Intelligent electronic program guide

• US 6,637,029 B1
• Filed: 06/10/1999
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bar-On, Gershon, Sered, Yishai, Kranc, Moshe, Maissel, Jonathan, Atlow, Shabtai, Tsuria, Yossef, Zviel, David, Eilat, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V.
• Application Number:
  US09/242,871
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32-34, 725/37-40, 725/43-46, 386/125, 345/721, 345/804, 345/853-854, 358/86
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/466 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 21/4667 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17345 Control of the passage of the selected programme

Abstract

A subscriber unit for use in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the subscriber unit including a receiving unit for receiving the program schedule information, a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer, an intelligent agent for customizing the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide including customized program schedule information, and display apparatus for displaying the program guide.

Claims

1. A television system comprising:

a television network; and

transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, at least one of said multiplicity of subscriber units including;

a receiving unit for receiving said program schedule information from said television network;

a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer;

an intelligent agent for customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide comprising customized program schedule information; and

display apparatus for displaying the program guide,

wherein said intelligent agent also comprises profile determination apparatus for determining viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and for providing said viewer preference profile information to said profile storage unit for storage as a viewer preference profile, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer, and

said television viewing behavior comprises viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program, and

said profile determination apparatus compares a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, said profile determination apparatus determines that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior and said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior by modifying said viewer preference profile information to be appropriate for a user who engages in channel surfing behavior, and

said program schedule information includes randomly chosen information.

2. A subscriber unit for use in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the subscriber unit comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving said program schedule information;

a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer;

an intelligent agent for customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide comprising customized program schedule information; and

display apparatus for displaying the program guide,

wherein said intelligent agent also comprises profile determination apparatus for determining viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and for providing said viewer preference profile information to said profile storage unit for storage as a viewer preference profile, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer, and

said television viewing behavior comprises viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program, and

said profile determination apparatus compares a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, said profile determination apparatus determines that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior and said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior by modifying said viewer preference profile information to be appropriate for a user who engages in channel surfing behavior, and

said program schedule information includes randomly chosen information.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said profile determination apparatus determines viewer preference profile information, at least in part, from a reaction of said at least one television viewer to previously displayed customized program schedule information.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said program schedule information comprises a first plurality of criteria, at least one of said first plurality of criteria being associated with each of a second plurality of television programs, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on at least one of said plurality of criteria associated with said at least one viewed television program.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information, at least in part, in accordance with input provided by said at least one television viewer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2 and also comprising viewer preference profile loading apparatus for providing a recorded viewer preference profile to the profile storage unit for storage.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said viewer preference profile loading apparatus receives said recorded viewer preference profile via said television network.

10. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said customizing comprises one of the following:

emphasizing at least a portion of said customized program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile; and

deemphasizing at least a portion of said customized program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

11. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said customizing comprises automatically tuning to a program selected based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said customizing comprises automatically recording, on recording apparatus, a program selected based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

13. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said display apparatus is operative to display an on-screen alert comprising at least part of said customized program schedule information.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein said on-screen alert comprises an unsolicited alert of audience viewing information comprising an indication of a proportion of an audience currently viewing a program.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein said display apparatus displays said on-screen alert a predetermined period of time before a scheduled starting time of a television program, said at least part of said customized program schedule information comprising information associated with said television program.

16. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein said display apparatus comprises an icon-based guide generator for producing an icon-based hierarchical program guide comprising said program schedule information, and

the program guide comprises the icon-based hierarchical program guide.

3. A television system comprising:

a television network; and

transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the transmitting apparatus comprising a headend, the headend including;

a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; and

an intelligent agent for customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information,

wherein said transmitting apparatus is operative to transmit the customized program schedule information to said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units, and

at least one of said multiplicity of subscriber units includes;

a receiving unit for receiving said customized program schedule information from said television network; and

display apparatus for displaying a program guide comprising the customized program schedule information,

wherein said intelligent agent also comprises profile determination apparatus for determining viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and for providing said viewer preference profile information to said profile storage unit for storage as a viewer preference profile, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer, and

said television viewing behavior comprises viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program, and

said profile determination apparatus compares a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, said profile determination apparatus determines that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior and said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior by modifying said viewer preference profile information to be appropriate for a user who engages in channel surfing behavior, and

said program schedule information includes randomly chosen information.

4. A headend for use in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information to at least one subscriber unit, the headend comprising:

a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with said at least one subscriber unit; and

an intelligent agent for customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information,

wherein said intelligent agent also comprises profile determination apparatus for determining viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and for providing said viewer preference profile information to said profile storage unit for storage as a viewer preference profile, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer, and

said television viewing behavior comprises viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program, and

said profile determination apparatus compares a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, said profile determination apparatus determines that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior and said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior by modifying said viewer preference profile information to be appropriate for a user who engages in channel surfing behavior, and

said program schedule information includes randomly chosen information.

17. A method for providing a program guide in a television system, the method comprising:

providing a television network; and

transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, each subscriber unit performing the following steps;

receiving said program schedule information from said television network;

storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer;

employing an intelligent agent to customize said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide comprising customized program schedule information; and

displaying the program guide,

wherein said intelligent agent determines viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and provides said viewer preference profile information for storage as a viewer preference profile, and

said viewer preference profile information is determined by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer, and

said television viewing behavior comprises viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program, and

the method also includes;

comparing a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length,

wherein said viewer preference profile information is determined based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, a determination is made that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior and said viewer preference profile information is determined based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior by modifying said viewer preference profile information to be appropriate for a user who engages in channel surfing behavior, and

said program schedule information includes randomly chosen information.

18. A method for providing a program guide in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the method comprising:

receiving said program schedule information;

storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer;

employing an intelligent agent to customize said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide comprising customized program schedule information; and

displaying the program guide,

wherein said intelligent agent determines viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and provides said viewer preference profile information for storage as a viewer preference profile, and

said viewer preference profile information is determined by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer, and

said television viewing behavior comprises viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program, and

the method also includes;

comparing a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length,

wherein said viewer preference profile information is determined based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, a determination is made that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior and said viewer preference profile information is determined based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior by modifying said viewer preference profile information to be appropriate for a user who engages in channel surfing behavior, and

said program schedule information includes randomly chosen information.

19. A method for providing a program guide in a television system, the method comprising:

providing a television network; and

transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units,

wherein the step of transmitting comprises;

storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units;

employing an intelligent agent to customize said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information;

transmitting the customized program schedule information to said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units;

receiving, at said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units, said customized program schedule information from said television network; and

displaying a program guide comprising the customized program schedule information,

wherein said intelligent agent determines viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and provides said viewer preference profile information for storage as a viewer preference profile, and

said viewer preference profile information is determined by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer, and

said television viewing behavior comprises viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program, and

the method also includes;

comparing a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length,

wherein said viewer preference profile information is determined based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, a determination is made that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior and said viewer preference profile information is determined based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior by modifying said viewer preference profile information to be appropriate for a user who engages in channel surfing behavior, and

said program schedule information includes randomly chosen information.

20. A method for providing a program guide in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information, the method comprising:

storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; and

customizing said program schedule information, using an intelligent agent, based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information,

wherein said intelligent agent determines viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and provides said viewer preference profile information for storage as a viewer preference profile, and

said viewer preference profile information is determined by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer, and

said television viewing behavior comprises viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program, and

the method also includes;

comparing a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length,

wherein said viewer preference profile information is determined based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and

when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, a determination is made that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior and said viewer preference profile information is determined based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior by modifying said viewer preference profile information to be appropriate for a user who engages in channel surfing behavior, and

said program schedule information includes randomly chosen information.