PERSONAL CHANNEL PREFERENCES FOR MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMS

• US 20110145865A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Simpson, Anita Hogans
• Application Number:
  US12/638,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20110145865A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859

Abstract

A method and system for enabling Internet-protocol television (IPTV) users to maintain personal channel lists is configured to receive user input via an access network. The access network may comprise portions of an IPTV network, a public network, an Internet network, and/or a wireless network. A request from an IPTV user may be received for accessing/creating a personal channel list specific to the IPTV user. Input from the IPTV user may further be received to add IPTV channel identifiers to the personal channel list. IPTV user input may then be received to perform operations for maintaining the personal channel list. The IPTV user may optionally specify a security element for restricting access to the personal channel list.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining personal Internet-protocol television (IPTV) channel lists, comprising:

receiving, via an access network, a request from an IPTV user to generate a personal channel list of IPTV channels, the personal channel list being specific to the IPTV user;

in response to receiving first input from the IPTV user, creating the personal channel list for the IPTV user;

in response to receiving second input from the IPTV user, associating the second input with a corresponding IPTV channel to include in the personal channel list;

inserting an identifier for the IPTV channel in the personal channel list; and

displaying an indication to the IPTV user of IPTV channels included in the personal channel list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information describing the personal channel list at a database server, wherein the information is indexed to the IPTV user, and wherein the database server includes personal channel list information indexed to a plurality of IPTV users.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the access network comprises a portion of at least one of:

an IPTV network, a public network, an Internet network, and a wireless network, and further wherein, the personal channel list information is accessible from at least one of;

any of a plurality of customer premises equipment and a mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the request, authenticating an identity of the IPTV user based on an IPTV network account for the IPTV user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving third user input from the IPTV user, assigning a list name to the personal channel list.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving fourth user input from the IPTV user, assigning a security element for restricting access to the personal channel list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed indication further includes:

a video preview of content currently being transmitted to IPTV channels in the personal channel list; and

schedule information for IPTV channels in the personal channel list.

8. A computer system for enabling Internet-protocol television (IPTV) users to access personal channel lists, comprising:

a processor configured to access to memory media,

wherein the memory media include instructions executable by the processor to;

receive, via an access network, a request from an IPTV user to access a personal channel list of IPTV channels, the personal channel list being specific to the IPTV user; and

cause an indication to be displayed to the IPTV user of IPTV channels included in the personal channel list.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the memory media further include instructions executable by the processor to:

in response to receiving first input from the IPTV user, create the personal channel list for the IPTV user;

in response to receiving second input from the IPTV user, associate the second input with a corresponding IPTV channel to include in the personal channel list; and

store an identifier for the selected IPTV channel in the personal channel list.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the memory media further include instructions executable by the processor to:

in response to receiving third input from the IPTV user selecting an IPTV channel included in the personal channel list, display the selected IPTV channel for viewing.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the memory media further include instructions executable by the processor to:

in response to receiving fourth input from the IPTV user, modify the personal channel list, including processor instructions to execute at least one of;

add an IPTV channel identifier to the personal channel list, remove an IPTV channel identifier from the personal channel list, rename the personal channel list, rename an IPTV channel identifier included in the personal channel list, and delete the personal channel list.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the memory media further include instructions executable by the processor to:

in response to receiving the request, authenticate an identity of the IPTV user; and

store information describing the personal channel list in a database indexed to the IPTV user identity, wherein the database includes personal channel list information indexed to a plurality of IPTV users.

13. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the access network comprises a portion of at least one of:

an IPTV network, a public network, an Internet network, and a wireless network, and wherein said displayed indication is sent to the IPTV user via the access network.

14. Computer-readable memory media, including for enabling Internet-protocol television (IPTV) users to maintain personal channel lists, instructions executable to:

receive, via an access network, a request from an IPTV user to access a personal channel list of IPTV channels, the personal channel list being specific to the IPTV user; and

send to the IPTV user, via the access network, an indication of IPTV channels included in the personal channel list.

15. The memory media of claim 14, further including instructions executable to:

in response to receiving first input from the IPTV user, create the personal channel list for the IPTV user;

in response to receiving second input from the IPTV user, select an IPTV channel to include in the personal channel list; and

store an identifier for the selected IPTV channel in the personal channel list.

16. The memory media of claim 14, further including instructions executable to:

in response to receiving the request, authenticate an identity of the IPTV user; and

store information describing the personal channel list in a database indexed to the IPTV user identity, wherein the database includes personal channel list information indexed to a plurality of IPTV users.

17. The memory media of claim 14, wherein the access network comprises a portion of at least one of:

an IPTV network, a public network, an Internet network, and a wireless network.

18. The memory media of claim 14, further including instructions executable to:

in response to receiving first input from the IPTV user, modify the personal channel list, including at least one of;

add an IPTV channel identifier to the personal channel list, remove an IPTV channel identifier from the personal channel list, delete the personal channel list, assign a security element for restricting access to the personal channel list, assign a list name to the personal channel list, rename the personal channel list, and rename an IPTV channel identifier.

19. The memory media of claim 14, further including instructions executable to:

in response to receiving second input from the IPTV user selecting an IPTV channel included in the personal channel list, display the selected IPTV channel for viewing.

20. The memory media of claim 14, wherein the indication sent to the IPTV user further includes:

a video preview of content currently being transmitted on the IPTV channels in the personal channel list; and

schedule information for IPTV channels in the personal channel list.