Method and apparatus for gathering programs watched data

• US 7,590,993 B1
• Filed: 07/29/1998
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Bonner, Alfred E., Hendricks, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/124,043
• Time in Patent Office: 4,066 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/10, 725/11, 725/12, 725/13, 725/14, 725/15, 725/16, 725/17, 725/18, 725/19, 725/20, 725 32- 36, 725/109, 725/110, 725/114, 725/115, 725/116, 725/91, 725/92, 725/93, 725/46
• US Class Current: 725/35
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 : Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 : Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 : Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• 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 21/26283 : for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 : characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 : for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 : Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• 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 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 21/6405 : Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64307 : ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 : for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 : for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 : Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A processor in a television program delivery system receives programs watched information from terminals in a television delivery system. The processor arranges the programs watched information in a database or programs watched matrix so that the frequency of programs watched may be determined. The programs watched matrix may consist of time slots and program categories. The processor determines a program count for programs or program categories. The program count may then be used to send programming to the terminals. The terminals may provide the programs watched information in response to a cyclic polling message generated by the processor or by using a random access routine. The programs watched information may be provided over a cable or a telephone line.

Claims

1. An apparatus that gathers programs watched data, comprising:

a plurality of terminals connected to corresponding televisions and to a television program delivery system, each of the terminals including a memory that stores program access information;

a receiver coupled to the plurality of terminals, the receiver receiving the program access information, wherein the program access information is stored as programs watched data in a programs watched matrix and is recorded as counts, the counts corresponding to a number of times a program category is watched at the associated terminal, wherein each of an associated terminal is assigned a unique programs watched matrix, and wherein the unique programs watched matrix is updated as additional program access information is provided by the associated terminal;

means for creating terminal group information indicating group assignments for the terminals by correlating the programs watched counts with categories of data, wherein the data categories include demographic data, and wherein the data categories are available for providing programming to the terminals; and

means for transmitting the terminal group information to the terminals in a control information stream.

2. An apparatus that gathers programs watched data, comprising:

a plurality of terminals connected to corresponding televisions and to a television program delivery system, each of the terminals including a memory that stores program access information;

a receiver coupled to the plurality of terminals, the receiver receiving the program access information, wherein the program access information is stored as programs watched data in a programs watched matrices;

a plurality of databases, wherein each of the plurality of databases receives information from programs watched matrices, the information including a terminal address, a group identifier, and program counts, the databases including one or more of viewer profile, account billing, program scheduling and advertisement scheduling databases;

means for creating terminal group information indicating group assignments for the terminals using the programs watched matrices, wherein the means for creating terminal group information further comprises indicating group assignments for the terminals by correlating programs watched counts stored in the programs watched matrices with categories of data, wherein the data categories include demographic data, and wherein the data categories are available for providing programming to the terminals; and

means for transmitting the terminal group information to the terminals in a control information stream.

3. An apparatus that gathers programs watched data, comprising:

a plurality of terminals connected to corresponding televisions and to a television program delivery system, each of the terminals including a memory that stores program access information;

a receiver coupled to the plurality of terminals, the receiver receiving the program access information, wherein the program access information is stored as programs watched data in a programs watched matrix,

a controller in the television program delivery system, the controller coupled to the plurality of terminals, the controller adapted to issue a message directing each of the terminals to provide the program access information, wherein the message is a polling request message sent over one of a cable television cable and a telephone line, and wherein a response message is returned over one of the cable television cable and the telephone line, and wherein the program access information is provided in the response message, the response message comprising;

a leading flag;

an address field including an address of the terminal;

a subscriber region designation that includes a geographical region in which the terminal is located;

a terminal identifier that uniquely identifies the terminal;

an information field that includes a command to provide the program access information; and

a trailing flag;

means for creating terminal group information indicating group assignments for the terminals using the programs watched matrix, wherein the means for creating terminal group information further comprises indicating group assignments for the terminals by correlating programs watched counts stored in the programs watched matrix with categories of data, wherein the data categories include demographic data, and wherein the data categories are available for providing programming to the terminals; and

means for transmitting the terminal group information to the terminals in a control information stream.

4. A system that gathers programs watched data in a broadcast television delivery system, comprising:

means for gathering programs watched data from one or more set top terminals in a broadcast television delivery system;

a database that stores the gathered programs watched data;

means for accessing the stored programs watched data;

means for counting the accessed programs watched data to determine programs watched counts corresponding to a frequency of programs watched by the one or more set top terminals in the broadcast television delivery system, wherein the programs watched counts are arranged in at least one programs watched matrix;

means for creating set top terminal group information indicating a group assignment for a set top terminal by correlating the programs watched counts with categories of data, wherein the data categories comprise demographic data, and wherein the data categories are available for providing programming to the set top terminal; and

means for transmitting the set top terminal group information to the set top terminal in a control information stream that instructs the set top terminal in selecting the programming.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

means for extracting data from an information field of a program control information signal, wherein the extracted data includes program information;

means for creating a polling request message that directs a set top terminal to initiate transmission of a set top terminal status report;

means for processing the received set top terminal status reports to produce polling response data; and

means for integrating the polling response data with the extracted data from the information field of the program control information signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the creating means comprises:

means for reading database files using the access means, wherein the database tiles are relationally keyed to one another through a set of set top terminal identification numbers individually unique to a particular set top terminal;

means for formatting the polling request message, wherein the formatted polling request message includes at least one set top terminal identification number; and

means for enabling at least one polling command bit in the formatted polling request message, wherein the enabled polling command bit commands transmission of the set top terminal status reports.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing means comprises:

control receiving means for demodulating the received set top terminal status reports;

means for reading at least one information field in the received set top terminal status reports, wherein the information field includes the programs watched data;

means for sorting the information fields in the received set top terminal status reports by a set top terminal identification number; and

temporary memory means for accumulating the sorted information fields for the set top terminals, wherein the accumulated sorted information fields produce the polling response data.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising connection means for linking the processing means to the database, wherein the polling response data may be stored in the database, updating the programs watched matrices.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the control receiving means comprises a Radio Frequency demodulator for receiving upstream data transmissions from the one or more set top terminals.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the control receiving means comprises a telephone for receiving data transmissions from the one or more set top terminals over telephone lines.

11. An apparatus for use in a cable television program delivery system, the cable television delivery system coupled to one or more set top terminals, the one or more set top terminals capable of generating programs watched data, the apparatus comprising:

means for gathering programs watched data for a set top terminal;

means for storing the gathered programs watched data in at least one database;

means for accessing the stored programs watched data; and

means for counting the accessed programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs watched by the set top terminal, wherein the programs watched counts are arranged by program category and time;

means for creating terminal group information indicating group assignments for the terminal by correlating the programs watched counts with categories of data, wherein the data categories comprise demographic data, and wherein the data categories are available for providing programming to the terminal; and

means for transmitting the terminal group information to the terminal in a control information stream.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for transmitting the set top terminal group information to the set top terminal in a control information stream capable of polling the set top terminal, and wherein the gathering means comprises;

means for generating a polling request message that directs the set top terminal to initiate transmission of a set top terminal status report;

means for receiving the set top terminal status report, wherein the received set top terminal status report contains programs watched information;

means for processing the received set top terminal status reports to produce polling response data; and

means for storing the polling response data.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing means comprises:

means for demodulating the received set top terminal status report;

means for reading at least one information field in the demodulated set top data, wherein the at least one information field is appended to a set top terminal identification number field;

means for sorting the at least one information field in received set top terminal status reports by set a top terminal identification number; and

memory means for accumulating the sorted information fields for the at least one set top terminal, wherein the accumulated sorted information fields produce the polling response data.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for updating the programs watched data in the storing means with the polling response data, and wherein the counting means comprises:

means for reading the programs watched counts, wherein a separate programs watched count is assigned to different time slots in a day for a program category; and

means for sorting the programs watched counts from highest to lowest.

15. A method for gathering programs watched information, comprising:

gathering programs watched data for set top terminals in a broadcast television program delivery system;

storing the gathered programs watched data in a database;

accessing the store programs watched data;

counting the accessed programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs watched by the set top terminals, wherein programs watched counts are arranged in a programs watched matrix;

creating a terminal group information indicating group assignments for the terminals by correlating the programs watched counts with categories of data, wherein the data categories comprise demographic data, and wherein the data categories are available for providing programming to the terminals; and

transmitting the terminal group information to the terminals in a control information stream.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the set top terminals transmit set top terminal status reports in response to a polling request message produced using a program control information signal, further comprising:

creating the polling request message;

transmitting the polling request message to the set top terminals, wherein the polling request message directs the set top terminals to initiate upstream data transmission of the set top terminal status reports over a cable distribution network; and

receiving the set top terminal status reports, wherein the set top terminal status reports comprise the programs watched data.

17. A processor in a cable television program delivery system, the delivery system providing programming to subscriber terminals, comprising:

means for gathering programs watched data for the terminals;

a database that stores the gathered programs watched data;

means for accessing the stored programs watched data;

means for counting the accessed programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs watched at the terminals, wherein programs watched counts are arranged in a programs watched matrix;

means for creating terminal group information indicating group assignments for the terminals by correlating the programs watched counts with categories of data, wherein the data categories comprise demographic data, and wherein the data categories are available for providing programming to the terminals; and

means for transmitting the terminal group information to the terminals in a control information stream that instructs the terminals in selecting the programming, wherein the processor polls the terminals to direct the terminals to provide the programs watched data.

18. The processor of claim 17, wherein the gathering means comprises:

means for generating a polling request message that directs the terminals to initiate transmission of terminal status reports;

a receiver that receives the terminal status reports, wherein the received terminal status reports contain programs watched information;

means for processing the received terminal status reports to produce polling response data; and

a memory that stores the polling response data.

19. The processor of claim 18, wherein the processing means comprises:

a demodulator that demodulates the received terminal status reports;

means for reading information fields in the demodulated terminal data, wherein the information fields are appended to terminal identification number fields;

means for sorting the information fields in the received terminal status reports by a terminal identification number; and

a temporary memory that accumulates the sorted information fields for the terminals, wherein the accumulated sorted information fields produce the polling response data.

20. The processor of claim 18, further comprising means for updating the programs watched data in the database with the polling response data.

21. The processor of claim 18, wherein the counting means comprises;

means for reading the programs watched counts, wherein a separate programs watched count is assigned to different time slots in a day for each program category;

means for sorting the programs watched counts from highest to lowest; and

means for matching the sorted programs watched counts with the programs categories, wherein counts of the programs categories are thereby produced.

22. The processor of claim 21, further comprising:

means for sorting the stored programs watched information by a plurality of program categories;

means for ranking the plurality of program categories by frequency of programs watched in each category, wherein program categories with more programs watched are ranked higher than program categories with less programs watched;

means for selecting a set of highest ranked targeted program categories;

means for choosing individual programs from the set of highest ranked programs categories;

means for packaging the chosen individual programs for transmission to the terminals for display, wherein packages of programs are produced; and

means for transmitting the packages of programs to the terminals over the cable television delivery system.

23. The processor of claim 22, wherein the terminals have the capability of receiving polling request messages and transmitting polling responses upstream over one of a cable distribution network in the cable television program delivery system and a telephone line, the polling responses including the programs watched information.

24. A method for accumulating data in a cable television delivery system from a plurality of set top terminals in a cable television delivery system, comprising:

gathering programs watched data for the plurality of set top terminals;

storing the gathered programs watched data in a database;

accessing the stored programs watched data;

counting the accessed programs watched data to determine a frequency of programs watched at the plurality of set top terminals, wherein programs watched counts are arranged in a programs watched matrix; and

creating terminal group information indicating group assignments for the plurality of terminals by correlating the programs watched count with categories of data, wherein the data categories comprise demographic data, and wherein the data categories are available for providing programming to the plurality of terminals; and

transmitting the terminal group information to the plurality of terminals in a control information stream.