Modifying an electronic program guide based on viewer statistics
First Claim
1. In a central processor that communicates with processing devices associated with televisions, a method of providing information to the processing devices to enable information relating to viewing behavior associated with television programs to be displayed, the method comprising the acts of:
- receiving viewing behavior information from a plurality of processing devices associated with televisions, the viewing behavior information specifying viewer activity associated with television programs;
generating a report, based on the viewing behavior information for a viewer group defined by a viewer selection of individuals from a database, that specifies the number of viewers in the group who have engaged in a viewing activity associated with particular television programs at the televisions; and
wherein the report is used to modify a display of an electronic program guide that identifies television programs which are being broadcast for display by one or more of the televisions and wherein the electronic program guide groups the television programs based on time at which each of the television programs is being broadcast, and wherein the modification of the electronic program guide includes modifying the display of the electronic program guide in such a manner as to display a list of the television programs in a list that is sorted by decreasing order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs which are being broadcast for display by one or more of the televisions, and such that a television program that is determined to be currently viewed by more viewers is listed in the list above one or more television programs that are determined to be currently viewed by fewer viewers, and wherein the electronic program guide display is further modified to include, for each television program included in the list, a numeric value that identifies a relative ranking of the television program, relative to other listed television programs, as well as a numeric percentage that identifies a relative percentage of viewers currently viewing the television program as compared to the other listed television programs, andwherein the electronic program guide displays television programs in at least three column groupings that each represent consecutive time blocks, and wherein only the first of the at least three column groupings, which represents a current time of displayed television programs, is modified by the report and such that only the first of the at least three column listings sorts the displayed television programming in a sorted order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs identified by the electronic program guide.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Displaying the numbers of viewers who are watching currently-broadcasted television programs on electronic program guides (EPGs) using information gathered via back channels from home entertainment systems. A signal source transmits a television broadcast signal to televisions used by viewers. Processing devices associated with the televisions determine which program is being displayed and transmit this information to a central server using a back channel from the home entertainment system. Viewing behavior information is gathered from a large number of viewers and is compiled into a report that is transmitted to the individual processing devices of the home entertainment systems. Using the information included in the report, the processing devices modify the EPGs to visually display the number of viewers watching the various television programs. The modification can take the form of selected colors, sizes, or shapes of the EPG entries or icons or animation displayed with the EPG.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a central processor that communicates with processing devices associated with televisions, a method of providing information to the processing devices to enable information relating to viewing behavior associated with television programs to be displayed, the method comprising the acts of:
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receiving viewing behavior information from a plurality of processing devices associated with televisions, the viewing behavior information specifying viewer activity associated with television programs; generating a report, based on the viewing behavior information for a viewer group defined by a viewer selection of individuals from a database, that specifies the number of viewers in the group who have engaged in a viewing activity associated with particular television programs at the televisions; and wherein the report is used to modify a display of an electronic program guide that identifies television programs which are being broadcast for display by one or more of the televisions and wherein the electronic program guide groups the television programs based on time at which each of the television programs is being broadcast, and wherein the modification of the electronic program guide includes modifying the display of the electronic program guide in such a manner as to display a list of the television programs in a list that is sorted by decreasing order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs which are being broadcast for display by one or more of the televisions, and such that a television program that is determined to be currently viewed by more viewers is listed in the list above one or more television programs that are determined to be currently viewed by fewer viewers, and wherein the electronic program guide display is further modified to include, for each television program included in the list, a numeric value that identifies a relative ranking of the television program, relative to other listed television programs, as well as a numeric percentage that identifies a relative percentage of viewers currently viewing the television program as compared to the other listed television programs, and wherein the electronic program guide displays television programs in at least three column groupings that each represent consecutive time blocks, and wherein only the first of the at least three column groupings, which represents a current time of displayed television programs, is modified by the report and such that only the first of the at least three column listings sorts the displayed television programming in a sorted order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs identified by the electronic program guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a processing device that is associated with a television and is included in a system in which viewing behavior information is gathered, a method of displaying information relating to viewership of currently-broadcasted television programs, the method comprising the acts of:
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receiving a viewing behavior information report that includes information specifying the number of viewers in a viewer group defined by a viewer selection of individuals from a database who are currently watching particular television programs; based on the viewing behavior report, modifying electronic program guide data at the processing device to indicate the number of viewers who are currently watching the particular television programs; and displaying the modified electronic program guide on the television, wherein the electronic program guide groups television programs based on time at which each of the television programs is being broadcast, and wherein the modified electronic program guide identifies the particular television programs in a list that is sorted by decreasing order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs which are being broadcast for display by one or more of the televisions, and such that a television program that is determined to be currently viewed by more viewers is listed in the list above one or more television programs that are determined to be currently viewed by fewer viewers, and wherein the modified electronic program guide is further displayed in such a way that each television program listed in the list includes a numeric value that identifies a relative ranking of the television program, relative to other listed television programs, as well as a numeric percentage that identifies a relative percentage of viewers currently viewing the television program as compared to the other listed television programs, and wherein the electronic program guide displays television programs in at least three column groupings that each represent consecutive time blocks, and wherein only the first of the at least three column groupings, which represents a current time of displayed television programs, is modified by the report and such that only the first of the at least three column listings sorts the displayed television programming in a sorted order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs identified by the electronic program guide. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A physical storage media encoded with computer-executable instructions for implementing a method, in a central processor that communicates with processing devices associated with televisions, for providing information to the processing devices to enable information relating to viewing behavior associated with television programs to be displayed, wherein the method includes:
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receiving viewing behavior information from a plurality of processing devices associated with televisions, the viewing behavior information specifying viewer activity associated with television programs; generating a report, based on the viewing behavior information for a viewer group defined by a viewer selection of individuals from a database, that specifies the number of viewers in the group who have engaged in a viewing activity associated with particular television programs at the televisions; and wherein the report is used to modify a display of an electronic program guide that identifies television programs which are being broadcast for display by one or more of the televisions and wherein the electronic program guide groups the television programs based on time at which each of the television programs is being broadcast, and wherein the modification of the electronic program guide includes modifying the display of the electronic program guide in such a manner as to display a list of the television programs in a list that is sorted by decreasing order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs which are being broadcast for display by one or more of the televisions, and such that a television program that is determined to be currently viewed by more viewers is listed in the list above one or more television programs that are determined to be currently viewed by fewer viewers, and wherein the electronic program guide display is further modified to include, for each television program included in the list, a numeric value that identifies a relative ranking of the television program, relative to other listed television programs, as well as a numeric percentage that identifies a relative percentage of viewers currently viewing the television program as compared to the other listed television programs, and wherein the electronic program guide displays television programs in at least three column groupings that each represent consecutive time blocks, and wherein only the first of the at least three column groupings, which represents a current time of displayed television programs, is modified by the report and such that only the first of the at least three column listings sorts the displayed television programming in a sorted order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs identified by the electronic program guide.
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25. A physical storage media encoded with computer-executable instructions for implementing a method, in a processing device that is associated with a television and is included in a system in which viewing behavior information is gathered, for displaying information relating to viewership of currently-broadcasted television programs, wherein the method includes:
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receiving a viewing behavior information report that includes information specifying the number of viewers in a viewer group defined by a viewer selection of individuals from a database who are currently watching particular television programs; based on the viewing behavior report, modifying electronic program guide data at the processing device to indicate the number of viewers who are currently watching the particular television programs; and displaying the modified electronic program guide on the television, wherein the electronic program guide groups television programs based on time at which each of the television programs is being broadcast, and wherein the modified electronic program guide identifies the particular television programs in a list that is sorted by decreasing order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs which are being broadcast for display by one or more of the televisions, and such that a television program that is determined to be currently viewed by more viewers is listed in the list above one or more television programs that are determined to be currently viewed by fewer viewers, and wherein the modified electronic program guide is further displayed in such a way that each television program listed in the list includes a numeric value that identifies a relative ranking of the television program, relative to other listed television programs, as well as a numeric percentage that identifies a relative percentage of viewers currently viewing the television program as compared to the other listed television programs, and wherein the electronic program guide displays television programs in at least three column groupings that each represent consecutive time blocks, and wherein only the first of the at least three column groupings, which represents a current time of displayed television programs, is modified by the report and such that only the first of the at least three column listings sorts the displayed television programming in a sorted order of viewership, based on the audience in the viewer group that is currently tuned to each of the television programs identified by the electronic program guide.
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Specification