Method and apparatus for creating a television viewer profile
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring television viewing behavior to determine viewer preferences, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a viewer profile listing for storing a predetermined number of preferred viewing statuses;
calculating a time duration of a first viewing status;
determining whether said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing;
adding the time duration of said first viewing status to a total viewing time counter for said first viewing status in said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; and
adding said first viewing status and said time duration of said first viewing status to said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is not included in said viewer profile listing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring television viewing activity to determine preferred categories of programming and preferred channels of a viewer. To facilitate viewer access to preferred programming, the display of an electronic program guide may be configured in accordance with the monitored viewing activity to provide fast access to the preferred programming. The monitored viewing activity may also be used to provide a lock-out feature to prevent or limit the viewing of specified channels or categories of programming, or to identify and provide information of interest from the internet. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a viewer may automatically circulate through his or her preferred programming, as determined by monitoring the viewing activity of that viewer.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring television viewing behavior to determine viewer preferences, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a viewer profile listing for storing a predetermined number of preferred viewing statuses; calculating a time duration of a first viewing status; determining whether said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; adding the time duration of said first viewing status to a total viewing time counter for said first viewing status in said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; and adding said first viewing status and said time duration of said first viewing status to said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is not included in said viewer profile listing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for monitoring viewing behavior, comprising:
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means for establishing a viewer profile listing for storing a predetermined number of preferred viewing statuses; means for calculating a time duration of a first viewing status; means for determining whether said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; means for adding the time duration of said first viewing status to a total viewing time counter for said first viewing status in said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; and means for adding said first viewing status and said time duration of said first viewing status to said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is not included in said viewer profile listing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable medium which can be used to direct a computer to monitor viewing behavior, comprising:
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means for directing the computer to establish a viewer profile listing for storing a predetermined number of preferred viewing statuses; means for directing the computer to calculate a time duration of a first viewing status; means for directing the computer to determine whether said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; means for directing the computer to add the time duration of said first viewing status to a total viewing time counter for said first viewing status in said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; and means for directing the computer to add said first viewing status and said time duration of said first viewing status to said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is not included in said viewer profile listing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for displaying program guide information on the screen of a television, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the viewing behavior of a viewer; determining at least one preferred viewing status of the viewer in accordance with the viewing behavior of the viewer; configuring the program guide information in accordance with said at least one preferred viewing status of the viewer; and displaying the configured program guide information on the screen of the television; wherein the step of monitoring comprises the steps of; establishing a viewer profile listing for storing a predetermined number of viewing statuses; calculating a time duration of a first viewing status; determining whether said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; adding the time duration of said first viewing status to a total viewing time counter for said first viewing status in said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is included in said viewer profile listing; and adding said first viewing status and said time duration of said first viewing status to said viewer profile listing if said first viewing status is not included in said viewer profile listing.
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16. In a set-top unit adapted for coupling to a television, an apparatus for displaying program guide information on a screen of a television, said apparatus comprising:
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means for monitoring television viewing behavior in order to determine viewer channel preferences, said monitoring means comprising, means for establishing a viewer profile listing for storing a predetermined number of preferred channels; means for calculating a time duration for which a first channel is viewed; means for determining whether said first channel is included in said viewer profile listing; means for adding the time duration said first channel is viewed to a total viewing time counter for said first channel in said viewer profile listing if said first channel is included in said viewer profile listing; and means for adding said first channel and said time duration said first channel is viewed to said viewer profile listing if said first channel is not included in said viewer profile listing; means for determining the preferred channels of the viewer in accordance with the viewing behavior of the viewer; means for configuring the program guide information in accordance with the preferred channels of the viewer; and means for displaying the configured program guide information on the screen of the television. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification