Audio video apparatus with intelligence for learning a history of user control

• US 5,444,499 A
• Filed: 12/21/1993
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Saitoh, Mitsumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Cheryl
• Application Number:
  US08/170,799
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 348/906, 348/2, 348/1, 348/211, 348/213, 348/734
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 21/44222 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A television receiver can output advice information to the viewer when the viewer risks missing a favorite broadcasting program. This television receiver includes in its control unit a timer for obtaining day and time data, a calculating circuit for compiling broadcasting station number currently being viewed by using the time information as parameters, and a weekly tuning information storage unit for storing therein data representing a personal weekly viewing trend on the basis of the compiled result, in which, when it is determined that present tuning data read out from the weekly tuning information storage unit and the present tuning broadcasting station are not coincident with each other, advice information is supplied to the viewer in the form of displayed message or sound message before or after that time.

Claims

1. An audio video apparatus with intelligence for learning a history of user control of the audio video apparatus, comprising:

a user control unit actuated by a user for producing signals representing user-selected display functions including video channel selection and audio volume for the apparatus;

control means for receiving the signals produced by the user control unit and for controlling the display functions of the apparatus;

memory means for successively memorizing the user-selected display functions represented in the signals received by the control means each time the user control unit is actuated;

a timer for timing a predetermined unit of time;

calculating means receiving memorized data from the memory means and connected to said timer for compiling the data to form history data of user-selected display functions over said predetermined unit of time, said history data being fed to said control means for generating a control signal therefrom; and

signal generating means for generating an advisory signal for getting the attention of the user in response to said control signal from the control means.

2. An audio video apparatus with intelligence for learning a history of user control of the audio video apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the advisory signal is a video signal.

3. An audio video apparatus with intelligence for learning a history of user control of the audio video apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the advisory signal is an audio signal.

4. A television receiver with intelligence for learning a history of user control of the television receiver, comprising:

display means for displaying a picture of a program;

video processing means for processing a video signal for display by the display means;

sound generating means for generating a sound signal;

a loudspeaker for producing a sound in response to the sound signal;

a user control unit actuated by a user for producing signals representing user-selected functions including channel selections for the receiver;

control means for receiving the signals produced by the user control unit and for controlling the function of the receiver in response to the signals;

memory means for successively memorizing the user-selected functions represented in the signals received by the control means each time the control unit is actuated;

a timer for timing a predetermined unit of time;

calculating means receiving data from the memory means and connected to the timer for compiling the data to form history data of user-selected functions over the predetermined unit of time, the history data being fed to the control means for generating a control signal therefrom; and

signal generating means for generating an advisory signal for getting the attention of the user in response to the control signal from the control means.

5. A television receiver with intelligence for learning a history of user control of the television receiver as claimed in claim 4, wherein said advisory signal for getting the attention of the user is a video signal.

6. A television receiver with intelligence for learning a history of user control of the television receiver as claimed in claim 4, wherein said advisory signal for getting the attention of the user is an audio signal.

7. A television receiver with intelligence for learning a history of user control of the television receiver as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a tuner for receiving an RF broadcasted signal, an intermediate frequency amplifier for amplifying an intermediate frequency signal, and an IR receiving means for receiving an IR signal from a remote controller.

8. A television receiver with intelligence for learning a history of user control of the television receiver as claimed in claim 7, further comprising personal data memory means for memorizing data of a plurality of users.

9. A method of learning a history of user control of an audio video apparatus comprising the steps of:

recognizing a present time and day each time a user selects a new channel for the audio video apparatus and turning on a timer count;

successively memorizing the selected channel number and the present time and day if the timer count reaches a predetermined time period before the user changes the channel again;

calculating historical data corresponding to the frequency of the user'"'"'s selection of the selected channel to determine a registered channel;

comparing the selected channel and the present time and day to the registered channel corresponding to the present time and day when a predetermined time elapses after each time the user selects a channel; and

displaying an advisory message to the user if the selected channel is not-the same as the registered channel corresponding to the present time and day.

10. A method of learning a history of user control of the audio video apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of successively memorizing the volume at which the television receiver is set each time the selected channel and the time and day are memorized.

11. A method of learning a history of user control as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of memorizing the identity of the user who uses the apparatus each time the selected channel and the time and day are memorized.

12. A method of learning a history of user control as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of generating an advisory sound message to the user if the selected channel is not the same as registered channel corresponding to the present time and day.

13. A method of learning a history of user control as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of turning off the advisory message at a predetermined time after the message was initially displayed.