Method and system for providing a customized media list

• US 7,117,516 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Individual Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Individual Network LLC
• Inventors: Khoo, Denis, Ratcliff, III, Raymond F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US10/206,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 725/37, 725/61, 725/32, 725/35, 705/14, 709/219, 381/77
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• 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 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/47 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 21/8153 : comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and system is described for providing a customized media list to a user over a data network. The method comprises providing a personalized data of the user to a computer system, generating a customized media list by the computer system for the user based on the personal data, and providing the customized media list to the user through the computer system where the customized media list represents a customized content and a customized advertising. A system is further disclosed and claimed for providing customized media list to a user over a data network.

Claims

1. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving data from a user, directly or through an intermediary, which data identifies the user;

generating a customized media list at the computer system, based on personalized data of the user, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule, the media options being stored at the computer system;

storing the customized media list at the computer system, wherein the customized media list is not stored at the user;

storing customized media corresponding to the customized media list at the computer system; and

delivering directly to the user from the computer system over the network the customized media, without storing the customized media local to the user, independent of a broadcast schedule.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein there is more than one user with one or more receptor devices, each user being able to receive customized media independent of a broadcast schedule.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said personalized data includes demographic information.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said personalized data includes a personal profile, viewing preferences, past viewing, or viewing habits of the user, and said customized media list is generated by said computer system that supplies said customized media over said electronic network.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said personalized data includes an advertising preference.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said user may rearrange or subtract from said customized media list, or add to such list from said media options available independent of a broadcast schedule.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said media options include advertisements.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said customized media comprises customized content or customized advertising or both.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said media options include advertisements.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said customized media includes both said customized content and said customized advertising and said customized advertising is integrated within said customized content.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said customized media includes both said customized content and said customized advertising, and said customized content and said customized advertising is arranged in a predetermined order.

12. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving data from a user, directly or through an intermediary, which data identifies the user;

generating a customized media list, based on personalized data of the user, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule;

initiating at the computer system a request for customized media corresponding to the customized media list, wherein the request is not initiated by the user; and

delivering the customized media independent of a broadcast schedule.

13. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving data from a user, directly or through an intermediary, which data identifies the user;

generating a customized media list, based on personalized data of the user, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule;

storing the customized media list at the computer system, wherein the customized media list is not stored at the user; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized media list from the computer system.

14. A method for providing customized digital media to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving data from a user, directly or through an intermediary, which data identifies the user;

generating a customized media list, based on personalized data of the user, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule, the media options stored at a computer system;

storing customized media corresponding to the customized media list; and

delivering customized media from the computer system to the user over the network independent of a broadcast schedule, wherein the user receives the customized media without storing the customized media local to the user.

15. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving updated personal profile information after account initialization at the computer system over the electronic network, the updated personal profile information identifying characteristics of the user, wherein the personal profile information is not stored local to the user;

generating a customized media list, based on the personal profile information, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized media list.

16. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving updated media preference information after account initialization at the computer system over the electronic network, the updated media preference information identifying media preferences of the user, wherein the media preference information is not stored local to the user;

generating a customized media list, based on the media preferences, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized digital media list.

17. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving viewing habit information at the computer system over the electronic network, the viewing habit information identifying viewing habits of the user, wherein the viewing habit information is not stored local to the user;

generating a customized media list, based on the viewing habit information, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule;

sending the customized media list to the user over the electronic network; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized media list.

18. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving updated personal profile information after account initialization at the computer system over the electronic network, the updated personal profile identifying characteristics of the user, wherein the personal profile information is not processed local to the user;

generating a customized media list, based on the personal profile information, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized media list.

19. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving updated media preference information after account initialization at the computer system over the electronic network, the updated media preference information identifying media preferences of the user, wherein the media preference information is not processed local to the user;

generating a customized media list, based on the media preferences, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized digital media list.

20. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

receiving viewing habit information at the computer system over the electronic network, the viewing habit information identifying viewing habits of the user, wherein the updated viewing habit information is not processed local to the user;

generating a customized media list, based on the viewing habit information, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized media list.

21. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

prompting the user for personal profile information, the prompting being generated by the computer system over the electronic network, the personal profile information being received from the user and identifying characteristics of the user not related to media preferences where the media preferences are not processed local to the user;

generating a customized media list, based on the personal profile information, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized media list.

22. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

prompting the user for updated media preference information after account initialization, the prompting being generated by the computer system over the electronic network, the media preference information received from the user and identifying media preferences of the user wherein the viewing habits are not Processed local to user;

generating a customized media list, based on the media preference information, wherein the list comprises a plurality of items including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the plurality of items on the customized media list without the user selecting the customized media from the customized media list.

23. A method for providing customized digital media from a computer system to a user over an electronic network comprising:

prompting the user for viewing habit information, the prompting being generated by the computer system over the electronic network, the viewing habit information received from the user and identifying viewing habits of the user wherein the viewing habits are not processed local to user;

generating a customized media list, based on the viewing habit information, wherein the list comprises a program or advertisement including at least one entertainment or information program or advertisement, or any combination of such programs or advertisements, which program or advertisement is selected from media options available independent of a broadcast schedule; and

delivering customized media corresponding to the customized media list.