Method and apparatus for sharing viewing preferences

• US 6,813,775 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arsenault, Robert G., Brown, Jeffrey A., Finseth, Craig A., Hsiao, Philip E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoye, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US09/535,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/14, 725/34, 725/46, 709/204, 709/205
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4755 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 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for sharing viewer preference information between a first user and a second user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of storing first user viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user in a memory of a first user device, and transmitting at least a portion of the first viewer preference information to a second user for storage in a memory of a second user device. The article of manufacture comprises a data storage device tangibly embodying instructions to perform these method steps. The apparatus comprises a first user device which includes at least one receiver for receiving media programs and second user viewer preferences, a processor, a memory for storing viewer preference information characterizing the media programs selected by the first user, and a transmitter, for transmitting viewer preferences information to a second user device.

Claims

1. A method of sharing viewer preference information between a first user and at least one second user, comprising the steps of:

storing first user viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user in a memory of a first user device;

transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to a second user for storage in a memory of a second user device;

receiving the transmitted portion of the first user viewer preference information, comprising the steps of

accepting a second user selection of at least one first user designated to transmit first user viewer preference information;

receiving the first user viewer preference information from the designated first user; and

storing the received portion of the viewer preference information in the memory of the second user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user device and the second user device are receivers configured to receive the media programs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user viewer preference information describes programs viewed by the first user for a duration between a minimum time and a maximum time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of compiling first user viewer preferences.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of compiling first user viewer preferences comprises the step of:

accepting first user-input viewer preference information.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of compiling first user viewer preferences comprises the step of:

monitoring and storing first user viewer-selected media programs.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user viewer preference information comprises a selection history including information selected from a group comprising:

a subset of the selection history; and

a summary of attributes of the selection history.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting at least a portion of the viewer preference information comprises the steps of:

accepting a first user selection of at least one second user designated to receive at least a portion of the first viewer preferences; and

transmitting the first viewer preferences to the designated second user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user viewer preference information is transmitted directly to the second user device via a medium selected from a group comprising:

the Internet; and

a telephone.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to the second user comprises the steps of:

transmitting at least a portion of the first viewer preference information from the first user device to a third party; and

transmitting at least a second portion of the first user viewer preference information from the third party to the second user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to the second user further comprises the step of:

filtering the portion of the first user viewer preferences to generate the second portion of the first user viewer preferences.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the third party is a broadcaster transmitting the media programs to the first user and the second user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the user viewer preference information includes information selected from a group comprising a subset of a selection history and a summary of attributes of the selection history, and the step of receiving the transmitted portion of the viewer preference information comprises the steps of:

accepting a second user selection of first user viewer preference information from the subset of the selection history and the summary of attributes of the selection history; and

receiving the selected first user viewer preference information.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving program guide data including information characterizing at least one of the media programs;

accepting an input selection in the second input device, the input selection identifying at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information; and

presenting a program guide to the second user, the program guide having data being selected based upon a comparison of the selected portion of the first user viewer preference information and the program guide data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the input selection in the second input device is initiated by the second user.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving advertising data in the second user device, the advertising data including at least one of a plurality of advertisements and information characterizing the advertisement; and

presenting a set of the plurality of advertisements based upon a comparison between the information characterizing the advertisement and the first user viewer preference information.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating merged viewer preference information from the first user preference information and second viewer preference information; and

transmitting the merged viewer preference information to the first user.

18. A method of sharing viewing preference information between a first user and at least one second user, comprising the steps of:

receiving first user viewer preference information in a second user device, the first viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user comprising the steps of

accepting a second user selection of at least one first user designated to transmit first user viewer preference information;

receiving the first user viewer preference information from the designated first user; and

storing the received first viewer preference information in a memory of the second user device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first user viewer preference information includes information selected from a group comprising a subset of a selection history and a summary of attributes of the selection history, and wherein:

the step of receiving the first user viewer preference information comprises the steps of accepting a second user selection of first user viewer preference information from the subset of the selection history and the summary of attributes of the selection history; and

the step of receiving the first viewer preference information from the designated first user comprises the step of receiving the selected first user viewer preference information.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving program guide data including information characterizing at least one of the media programs;

accepting an input selection in the second input device, the input selection identifying at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information; and

presenting a program guide to the second user, the program guide having data being selected based upon a comparison of the selected portion of the first user viewer preference information and the program guide data.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the input selection in the second input device is initiated by the second user.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving advertising data in the second user device, the advertising data including at least one of a plurality of advertisements and information characterizing the advertisement; and

presenting a set of the plurality of advertisements based upon a comparison between the information characterizing the advertisement and the first user viewer preference information.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

generating shared viewer preference information from the first user preference information and second viewer preference information; and

transmitting the shared viewer preference information to the first user.

24. An apparatus for sharing viewer preferences information between a first user and at least one second user, comprising:

means for storing first user viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user in a memory of a first user device;

means for transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to a second user for storage in a memory of a second user device;

means for receiving the transmitted portion of the first user viewer preference information, the means for receiving the transmitted portion of the first viewer preference information comprising

means for accepting a second user selection of at least one first user designated to transmit first user viewer preference information;

means for receiving the first user viewer preference information from the designated first user; and

means for storing the received portion of the viewer preference information in the memory of the second user device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first user device and the second user device are receivers configured to receive the media programs.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first user viewer preference information describes programs viewed by the user for a duration between a minimum time and a maximum time.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for compiling first user viewer preferences.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for compiling first user viewer preferences comprises:

means for accepting first user-input viewer preference information.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for compiling first user viewer preferences comprises:

means for monitoring and storing first user viewer-selected media programs.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first user viewer preference information comprises a selection history including information selected from a group comprising:

a subset of the selection history; and

a summary of attributes of the selection history.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for transmitting at least a portion of the viewer preference information comprises:

means for accepting a first user selection of at least one second user designated to receive at least a portion of the first viewer preferences; and

means for transmitting the first viewer preferences to the designated second user.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first user viewer preference information is transmitted directly to the second user device via a medium selected from a group comprising:

the Internet; and

a telephone.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to the second user comprises:

means for transmitting at least a portion of the first viewer preference information from the first user device to a third party; and

means for transmitting at least a second portion of the first user viewer preference information from the third party to the second user.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the means for transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to the second user further comprises:

means for filtering the portion of the first user viewer preferences to generate the second portion of the first user viewer preferences.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the third party is a broadcaster transmitting the media programs to the first user and the second user.

36. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the user viewer preference information includes information selected from a group comprising a subset of a selection history and a summary of attributes of the selection history, and the means for receiving the transmitted portion of the viewer preference information comprises:

means for accepting a second user selection of first user viewer preference information from the subset of the selection history and the summary of attributes of the selection history; and

means for receiving the selected first user viewer preference information.

37. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

means for receiving program guide data including information characterizing at least one of the media programs;

means for accepting an input selection in the second input device, the input selection identifying at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information; and

means for presenting a program guide to the second user, the program guide having data being selected based upon a comparison of the selected portion of the first user viewer preference information and the program guide data.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the input selection in the second input device is initiated by the second user.

39. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

means for receiving advertising data in the second user device, the advertising data including at least one of a plurality of advertisements and information characterizing the advertisement; and

means for presenting a set of the plurality of advertisements based upon a comparison between the information characterizing the advertisement and the first user viewer preference information.

40. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

means for generating merged viewer preference information from the first user preference information and second viewer preference information; and

means for transmitting the merged viewer preference information to the first user.

41. A program storage device, readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of sharing viewer preference information between a first user and at least one second user, the method steps comprising the steps of:

storing first user viewer preference information characterizing media programs selected by the first user in a memory of a first user device;

transmitting at least a portion of the first user viewer preference information to a second user for storage in a memory of a second user device;

receiving the transmitted portion of the first user viewer preference information, comprising the steps of

accepting a second user selection of at least one first user designated to transmit first user viewer preference information;

receiving the first user viewer preference information from the designated first user; and

storing the received portion of the viewer preference information in the memory of the second user device.