Information receiver and information receiving method

• US 7,415,717 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nagumo, Fumio
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/700,150
• Time in Patent Office: 3,084 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725 34- 36, 725/47
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A broadcasting system, receiving device, and method that allows the viewer to set conditions for the display of commercials (CMs) with broadcast programs. A broadcasting device transmits the programs and CMs via separate channels. A receiving device receives the separate channels and records the CM information. The receiving device combines the recorded CM information with the programs for display in accordance with customer requirements set by the viewer. The customer requirements are also sent back to the commercial broadcasting company to adjust the CMs transmitted to the viewer and the fees charged for viewing the programs.

Claims

1. An information receiving device for receiving, at a variable subscription fee, separately transmitted program information and commercial information, and allowing a viewer to set display conditions for displaying the commercial information with the program information, comprising:

receiving means for receiving the program information and the commercial information on a first channel;

wherein the commercial information is received and then the program information is received;

condition setting means for the viewer to set display conditions for the commercial information, including an option to display a selectable percentage of commercial information varying in a range from 0 to 100 percent and including percentages greater than 0 and less than 100;

control means for forming control data on the basis of the display conditions;

combining means for combining said program information with said commercial information in accordance with said control data and outputting the combined program and commercial information for display;

transmission means for transmitting the control data to a source company which transmits the program information and the commercial information and which determines a subscription fee in accordance with the selectable percentage option set by the viewer;

wherein said control means, at the viewers request, and in response to viewer operation of the condition setting means causes the transmission of commercial related information to be transmitted from a commercial related information memory; and

wherein said display conditions include an option to not display any commercial information such that only program information is displayed.

2. The information receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising recording means for recording at least said commercial information.

3. The information receiving device according to claim 1, wherein a broadcasting source adjusts the transmitted commercial information on the basis of the display conditions.

4. The information receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the source company adjusts a fee charged to the viewer on the basis of the display conditions.

5. The information receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the display conditions indicate that the commercial information should not be combined with the program information.

6. The information receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the display conditions indicate classifications of the commercial information which should be combined with the program information.

7. An information receiving method of receiving, for a variable subscription fee, separately transmitted program information and commercial information, and allowing a viewer to set display conditions for displaying the commercial information with the program information, comprising the steps of:

receiving the program information and the commercial information on a first channel;

wherein the commercial information is received and then the program information is received;

allowing the viewer to set display conditions for the commercial information, including an option to display a selectable percentage of commercial information varying in a range from 0 to 100 percent and including percentages greater than 0 and less than 100;

forming control data on the basis of the display conditions;

combining said program information with said commercial information in accordance with said control data and outputting the combined program and commercial information for display;

transmitting the control data to a source company which transmits the program information and the commercial information and which determines a subscription fee in accordance with the selectable percentage option set by the viewer;

requesting through operation of a condition setting means the display of commercial related information; and

transmitting the commercial related information from a commercial related information memory;

wherein said display conditions include an option to not display any commercial information such that only program information is displayed.

8. The information receiving method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of recording at least said commercial information.

9. The information receiving method according to claim 7, wherein the source company adjusts a fee charged to the viewer on the basis of the display conditions.

10. The information receiving method according to claim 7, wherein a broadcasting source adjusts the transmitted commercial information on the basis of the display conditions.

11. The information receiving method according to claim 7, wherein the display conditions indicate that the commercial information should not be combined with the program information.

12. The information receiving method according to claim 7, wherein the display conditions indicate classifications of the commercial information which should be combined with the program information.