System and method for customizing content-access lists

• US 7,020,652 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alphonso, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matz, William R., Swix, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, UYEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/036,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707/100, 707/102, 725/9, 725/32, 725/37, 725/86
• US Class Current: 707/752
• 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 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

Systems and methods for customizing the presentation of a content-access list based on subscriber-specific information, such as historic viewing preferences and related information are described. An embodiment of the present invention includes a content-access-history database, a content database, and an option list creator, which combines data in the content-access-history and content databases to create lists of content-access options that are customized for individual subscribers. In one embodiment, a subscribers television viewing patterns and related behaviors are analyzed and the options in an electronic program guide (EPG) are filtered and sorted based on the results of the analysis.

Claims

1. A method for providing a content option list, comprising:

receiving a preference for a subscriber from a content-access-history database;

searching a content database for content related to said preference;

searching said content database for content unrelated to said preference;

receiving a first option list from said content database, wherein said first option list comprises an option;

receiving a non-preference-related option from said content database;

adding said non-preference-related option to said option list; and

delivering said first option list to said subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sorting said first option list based on said preference.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sorting said first option list by a preference rating attribute.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said content-access-history database comprises a category attribute.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sorting said first option list by said category attribute.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said content-access-history database comprises a television-viewing-history database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said content database comprises a television-programming database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first option list comprises a multi-level menu.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first option list comprises an electronic program guide.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first option list comprises an image displayed on a television screen.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said option provides access to a second option list.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said option provides access to a content source.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering comprises sending said first option list to a television set-top box.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering comprises displaying said first option list.

15. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer-readable instructions for providing a content option list comprising:

program code for receiving a preference for a subscriber from a content-access-history database;

program code for searching a content database for content related to said preference;

program code for searching said content database for content unrelated to said preference;

program code for receiving a first option list from said content database, wherein said first option list comprises an option;

program code for receiving a non-preference-related option from said content database;

program code for adding said non-preference-related option to said option list; and

program code for delivering said first option list to said subscriber.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising program code for sorting said first option list by a said preference rating attribute.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising program code for sorting said first option list by a category attribute.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said program code for delivering comprises program code for sending said first option list to a television set-top box.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said program code for delivering comprises program code for displaying said first option list.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising program code for sorting said first option list based on a preference.