PERSONAL MEDIA CHANNEL APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20100251304A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomas, Jay, Donoghue, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,076,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4755 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 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Network content delivery apparatus and methods based on content compiled from various sources and particularly selected for a given user. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the content sources include DVR, broadcast, nPVR, and VOD. The user-targeted content is assembled into a playlist, and displayed as a continuous stream on a virtual channel particular to that user. User interfaces accessible through the virtual channel present various functional options, including the selection or exploration of content having similarity or prescribed relationships to other content, and the ability to order purchasable content. An improved electronic program guide is also disclosed which allows a user to start over, record, view, receive information on, “catch up”, and rate content. Apparatus for remote access and configuration of the playlist and virtual channel functions, as well as a business rules “engine” implementing operational or business goals, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. In a content based network, a method of providing targeted to a user, comprising:

receiving information regarding a plurality of content;

comparing the information to a set of criteria;

selecting individual ones of said plurality of content for provision to said user based at least in part on said act of comparing; and

providing said selected individual ones of said plurality of content to said user;

wherein said content comprises content obtained from a plurality of different sources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said content sources are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) an on demand content source;

(ii) a broadcast program content source;

(iii) a digital video recorder;

(iv) a personal media content storage device; and

(v) a pay-per view content source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said information comprises metadata transmitted with and relating to individual ones of said plurality of content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of criteria comprises a user profile having information about said user relating to various aspects of said content, and said act of comparing comprises examining aspects of individual ones of said plurality of content for similarity to said various aspects in said user profile.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said act of selecting individual ones of said plurality of content for provision to said user based at least in part on said act of comparing comprises storing information relating to individual ones of said plurality of content having a threshold level of similarity to said various aspects in said user profile.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising using said stored information relating to individual ones of said plurality of content to generate a list, said list comprising:

content identification information;

content location; and

content accessing information; and

wherein said list is prioritized based at least in part on said act of comparing said information regarding said plurality of content to said set of criteria.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said act of providing said selected content to said user comprises:

displaying a portion of said content identification information to a user display;

providing a mechanism for the selection of individual ones of said content;

utilizing at least said content location and content accessing information to locate and access said content; and

displaying said content to said user at said user display.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said act of providing said selected content to said user comprises:

providing a virtual channel accessible by said user;

providing a mechanism to utilize at least said content location and content accessing information to locate and access said content; and

displaying said content to said user at said virtual channel; and

wherein said content is displayed in order dictated by said list.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of said content provided to said user comprises purchasable content;

and wherein said act of providing said selected content to said user comprises;

providing said content identification information;

allowing the selection of said purchasable content;

providing at least one user confirmation for the purchase of said content;

providing a mechanism to utilize at least said content location and content accessing information to locate and access said content; and

displaying said content to said user at said user display.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising modifying said user profile based at least in part on at least one user action.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one user action is weighted depending on a classification thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said user actions comprise at least two of a group consisting of:

(i) viewing said content;

(ii) navigating away from said content;

(iii) recording said content;

(iv) deleting said content; and

(v) rejecting recommendations to view said content.

13. The method of claim 4, further comprising modifying said user profile based at least in part on user feedback, said user feedback comprising instructions relating to the user'"'"'s impression of said provided content.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of content comprises programming content and advertising content.

15. For use in a content based network, an apparatus for delivery of targeted content, comprising:

a processor, said processor adapted to run at least one software process thereon, said software process adapted to;

receive information related to a plurality of available content;

compare said information relating to a plurality of available content to a standard;

select individual ones of said plurality of available content for provision to a user based at least in part on said act of comparing; and

deliver said selected content to said user;

a network interface in data communication with said processor; and

a storage device in data communication with said processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus comprises a converged premises device (CPD).

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said information related to said plurality of available content comprises metadata rendered at least partly in a human-readable form.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said comparison comprises:

generating records regarding various aspects of each of said plurality of available content; and

utilizing said records to find matches between said various aspects of said available content and various aspects of said standard.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said standard comprises a user-based profile, and wherein said storage device in data communication with said processor is adapted to store at least a portion of said user-based profile.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said user-based profile is modified based at least in part on user actions, said user actions comprising at least one of. (i) viewing said content;

(ii) entering said user'"'"'s impression of displayed content;

(iii) navigating away from said content;

(iv) recording said content;

(v) deleting said content; and

(vi) rejecting recommendations to view said content.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said selected individual ones of said plurality of available content are compiled into a selected content list, said selected content list having entries prioritized based at least in part on the results of said act of comparing.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said delivery comprises displaying said selected content list on a display device in data communication with said apparatus;

and wherein said software process is further adapted to enable a user to choose one or more of said content in said prioritized list for delivery.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said delivery comprises displaying content associated with each of said selected content in said selected content list on a virtual channel.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said display device in data communication with said apparatus comprises an Internet site in data communication with said software process.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said standard comprises an individual one of said plurality of content.

26. In a content-based network comprising a plurality of content sources, a method of generating a subset of content elements having features consistent with a set of criteria, the method comprising:

retrieving metadata regarding content elements from a content source associated therewith;

determining similarity of said content metadata to said set of criteria,

placing content elements having a threshold level of similarity in a list, said list arranged by similarity level;

displaying at least one of said content elements in said list;

interpreting a user action;

updating said set of criteria to reflect said user action; and

determining similarity of said content metadata to said updated set of criteria.

27. A method of doing business in a content-based network comprising:

receiving an ensemble of content elements from a plurality of content sources;

generating a navigable electronic program guide of said ensemble of content elements;

comparing at least portions of said ensemble of content elements to a prescribed set of criteria;

storing information regarding individual ones of said ensemble of content elements; and

providing results of said comparison to a user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of comparing comprises utilizing metadata transmitted with and relating to said ensemble of content elements to find matches to said prescribed set of criteria and said stored information regarding individual ones of said ensemble of content elements comprises at least content identification information, content location information, and content accessing information.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein act of providing results of said comparison to said user comprises:

providing at least a portion of said content identification information for display on a display device associated with said user, said display device providing a means for the selection of individual ones of said content;

utilizing at least said content location and content accessing information to locate and access said selected individual ones of said content; and

providing said selected individual ones of said content to said display device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said act of providing said selected content to said display device comprises:

providing a virtual channel accessible by said user;

providing a mechanism to utilize at least said content location and content accessing information to locate and access said content; and

displaying said content to said user at said virtual channel; and

wherein said content is displayed in order dictated by said list.

31. For use in a content-based network, a premises device adapted to generate an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of available content, said device comprising:

apparatus for generating a navigable schedule of said available content;

apparatus for navigating said navigable schedule of available content;

apparatus for displaying a representative icon for each available content in said schedule; and

apparatus for displaying as a background a programs stream over which said electronic program guide is displayed;

wherein said schedule of available content comprises at least content broadcast within a predetermined period of time, said predetermined period of time including fiture, present, and past broadcasts.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein said representative icon comprises a recognizable picture related to said content and is further accompanied by at least one of:

a textual description of said content; and

a video clip representative of said content.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein said electronic program guide is further adapted to comprise at least one tool with a function selected from a group consisting of:

(i) accessing more information regarding a selected program;

(ii) starting a program over from its beginning during the time block a program is set to broadcast;

(iii) setting an alert or reminder for at least one program having a broadcast time in the future;

(iv) receiving a short program clip regarding a selected content;

(v) rating content; and

(vi) viewing descriptions of previous episodes of content in a series.

34. The device of claim 31, further comprising a recommendation tool adapted to compare a selected one of said available content to at least one of:

said plurality of available content; and

a user profile,

wherein said recommendation tool is further adapted to display a recommendation based on the results of said comparison.

35. The device of claim 31, wherein said navigable schedule of available content comprises a one-day schedule of content from a single content source.

36. The device of claim 31, wherein said a navigable schedule of content comprises content bearing a threshold level of similarity to a user profile.

37. The device of claim 36, further comprising a personal timeline, wherein said user is able to select content from said navigable schedule for placement in said personal timeline.

38. Computer readable apparatus comprising media adapted to contain a computer program having a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions which, when executed:

request a plurality of available content from a plurality of content sources;

generate a navigable schedule of content;

link each content item in said schedule of content a plurality of information regarding said content;

link each content item in said schedule of content to a plurality of tools operable by a user via a user interface; and

display said navigable schedule of content on top of a currently displayed program stream, said display comprising a user interface.

39. The computer readable apparatus of claim 38, wherein said act of generating a navigable schedule of content further comprises utilizing metadata relating to said content to determine similarity to a prescribed set of criteria.

40. The computer readable apparatus of claim 39, wherein said computer program is further adapted to:

display a personal timeline, said timeline comprising a plurality of date and time place holders;

enable said user to select content from said navigable schedule of content for placement into said various date and time place holders; and

display content from said personal timeline at the date and time given by said placeholders.

41. The computer readable apparatus of claim 38, wherein said plurality of information comprises at least one of;

(i) an icon representative of at least one of said plurality of available content;

(ii) a text description of at least one of said plurality of available content; and

iii) a video clip related to at least one of said plurality of available content.

42. The computer readable apparatus of claim 38, wherein said plurality of information comprises at least one of a group consisting of:

(i) identification information relating to at least one of said plurality of available content;

(ii) information describing a location of at least one of said plurality of available content; and

(iii) information useful in accessing at least one of said plurality of available content.

43. The computer readable apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least one of said plurality of tools operable by said user via said user interface comprises at least one function selected from a group consisting of:

(i) accessing more information regarding a selected one of said plurality of available content;

(ii) starting said selected content over from its beginning during the time block said content is set to broadcast; and

(iii) viewing at least one of said plurality of available content by selecting said content during the time block said content is set to broadcast.

44. The computer readable apparatus of claim 38, wherein at least one of said plurality of tools operable by said user via said user interface comprises at least one function selected from a group consisting of:

(i) setting an alert or reminder for at least one of said plurality of available content having a broadcast time in the future;

(ii) receiving a short program clip regarding said selected content;

(iii) rating said selected content;

(iv) viewing descriptions of previous episodes of said selected content; and

(v) viewing at least a portion of previous episodes of said selected content.