System for displaying an integrated portal screen

• US 6,449,767 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keen Personal Media, Inc. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Keen Personal Media, Inc. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Krapf, Russell M., Masters, Bradley S.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US09/608,104
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.716, H04/N.7173, 725/37, 725/40, 725/43, 725/45, 725/46, 725/49, 725/110, 725/109, 725/112, 725/113, 725/34, 725/141, 725/38, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565, 348/731
• US Class Current: 725/110
• 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 21/44224 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 21/4622 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A control device for a system for displaying video data includes an output port configured to couple to the video display and input ports configured to couple to a plurality of sources for display content. An image generator is coupled to the input ports and the output port and generates a portal image to be displayed on the video display as a personalized portal screen. The personalized portal screen has a plurality of integrated display options personalized to a viewer'"'"'s preferences. Each display option corresponds to one of the sources for display content or content within one of the sources. The display options include viewports that display content from selected sources and further including links to other sources.

Claims

1. A control device for a video display, comprising:

an output port configured to couple to a video display;

input ports configured to couple to a plurality of sources for display content; and

an image generator coupled to the input ports and the output port and configured to generate a portal image to be displayed on the video display as a portal screen, the portal screen comprising a plurality of integrated display options personalized to a viewer'"'"'s preferences, each display option corresponding to one of the sources or content from one of the sources, the display options including viewports that display content from selected sources for display content, the display options further including links to other sources.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein one of the input ports is configured to couple to a source for video streams.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein the source for video streams is a broadcast head end of a cable television network, and wherein one of the display options is television content.

4. The control device of claim 2, wherein the source for video streams is a broadcast head end of a satellite television network, and wherein one of the display options is television content.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein one of the input ports is configured to couple to a computer network.

6. The control device of claim 5, wherein the computer network is the Internet, and wherein one of the display options is Internet content.

7. The control device of claim 5, further comprising a modem coupled to one of the input ports.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein one of the input ports is configured to couple to a storage device, and wherein one of the display options is pre-recorded video content.

9. The control device of claim 1, wherein one of the input ports is configured to receive control signals corresponding to a viewer input.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein one of the input ports is configured to couple to a personal video recorder, and wherein one of the display options is video content pre-recorded on the personal video recorder.

11. The control device of claim 1, further comprising a preference engine coupled to the image generator and at least one of the input ports, the preference engine configured to monitor the display content received by an input port.

12. The control device of claim 11, wherein the preference engine is further configured to generate viewing profiles for a plurality of viewers, each viewing profile including viewing preferences, viewing days and viewing times.

13. The control device of claim 12, wherein the image generator generates a portal image by predicting one of the viewers based on the day and time of the day.

14. A method of controlling a video display, comprising:

determining available sources for display content;

determining a plurality of display options based upon viewer preferences; and

generating a portal image to be displayed on the video display as a personalized portal screen, the personalized portal screen comprising the display options, each display option corresponding to one of the available sources or content from one of the available sources, the display options including viewports that display content from selected sources for display content, the display options further including links to other sources.