Method and apparatus for automatically configuring a system based on a user's monitored system interaction and preferred system access times

• US 5,977,964 A
• Filed: 01/05/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Goldschmidt Iti, Jean M., Watts, E. Michael, Shah-Nazaroff, Anthony A., Williams, Christopher D., Hackson, David N., Moore, Kenneth Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US09/002,892
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 348/1, 348/10, 348/5, 455/2, 455/6.2, 455/6.3
• US Class Current: 715/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/18 Antipsychotics, i.e. neuroleptics; Drugs for mania or schizophrenia
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4662 characterized by learning algorithms
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically configuring a system based on a user'"'"'s monitored system interaction and preferred system access times updates a user profile corresponding to the user based at least in part on the monitored user interaction with the system. Preferred system access times of the user are identified based at least in part on the user profile, and the system is automatically configured based at least in part on the user profile and the user'"'"'s preferred system access times.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

updating a user profile corresponding to the user based at least in part on monitored user interaction with a system;

identifying preferred system access times of the user based at least in part on the user profile;

automatically configuring the system based at least in part on the user profile and the user'"'"'s preferred system access times;

detecting a plurality of corresponding time periods during which a programming device is recording a source;

identifying that the recording device has not been programmed to record the source during a first time period which corresponds to the plurality of corresponding time periods; and

prompting a user as to whether the user wishes to record the source during the first time period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a viewing guide which indicates television viewing options available to a user; and

wherein the automatically configuring comprises automatically presenting the television viewing options in the viewing guide in accordance with the user profile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the providing comprises displaying the viewing guide to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein two of the plurality of corresponding time periods comprise a same period of time on two consecutive days.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically configuring comprises providing a viewing guide which indicates television viewing options that are available to a user only during a period of time indicated by the user profile as being when the user is likely to be viewing programming.

6. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, designed to be executed by a processor, for implementing a function to:

update a user profile corresponding to a user based at least in part on monitored user interaction with a system;

identify preferred system access times of the user based at least in part on the user profile;

automatically configure the system based at least in part on the user profile and the user'"'"'s preferred system access times;

detect a plurality of corresponding time periods during which a programming device is recording a source;

identify that the recording device has not been programmed to record the source during a first time period which corresponds to the plurality of corresponding time periods; and

prompt a user as to whether the user wishes to record the source during the first time period.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the function is further to:

provide a viewing guide which indicates television viewing options available to a user; and

wherein the automatically configuring comprises automatically presenting the television viewing options in the viewing guide in accordance with the user profile.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the providing comprises displaying the viewing guide to the user.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein two of the plurality of corresponding time periods comprise a same period of time on two consecutive days.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the automatically configuring comprises providing a viewing guide which indicates television viewing options that are available to a user only during a period of time indicated by the user profile as being when the user is likely to be viewing programming.

11. An apparatus for use in a system, the apparatus comprising:

a user profile database which stores information corresponding to a user'"'"'s system usage;

a usage monitor to update the user profile based at least in part on monitored user interaction with the system;

a customization module to identify preferred system access times of the user based at least in part on the user profile, and to automatically configure the system based at least in part on the user profile and the user'"'"'s preferred system access times; and

a recording module operative to,

detect a plurality of corresponding time periods during which a programming device is recording a source,

identify that the recording device has not been programmed to record the source during a first time period which corresponds to the plurality of corresponding time periods, and

prompt a user as to whether the user wishes to record the source during the first time period.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the customization module is further operative to provide a viewing guide which indicates television viewing options available to a user and to automatically present the television viewing options in the viewing guide in accordance with the user profile.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein two of the plurality of corresponding time periods comprise a same period of time on two consecutive days.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the customization module is further operative to provide a viewing guide which indicates television viewing options that are available to a user only during a period of time indicated by the user profile as being when the user is likely to be viewing programming.