Apparatus and method for automatically recording content, and recording medium and program thereof

• US 7,610,601 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ichioka, Hidetoshi, Kimura, Hitoshi, Ohnuma, Kensuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hasan; Syed Y
• Application Number:
  US10/491,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20050120371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 386/E5.001, 386/E5.043, 386/E5.006, 386/E7.024, 386/E7.034, 386/E7.036, 386/E7.061, 386/E7.069, 707/3, 707/4, 707/10, 707/E17.009, 725/9, 725/34, 725/36, 725/39, 725/47, 725/48, 725/50
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/4662 characterized by learning algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

An automatic recording apparatus for content includes a preference operation history managing unit operable to generate history information of an operation relating to a preference for a content according to a plurality of operations relating to a preference for the content and explanation information relating to the content and by using a preference value parameter for each kind of these operations; a preference information managing unit operable to generate and renew preference information including a preference value with respect to a plurality of elements relating to a preference for the content according to the history information; and a content recommending unit operable to calculate a preference degree for the content according to the preference information and the explanation information with respect to the content and to make a content record reservation according to the preference degree; wherein the content is recorded according to the content record reservation. In this way, contents are recorded automatically in conformity with a user'"'"'s complicated and diversified preferences based on various operations by the user relating to the content preferences.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatic recommending of content, comprising:

preference operation history managing means for generating preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations;

preference information managing means for generating and renewing preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information; and

content recommending means for calculating a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and for recommending a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of operations include a record reservation operation for the content, an erase protecting operation for the content, and a keyword registering operation for searching the content.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the preference operation history managing means picks up a keyword from the explanation information by using a keyword dictionary and includes the picked up keyword in the history information when an operation other than the keyword registering operation is performed.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preference information managing means generates and renews the preference information by using a coefficient parameter for each of the plurality of elements.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of elements include a keyword, a genre, a content distribution time zone and a content distributing agency.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a number of keywords included in the plurality of elements has a limitation and when the limitation is exceeded, at least one keyword having a preference value equal to or less than a predetermined value is deleted from the plurality of elements.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preference information managing means equally compresses all of the preference values relating to the elements included in the plurality of elements, including preference values which exceed a predetermined upper-limit value.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content recommending means makes a content record reservation for contents based on a size of vacant regions of the recording apparatus and a size of the preference degree for each of the contents.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content recommending means includes means for scheduling a content record reservation for the recommended portion of the content, the recommended portion of the content being recorded according to the content record reservation.

10. An automatic content recommending method, comprising:

providing a processor that carries out the following steps;

generating preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations,

generating and renewing preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information, and

calculating a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and recommending a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

11. A recording medium recorded with a computer program for executing a process for automatically recommending content, the process comprising:

generating preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations;

generating and renewing preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information; and

calculating a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and recommending a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

12. A system, comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions; and

instructions for executing a process for automatically recommending content, the instructions including;

generating preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations,

generating and renewing preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information, and

calculating a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and recommending a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

13. An apparatus for automatic recommending of content, comprising:

preference operation history managing means for generating preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations, and for picking up a keyword from the plurality of explanation information using a keyword dictionary when an operation other than a keyword registering operation is performed so as to include the picked up keyword in the preference operation history information;

preference information managing means for generating and renewing preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information; and

content recommending means for calculating a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and for recommending a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the preference operation history managing means generates the history information by using a preference value parameter for each kind of the plurality of operations.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of operations include a record reservation operation for the content, an erase protecting operation for the content and a keyword registering operation for searching the content.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the preference information managing means generates and renews the preference information by using a coefficient parameter for each of the plurality of elements.

17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of elements include a keyword, a genre, a content distribution time zone and a content distributing agency.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a number of keywords included in the plurality of elements has a limitation and when the limitation is exceeded, at least one keyword having a preference value equal to or less than a predetermined value is deleted from the plurality of elements.

19. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the preference information managing means equally compresses all of the preference values relating to the elements included in the plurality of elements, including preference values which exceed a predetermined upper-limit value.

20. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the content recommending means makes a content record reservation for contents based on a size of vacant regions of the recording apparatus and a size of the preference degree for each of the contents.

21. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the content recommending means includes means for scheduling a content record reservation for the recommended portion of the content, the recommended portion of the content being recorded according to the content record reservation.

22. An automatic content recommending method, comprising:

providing a processor that carries out the following steps;

generating preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations, and picking up a keyword from the plurality of explanation information using a keyword dictionary when an operation other than a keyword registering operation is performed so as to include the picked up keyword in the preference operation history information,

generating and renewing preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information, and

calculating a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and recommending a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

23. A recording medium recorded with a computer program for executing a process for automatically recommending content, the process comprising:

generating preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations, and picking up a keyword from the plurality of explanation information using a keyword dictionary when an operation other than a keyword registering operation is performed so as to include the picked up keyword in the preference operation history information;

generating and renewing preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information; and

calculating a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and recommending a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

24. A system, comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions; and

instructions for executing a process for automatically recommending content, the instructions including;

generating preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations, and picking up a keyword from the plurality of explanation information using a keyword dictionary when an operation other than a keyword registering operation is performed so as to include the picked up keyword in the preference operation history information,

generating and renewing preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information, and

calculating a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and recommending a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

25. An automatic content recommending apparatus, comprising:

a preference operation history managing section operable to generate preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations;

a preference information managing section operable to generate and renew preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information; and

preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and to recommend a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.

26. An content recommending apparatus, comprising:

a preference operation history managing section operable to generate preference operation history information from a plurality of operations that is performed on particular content and that relates to preferences for the content and from a plurality of explanation information relating to the content, the preference operation history information being generated using a plurality of operation preference value parameters that correspond to a plurality of kinds of operations associated with the plurality of operations, and to pick up a keyword from the plurality of explanation information using a keyword dictionary when an operation other than a keyword registering operation is performed so as to include the picked up keyword in the preference operation history information;

a preference information managing section operable to generate and renew preference information that includes a plurality of preference values corresponding to a plurality of preference elements relating to the preferences for the content, the plurality of preference values being determined based on the preference operation history information; and

a content recommending section operable to calculate a preference degree relating to the content using the generated and renewed preference information and the plurality of explanation information relating to the content, and to recommend a specific portion of the content based on the preference degree.