Technique for identifying favorite program channels for receiving entertainment programming content over a communications network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for updating a list of user-preferred program channels comprising:
- a set-top terminal (STT);
a memory;
a list of “
k”
user-preferred program channels stored in the memory;
a channel table stored in memory, the channel table comprising a list of viewed channels, wherein each viewed channel is associated with a cumulative count value;
a timer; and
a processing unit configured to communicate with the memory and the timer, wherein the processing unit executes instructions causing the processing unit to perform the tasks of;
(a) detecting a first channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT to a viewed channel;
(b) starting the timer to measure a first continuous duration of the STT tuned to the viewed channel;
(c) detecting the occurrence of a second channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT away from the viewed channel before the first continuous duration reaches a first milestone duration;
(d) when the first milestone duration is reached, then resetting the timer to zero and setting a count to 1;
(e) starting the timer to measure a second continuous duration of the STT tuned to the viewed channel;
(f) detecting the occurrence of a second channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT away from the viewed channel before the second continuous duration reaches a second milestone duration, wherein the second milestone duration is greater that the first milestone duration;
(g) when the second milestone duration is not reached, then adding the count to the cumulative count value for the viewed channel;
(h) when the second milestone duration is reached, then incrementing the counter for the viewed channel by 1 and then adding the count to the cumulative count value for the viewed channel;
(i) selecting from the channel table the “
k”
program channels having the cumulative count values; and
(j) revising the list of user-preferred program channels to reflect the selected “
k”
program channels.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A favorites list of program channels which a cable TV user likely prefers is generated automatically, from which the user may select a program channel to watch. Each program channel in the favorites list is identified based on a measure of the duration in which the program channel is continuously tuned to. In an embodiment, this measure varies nonlinearly with such a duration. The favorites list may further comprise sublists of program channels which may correspond to different periods of a day, week, etc.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system for updating a list of user-preferred program channels comprising:
-
a set-top terminal (STT); a memory; a list of “
k”
user-preferred program channels stored in the memory;a channel table stored in memory, the channel table comprising a list of viewed channels, wherein each viewed channel is associated with a cumulative count value; a timer; and a processing unit configured to communicate with the memory and the timer, wherein the processing unit executes instructions causing the processing unit to perform the tasks of; (a) detecting a first channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT to a viewed channel; (b) starting the timer to measure a first continuous duration of the STT tuned to the viewed channel; (c) detecting the occurrence of a second channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT away from the viewed channel before the first continuous duration reaches a first milestone duration; (d) when the first milestone duration is reached, then resetting the timer to zero and setting a count to 1; (e) starting the timer to measure a second continuous duration of the STT tuned to the viewed channel; (f) detecting the occurrence of a second channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT away from the viewed channel before the second continuous duration reaches a second milestone duration, wherein the second milestone duration is greater that the first milestone duration; (g) when the second milestone duration is not reached, then adding the count to the cumulative count value for the viewed channel; (h) when the second milestone duration is reached, then incrementing the counter for the viewed channel by 1 and then adding the count to the cumulative count value for the viewed channel; (i) selecting from the channel table the “
k”
program channels having the cumulative count values; and(j) revising the list of user-preferred program channels to reflect the selected “
k”
program channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for updating a user-preferred list of program channels comprising:
-
storing in a memory a list of “
k”
user-preferred program channels;storing a channel table in the memory, the channel table comprising a list of viewed channels viewed using a set top terminal (STT), wherein each viewed channel is associated with a cumulative count value; executing instructions in a processing unit to cause the processing unit to perform the tasks of (a) detecting a first channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT to a viewed channel; (b) starting the timer to measure a first continuous duration of the STT tuned to the viewed channel; (c) detecting the occurrence of a second channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT away from the viewed channel before the first continuous duration reaches a first milestone duration; (d) when the first milestone duration is reached, then resetting the timer to zero and setting a count to 1; (e) starting the timer to measure a second continuous duration of the STT tuned to the viewed channel; (f) detecting the occurrence of a second channel change event to establish the tuning of the STT away from the viewed channel before the second continuous duration reaches a second milestone duration, wherein the second milestone duration is greater that the first milestone duration; (g) when the second milestone duration is not reached, then adding the count to the cumulative count value for the viewed channel; (h) when the second milestone duration is reached, then incrementing the counter for the viewed channel by 1 and then adding the count to the cumulative count value for the viewed channel; (i) selecting from the channel table the “
k”
program channels having the cumulative count values; and(j) revising the list of user-preferred program channels to reflect the selected “
k”
program channels. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification