Apparatus and method for tracking the playing of VCR programs

• US 5,488,409 A
• Filed: 09/16/1993
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Kwoh, Daniel S., Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Application Number:
  US08/122,794
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 348/1, 348/5, 348/2, 348/906, 455/2, 360/27, 360/69, 360/72.2, 358/335
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/00 Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function driving or guiding heads G11B3/00 - G11B7/00, G11B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/04 Preventing, inhibiting, or warning against accidental erasing or double recording G11B15/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/07 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/087 by sensing recorded signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1816 Programmed access in sequence to indexed parts of operating tapes cooperating with rotating heads see provisional also G11B15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/655 Memory in cassette [MIC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/80 Indexing information stored in optical or magnetic or other strip attached to cassette or disc, e.g. barcodes attached to a recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/91 Helical scan format, wherein tracks are slightly tilted with respect to tape direction, e.g. VHS, DAT, DVC, AIT or exabyte
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/08714 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/30 with provision for auxiliary signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/36 Signals on record carriers or on containers and recorded by the same method as the main recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 : with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/029 : Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 : of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 : by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/13 : the information being derived from movement of the record carrier, e.g. using tachometer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 : by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 : Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/309 : Table of contents
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 : used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/324 : Duty cycle modulation of control pulses, e.g. VHS-CTL-coding systems, RAPID-time code, VASS- or VISS-cue signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/328 : on a tape [TTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 : Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 : Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 : Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 : Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/0086 : using cyclically driven heads providing segmented tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/86 : Re-recording, i.e. transcribing information from one magnetisable record carrier on to one or more similar or dissimilar record carriers by varying the order of the information G11B27/029, G11B27/036
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 : Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/372 : Programme
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 : for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 : for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 : for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 : PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 : Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4435 : Memory management allocation of memory to service a request G06F9/5016; addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures G06F12/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 : Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 : the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/78263 : for recording on tracks inclined relative to the direction of movement of the tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9206 : the additional signal being a character code signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals

Abstract

A video tape player monitors the selection habits of a viewer selecting from a plurality of video tapes. Each video tape contains a plurality of programs. A first type of video tape has a title information symbol contained in a predetermined interval of the tape, e.g. the vertical blanking interval, for each program on the tape. A clock provides the time of occurrence of commands. A detector receives user inputted commands for controlling the movement of the video tape such as play, record, stop. The user inputted commands comprise a start play command to start moving, in a longitudinal direction, the video tape proximate to a magnetic head so that the magnetic head can detect the programs on the video tape and a stop command to stop moving the tape. A controller is coupled to the detector for commanding the motor in response to the detected user inputted commands and for reading the time of occurrence of the commands. A first memory stores a title information symbol for each program on a second type of video tape. A second memory stores the title information symbol and the time of occurrence of the detected user inputted commands. The contents of the second memory is provided to an external analyzer.

Claims

1. A video tape player for monitoring user selection habits of a plurality of video tapes, each video tape containing a plurality of programs, a first type of video tapes having a title information symbol on a predetermined interval of the tape for each program on the tape, the video tape player comprising:

a clock for providing a time;

means for moving the video tape;

a magnetic head for detecting the plurality of programs recorded on the video tape and the title information symbols on the first type of video tape and a plurality of programs recorded on a second type of video tape;

a detector for receiving user inputted commands for controlling the movement of the video tape, the user inputted commands comprising a start play command to start moving, in a longitudinal direction, the video tape proximate to the magnetic head so that the magnetic head can detect said programs on the video tape and a stop play command to stop moving the tape;

a controller coupled to said detector for commanding the moving means in response to said detected user inputted commands and reading the time of occurrence of said detected user inputted commands;

a first memory for storing a title information symbol for each program on the second type of video tape;

a second memory for storing the title information symbol and the time of occurrence of said detected user inputted commands; and

means for providing the contents of the second memory to an external analyzer in response to a download command.

2. The video tape player of claim 1 wherein said predetermined interval of said video tape signals comprises a vertical blanking interval of said broadcast video tape.

3. The video tape player of claim 1 further comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving broadcast video signals;

a decoder coupled to said receiver for decoding signals contained in a predetermined interval of said broadcast video signals to produce information signals;

means for displaying on a TV receiver an icon to alert a user to the presence of information signals and for displaying a code to be entered by a user for storing the information signals;

a third memory;

means, responsive to the user entered code, for storing in the third memory the information signals; and

,

means responsive to a user input for displaying for review the stored information from the information signal; and

means for storing in the second memory the time of occurrence of any of said user inputs.

4. The video tape player of claim 1 further comprising a controller for providing the download command upon a match between the clock time and a predetermined time.

5. The video tape player of claim 1, wherein the providing means is a telephone interface.

6. The video tape player of claim 1, wherein the title information symbol on the first type of tape is a UPC number.

7. A method for monitoring information for analyzing user selection habits of viewing programs recorded on video tape, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring for record or play commands from either user inputted commands or a microprocessor controller in an indexing VCR;

(b) if a play command is detected,

(1) reading from a directory, a title of a program retrieved from the video tape;

(2) reading the time of the receipt of the play command;

(c) if a record command is detected,

(1) reading from a video signal a title of a program being broadcasted that is to be recorded on the tape;

(2) reading the time of the receipt of the record command;

(d) monitoring for a stop play or stop record command from either user inputted commands or the microprocessor controller;

(e) reading the time of the receipt of the stop play or stop record command;

(f) storing in a memory the title, start time, stop time, and either a play flag or a record flag corresponding to whether a play or record command was received; and

(g) providing to an information analyzer the stored information contents of the memory.

8. A method for monitoring information for analyzing user selection habits of viewing a program on a plurality of video tapes played on a VCR having stored in a memory a directory of the programs corresponding to the plurality of video tapes, the method comprising the steps of,

(a) monitoring for record or play commands from either user inputted commands or a microprocessor controller in an indexing VCR;

(b) if a play command is detected, flagging in the directory the time that the program was played;

(c) if a record command is detected, flagging in the directory the time that the program was recorded;

(d) providing the contents of the memory to an information analyzer; and

(e) determining user selection habits from the contents of the memory.

9. A method for monitoring user habits of viewing an electronic television guide with video clips, the television guide comprising a list of broadcasted programs as a video picture in the form of a grid recorded in repeating frames on the video track of a tape at selected intervals, a plurality of full motion picture video clips, single video clips associated with one of the listed programs recorded in an interval between frames of listed programs, and information recorded in the VBI of the video picture of the list of programs on the video track, the information recorded in the VBI including information for locating on a display a cursor for highlighting a listed program, an address on the tape of the video clip associated with the highlighted program, and a code associated with the highlighted program for preprogramming a VCR for recording the highlighted program, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a user selection command;

if the user selection command is a preprogramming command, storing in a memory the code and the time of the user selection command; and

if the user selection command is a play command, storing in the memory the address associated with the highlighted program and the time of the user selection command.

10. An interconnected video tape player system for monitoring user selection habits of a plurality of video tapes, each video tape containing a plurality of programs, a first type of video tapes having for each program on the tape a title information symbol on a predetermined interval of the tape, the system comprising:

a bus;

a plurality of video tape players, each being coupled to the bus for receiving and sending data and commands between players, one of the players being designated as a master player and the other players being designated as slave players, each player being identified by a unique player identifier, each player comprising;

a clock for providing a time;

means for moving the video tape;

a magnetic head for detecting the plurality of programs recorded on the video tape and the title information symbols on the first type of video tape and a plurality of programs recorded on a second type of video tape;

a detector for receiving user inputted commands for controlling the movement of the video tape, the user inputted commands comprising a start play command to start moving, in a longitudinal direction, the video tape proximate to the magnetic head so that the magnetic head can detect said programs on the video tape and a stop play command to stop moving the tape;

a controller coupled to said detector for commanding the moving means in response to said detected user inputted commands and for reading the time of occurrence of said detected user inputted commands;

a first memory for storing a title information symbol for each program on the second type of video tape; and

a second memory for storing the title information symbol and the time of occurrence of said detected user inputted commands;

the master player further comprising;

means for providing the contents of the second memory to an external analyzer in response to a download command, and

a second controller for providing bus commands to the bus, the bus commands including a memory transfer command and a player identifier, and for storing in the second memory of the master player data received on the bus in response to the memory transfer command;

each slave player further comprising means for providing to the bus the contents of the second memory in response to said memory transfer command and said player identifier when said identifier matches the unique identifier of the player.

11. A method for monitoring information for analyzing user selection habits of viewing programs recorded on a video tape comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring user inputted commands;

b) when a play command is detected;

1) storing an identifier of the program being retrieved from the video tape; and

2) storing the time of the play command;

c) when a stop command is detected after a start command is detected storing the time of the stop command; and

d) providing to an information analyzer the stored information.

12. A method for monitoring information for analyzing user selection habits of viewing programs recorded on a video tape comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring for play and stop commands a microprocessor controller in a VCR;

b) when a play command is detected;

1) storing an identifier of the program being retrieved from the video tape; and

2) storing the time of the play command;

c) when a stop command is detected after a start command is detected storing the time of the stop command; and

d) providing to an information analyzer the stored information.

13. A method for monitoring information for analyzing user selection habits of viewing programs recorded on a video tape comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring user inputted commands;

b) when a record command is detected;

1) storing an identifier of the program being broadcasted that is being recorded on the tape;

2) storing the time of the record command;

c) when a stop command is detected after a start command is detected storing the time of the stop command; and

d) providing to an information analyzer the stored information.

14. A method for monitoring information for analyzing user selection habits of viewing programs recorded on a video tape comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring for record and stop commands a microprocessor controller in a VCR;

b) when a record command is detected;

1) storing an identifier of the program being broadcasted that is being recorded on the tape;

2) storing the time of the record command;

c) when a stop command is detected after a start command is detected storing the time of the stop command; and

d) providing to an information analyzer the stored information.