METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING VIEWING DATA AND PROVIDING CONTENT RECOMMENDATIONS AT A SET TOP BOX

• US 20120331494A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pontual, Romulo, Kahn, Raynold M., Arsenault, Robert G., Chen, Gordon H., Ling, Sui-Ky Ringo, Crook, Luke J., Dumouchel, Jean, Rothman, Hugh, Rice, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 9,800,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/45 Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

A system and method for generating television recommendations includes a viewer tracking module that tracks viewer events to form a viewer tracking log. A recommendation module that determines a timeslot, generates a timeslot viewing profile based on the timeslot. The viewer tracking log corresponds to television programs watched previously at the user device during the timeslot. The recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile with available content for the timeslot and generates a content recommendation list.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a timeslot;

tracking viewer events within a user device to form a viewer tracking log;

generating a timeslot viewing profile based on the timeslot and viewer tracking log that corresponds to television programs watched previously at the user device during the timeslot;

comparing the timeslot viewing profile with available content; and

generating a content recommendation list for the timeslot based on comparing.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a timeslot comprises determining a half hour timeslot.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a timeslot comprises determining a half hour timeslot for live content and one hour timeslot for recorded content.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events to form the viewer tracking log in response to tuning to a live event.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events to form the viewer tracking log in response to watching a program.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events to form the viewer tracking log in response to tuning to a live event for a greater than a predetermined amount of time.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events to form the viewer tracking log comprising a channel identifier, a series identifier and a program identifier.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events to form the viewer tracking log in response to playback of a recording stored in the user device.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events to form the viewer tracking log comprising trickplay events.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events to form the viewer tracking log comprising deleting recording events.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events to form the viewer tracking log comprising events occurring longer than a predetermined amount of time from a current time.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events for the timeslot.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a timeslot viewing profile comprises generating a timeslot series profile.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein generating a timeslot series profile comprises obtaining a watched program event having a count associated therewith.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising adjusting the count in response to a type of watched program event.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein adjusting the count comprises adjusting the count for the watched program event downward when the watched event is a recording playback.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein adjusting the count comprises adjusting the count for the watched program event downward when the watched event is older than a predetermined time.

18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein adjusting the count comprises adjusting the count for the watched program event upward when the watched event is on a same day of a week as a current time.

19. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising summing the count of a plurality of watched program events for a same series and wherein generating a timeslot series profile comprises generating a timeslot series profile having a plurality of program series prioritized according to count.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising generating a most watched channels per timeslot list, comparing a first content identifier of a currently airing program on a channel in the most watched channel per timeslot list with the timeslot series profile and adding the currently airing program when the content identifier is the same as a second content identifier of a program in the timeslot series profile.

21. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising comparing a first content identifier of a currently airing program on an available channel with the timeslot series profile and adding the currently airing program when the content identifier is the same as a second content identifier of a program in the timeslot series profile.

22. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein comparing the timeslot viewing profile with available content comprises comparing the timeslot viewing profile with current programs that are related to programs regularly watched by the viewer.

23. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein comparing the timeslot viewing profile with available content comprises comparing the timeslot viewing profile with future programs that are related to programs that are regularly watched by the viewer.

24. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein comparing the timeslot viewing profile with the available content comprises comparing the timeslot viewing profile with recorded content and live content.

25. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises generating the content recommendation list including live content and content recorded in a memory of the user device.

26. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises generating the content recommendation list excluding recently viewed programs.

27. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises generating the content recommendation list by filtering available content.

28. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a timeslot viewer preferred channels list comprising a most watched channels per timeslot list.

29. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises selecting a current program or future program from a most watched channels per timeslot list.

30. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises generating the content recommendation list in response to a timeslot viewer preferred channels list having at least a first channel.

31. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises determining a first program and a second program from the available content and selecting the program with a closest genre match.

32. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein selecting the program with a closest genre match comprises genre matching the first program and genre matching the second program to find the closest genre match.

33. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein genre matching comprises determining a genre profile target based on viewing history.

34. A method as recited in claim 33 further comprising adjusting the genre profile target based on a viewed program.

35. A method as recited in claim 33 wherein genre matching comprises comparing the genre profile target and a program genre value.

36. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein genre matching comprises comparing a genre profile target vector and a current program genre vector.

37. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein comparing a genre profile target vector and a current program genre vector comprises determining a dot product of the current program genre vector and the genre profile target vector.

38. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises generating a first content recommendation list including content normally viewed in the timeslot.

39. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises generating a second content recommendation list including content that is different from content normally viewed in the timeslot.

40. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a first content recommendation list and a second content recommendation list wherein the second content recommendation list comprises programs related to the first content recommendation list.

41. A method as recited in claim 40 further comprising displaying at least a portion of the first content recommendation list and at least a portion of the second content recommendation list simultaneously on a display associated with the user device.

42. A method as recited in claim 40 wherein the generating a second content recommendation list from a first content recommendation list comprises determining related programs from a data source external to a head end and communicating external data from the head end to the user device.

43. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a most watched channels per timeslot list comprising a plurality of channels.

44. A method as recited in claim 43 further comprising receiving a daily editorial program content list having a first editorial content, and adding the first editorial content to the content recommendation list based on comparing with the most watched channels per timeslot list.

45. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content recommendation list comprises generating the content recommendation list in response to a timeslot viewer preferred channels list.

46. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a content recommendation list based on a related channels list.

47. A method as recited in claim 46 further comprising generating the related channels list in response to a timeslot viewer preferred channels list.

48. A method as recited in claim 46 further comprising genre matching programs on the related channels list to a genre profile and adding a program to the recommendation list in response to the genre matching.

49. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a timeslot comprises determining a current time, establishing a fixed time period for the timeslot having an end time;

when the current time is greater that a predetermined time from the end time of the timeslot corresponds to a current timeslot before the end time; and

when the current time is not greater than a predetermined time from the end time, the timeslot corresponds to a next timeslot after the end time.

50. A user device comprising:

a viewer tracking module that tracks viewer events to form a viewer tracking log; and

,

a recommendation module that determines a timeslot and generates a timeslot viewing profile based on the timeslot;

said viewer tracking log that corresponds to a television program watched previously at the user device during the timeslot;

said recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile with available content for the timeslot and generates a content recommendation list.

51. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the timeslot comprises a half hour timeslot.

52. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the timeslot comprises a half hour timeslot for live content and one hour timeslot for recorded content.

53. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the viewer tracking log comprises live program tuning event.

54. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the viewer tracking log comprises a program watched event.

55. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the viewer tracking log comprises a live tuning event greater than a predetermined amount of time.

56. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the viewer tracking log comprises a channel identifier, a series identifier and a program identifier.

57. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the viewer tracking log comprising an event corresponding to playback of a recording stored in the user device.

58. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the viewer tracking log comprises a trickplay event.

59. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the viewer tracking log comprises a deleted recording event.

60. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the viewer tracking log comprises a events occurring longer than a predetermined amount of time from a current time.

61. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein tracking viewer events comprises tracking viewer events for the timeslot.

62. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein a timeslot viewing profile comprises a timeslot series profile.

63. A system as recited in claim 62 wherein the timeslot series profile comprises a watched program event having a count associated therewith.

64. A system as recited in claim 63 wherein the recommendation module adjusts the count in response to a type of watched program event.

65. A system as recited in claim 64 wherein the recommendation module adjusts the count downward when the watched event is a recording playback.

66. A system as recited in claim 64 wherein the recommendation module adjusts the count downward when the watched event is older than a predetermined time.

67. A system as recited in claim 64 wherein the recommendation module adjusts the count upward when the watched event is on a same day of a week as a current time.

68. A system as recited in claim 64 wherein the recommendation module sums the count of a plurality of watched program events for a same series and wherein the timeslot series profile comprises a program series prioritized according to count.

69. A system as recited in claim 68 wherein the recommendation module generates a most watched channels per timeslot list, compares a first content identifier of a currently airing program on a channel in the most watched channels per timeslot list with the timeslot series profile and adds the currently airing program when the content identifier is the same as a second content identifier of a program in the timeslot series profile.

70. A system as recited in claim 68 wherein the recommendation module compares a first content identifier of a currently airing program on an available channel with the timeslot series profile and adds the currently airing program when the content identifier is the same as a second content identifier of a program in the timeslot series profile.

71. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile with current programs that are related to programs regularly watched by the viewer.

72. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile with future programs that are related to programs that are regularly watched by the viewer.

73. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module compares the timeslot viewing profile with recorded content and live content.

74. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the content recommendation list comprises live content and content recorded in a memory of the user device.

75. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the content recommendation list excludes recently viewed programs.

76. A system as recited in claim 50 further comprising a filter module filtering available content.

77. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein a timeslot viewing profile comprises a viewer preferred channels list comprising most watched channels per timeslot.

78. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module selects a current or future program from a most watched channels per timeslot list.

79. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module generates the content recommendation list in response to a timeslot viewer preferred channels list having at least a first channel.

80. A system as recited in claim 79 wherein the recommendation module determines a first channel in the timeslot viewer preferred channels list and genre matches a program based on the first channel and a genre profile target.

81. A system as recited in claim 80 wherein the recommendation module genre matches by comparing a genre profile target and a current program genre value.

82. A system as recited in claim 80 wherein the recommendation module genre matches by comparing a genre profile target vector and a current program genre vector.

83. A system as recited in claim 82 wherein the recommendation module compares a genre profile target vector and a current program genre vector and determines a dot product between the current program genre vector and the genre profile target vector.

84. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module determines a first program and a second program from available content and selects the first program or the second program with a closest genre match.

85. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module determines a genre profile target based on viewing history.

86. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module adjusts a genre profile target based on a viewed program.

87. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module generates a first content recommendation list including content normally viewed in the timeslot.

88. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module generates a second content recommendation list including content that is different from content normally viewed in the timeslot.

89. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module generates a first content recommendation list and a second content recommendation list different than the first recommendation list comprising programs related to the first content recommendation list.

90. A system as recited in claim 89 wherein the recommendation module displays at least a portion of the first content recommendation list and at least a portion of the second content recommendation list simultaneously on a display associated with the user device.

91. A system as recited in claim 89 wherein the recommendation module generates a second content recommendation list from a first content recommendation list by determining related programs from related data from a data source external to a head end.

92. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the recommendation module generates a most watched channels per timeslot list comprising a plurality of channels.

93. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein a content recommendation list comprises programs from a most watched channels per timeslot list.

94. A system as recited in claim 92 wherein the recommendation module compares a daily editorial program content list having a first editorial content with the most watched channels per timeslot list and adds the content to the content recommendation list based on comparing.

95. A system as recited in claim 94 wherein the content recommendation list is based on a related channels list.

96. A system as recited in claim 95 wherein the related channels list is generated in response to a timeslot viewer preferred channels list.

97. A system as recited in claim 94 wherein the recommendation module genre matches programs on the related channels list to a genre profile and adds the current program to the recommendation list in response to the genre matching.

98. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the timeslot comprises current timeslot when a current time is greater that a predetermined time from an end time of the timeslot or a next timeslot when the current time is not greater than a predetermined time from the end time.