METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A PERSONALIZED CONTENT CHANNEL

• US 20120174159A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Dasgupta, Mousumi, Ruiz-Velasco, Enrique, Zafar, Shadman, Arte, Laxmi
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,900 B2
• 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

An approach is provided for selecting personalized content presented via a set-top box. Viewing data related to content experienced by a user is retrieved. Broadcast content is selected based on the viewing data from a plurality of programs that are designated to broadcast to a plurality of set-top boxes. A personalized programming channel is presented for the user using the selected broadcast content over a particular one of the set-top boxes associated with the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving viewing data related to content experienced by a user;

selecting broadcast content based on the viewing data from a plurality of programs that are designated to broadcast to a plurality of set-top boxes; and

presenting a personalized programming channel for the user using the selected broadcast content over a particular one of the set-top boxes associated with the user.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a program guide via the particular set-top box; and

receiving a command to navigate to the personalized programming channel within the program guide.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the broadcast content includes a television program and a live broadcast program.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, via the particular set-top box, a first personalized program over the personalized programming channel;

receiving a skip command; and

presenting, via the particular set-top box, a second personalized program over the personalized programming channel in response to the skip command.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

designating a predetermined number of personalized programs for the personalized programming channel.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a control message from the particular set-top box for selecting one of the personalized programs;

determining that the selected personalized program is unauthorized for the particular set-top box; and

selectively initiating a subscription procedure based on the determination to permit presentation of the selected personalized program on the particular set-top box.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the subscription procedure is performed in real-time to subscribe the user to a service providing the selected personalized program.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the presentation of the personalized programming channel is initiated using a hot button on the particular set-top box or on a remote control device that is configured to communicate with the particular set-top box.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

retrieve viewing data related to content experienced by a user,

select broadcast content based on the viewing data from a plurality of programs that are designated to broadcast to a plurality of set-top boxes, and

present a personalized programming channel for the user using the selected broadcast content over a particular one of the set-top boxes associated with the user.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

present a program guide via the particular set-top box; and

receive a command to navigate to the personalized programming channel within the program guide.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the broadcast content includes a television program and a live broadcast program.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

present, via the particular set-top box, a first personalized program over the personalized programming channel;

receive a skip command; and

present, via the particular set-top box, a second personalized program over the personalized programming channel in response to the skip command.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

designate a predetermined number of personalized programs for the personalized programming channel.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a control message from the particular set-top box for selecting one of the personalized programs;

determine that the selected personalized program is unauthorized for the particular set-top box; and

selectively initiate a subscription procedure based on the determination to permit presentation of the selected personalized program on the particular set-top box.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the subscription procedure is performed in real-time to subscribe the user to a service providing the selected personalized program.

16. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the presentation of the personalized programming channel is initiated using a hot button on the particular set-top box or on a remote control device that is configured to communicate with the particular set-top box.

17. A set-top box device comprising:

a processor configured to retrieve viewing data related to content experienced by a user and to select broadcast content based on the viewing data from a plurality of programs; and

a presentation module configured to present a personalized programming channel for the user using the selected broadcast content.

18. A set-top box device according to claim 17, wherein the broadcast content includes a television program and a live broadcast program, and the presentation module is further configured to present a program guide including the personalized programming channel, the set-top box device further comprising:

a communication interface configured to receiving a command to navigate to the personalized programming channel within the program guide.

19. A set-top box device according to claim 17, wherein the presentation module is further configured to present a first personalized program over the personalized programming channel, and to present a second personalized program over the personalized programming channel in response to a skip command.

20. A set-top box device according to claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to designate a predetermined number of personalized programs for the personalized programming channel, and to receive a control message for selecting one of the personalized programs, the processor further determining that the selected personalized program is unauthorized for the set-top box device, and selectively initiating a subscription procedure based on the determination to permit presentation of the selected personalized program on the set-top box device.