top box in response the request; and

requesting a social notification from a notification module, the notification module operable to send the social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the social notification comprises a message sent to a mobile device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one descriptor of media content comprises a category of media content.

13. The system for providing a content reminder, comprising:

a processor operable to execute a set of instructions; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium operable to store a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to;

determine media content received by a set-top box, the media content selected for display by a first member of a social network;

determine a social notification preference associated with a second member of the social network, wherein the social notification preference comprises a social notification rule to monitor the media content received by the set-top box; and

send a social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the social notification comprises a message sent to a mobile device.

15. The system of claim 13, the set of instructions, further configured to:

query a database for usage information for the set-top box of the first member.

16. The system of claim 13, the set of instructions, further configured to:

query a database for usage information for a plurality of members of a social network; and

identify patterns in usage information for the plurality of members.

17. The system for providing a content reminder, comprising:

a processor operable to execute a set of instructions; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium operable to store a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to;

determine media content received by a set-top box, the media content selected for display by a first member of a social network;

determine a social notification preference associated with a second member of a social network, wherein the social notification rule comprises at least one descriptor of media content;

query a database for usage information for the first member of the social network in accordance with the social notification rule; and

send a social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the social notification comprises a message sent to a mobile device.

19. The system of claim 17, the set of instructions, further configured to:

query a database for usage information for the set-top box of the first member.

20. The system of claim 17, the set of instructions, further configured to:

query a database for usage information for a plurality of members of a social network; and

identify patterns in usage information for the plurality of members.