Virtual program list providing system

• US 7,650,619 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mineyama, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce; Jason P
• Application Number:
  US09/979,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,219 Days
• Field of Search: 725/34, 725/46, 725/9
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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 21/26233 involving content or additional data duration or size, e.g. length of a movie, size of an executable file
• 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 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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

Abstract

A control unit (15) of a virtual program table producing apparatus (2) produces users program viewing inclination information on the basis of a program viewing history of a user stored by a storage unit (12) accumulated in a data base (11) for storing a program viewing history of a program viewed by a user, classifies users into a group on the basis of individual information of a user, produces group program viewing inclination information showing that each group views what program from the program viewing history of a user belonging to each group, organizes each program broadcast in a plurality of real channels having a predetermined frequency band in a virtual channel virtually having a frequency band owned by the plurality of real channels on the basis of the user'"'"'s taste, the user program viewing inclination information and the group program viewing inclination information, fetches program information of a virtual channel organized from the data base (11) for accumulating program information which is attribute information of a program broadcast in the real channels, and arranges the fetched program information on the basis of the virtual channel to produce a virtual program table.

Claims

1. A virtual program table producing apparatus comprising:

means for storing a program viewing history of viewed programs;

means for producing user program viewing inclination information indicating a first program a first user views based on the user'"'"'s stored program viewing history, the first user program viewing inclination information including a first value indicating a number of times the first user views the first program, wherein the first value is a numerical value that is incremented each time the first user views the first program for an amount of time greater than a predetermined amount of time;

means for producing group program viewing inclination information indicating a second program a group of users view, based on the stored program viewing history, wherein the group program viewing inclination information includes a second value indicating a number of times the group of users view the second program;

means for receiving a policy value indicating a preference of the first user;

means for organizing a virtual channel by organizing programs broadcast in real channels having a predetermined frequency band into virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information, the group program viewing inclination information, and the policy value, wherein a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information is in ratio with a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the group program viewing inclination information, the ratio being identified by the policy value;

means for accumulating program information as attribute information of programs broadcast in the real channels; and

means for producing a virtual program table by fetching program information of the programs from the accumulated program information and associating the fetched program information, in the virtual program table, with the virtual channels.

2. The virtual program table producing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the virtual channel includes programs not viewed by the first user.

3. The virtual program table producing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for transmitting the virtual program table.

4. The virtual program table producing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for virtual channel changing replacing a program organized in the virtual channel by a program organized in the real channel based on the first value and the second value.

5. The virtual program table producing apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

means for producing program recording reservation setting scripts generating control commands for recording, in a recording medium, a program organized in the virtual channel.

6. The virtual program table producing apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

means for transmitting the program recording reservation setting scripts.

7. A virtual program table producing method performed by a virtual program table producing apparatus, the method comprising:

producing user program viewing inclination information indicating a first program a first user views based on the first user'"'"'s program viewing history, the user program viewing inclination information including a first value indicating a number of times the first user views the first program, wherein the first value is a numerical value that is incremented by the virtual program table producing apparatus each time the first user views the first program for an amount of time greater than a predetermined amount of time;

classifying users into groups based on individual information of the users;

producing group program viewing inclination information indicating a second program a group of users view, based on program viewing history of the group of users, wherein the group program viewing inclination information includes a second value indicating a number of times the group of users view the second program;

receiving a policy value indicating a preference of the first user;

organizing programs broadcast in channels having a predetermined frequency band into virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information, the group program viewing inclination information, and the policy value, wherein a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information is in ratio with a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the group program viewing inclination information, the ratio being identified by the policy value; and

producing a virtual program table by associating attribute information corresponding to program information of the programs with the virtual channels.

8. The virtual program table producing method of claim 7, wherein the virtual channel includes a program not viewed by the first user.

9. The virtual program table producing method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the virtual program table.

10. The virtual program table producing method of claim 7, further comprising replacing a program organized in the virtual channel with a program organized in the real channel based on the first value and second value.

11. The virtual program table producing method of claim 10, further comprising producing program recording reservation setting scripts generating control commands for recording, in a recording medium, a program organized in the virtual channel.

12. The virtual program table producing method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the program recording reservation setting scripts.

13. A virtual program table presenting system comprising:

means for storing a program viewing history of viewed programs;

a virtual program table producing apparatus comprising;

means for producing user program viewing inclination information indicating a first program a first user views based on the first user'"'"'s stored program viewing history, the user program viewing inclination information including a first value indicating a number of times the first user views the first program, wherein the first value is a numerical value that is incremented each time the first user views the first program for an amount of time greater than a predetermined amount of time;

means for producing group program viewing inclination information indicating a second program a group of users view, based on the stored program viewing history, wherein the group program viewing inclination information includes a second value indicating a number of times the group of users view the second program;

means for receiving a policy value indicating a preference of the first user;

means for organizing a virtual channel by organizing programs broadcast in real channels having a predetermined frequency band into virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information, group program viewing inclination information, and the policy value, wherein a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information is in ratio with a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the group program viewing inclination information, the ratio being identified by the policy value;

means for accumulating program information as attribute information of programs broadcast in the real channels;

means for producing a virtual program table by fetching program information of the programs from the accumulated program information and associating the fetched program information, in the virtual program table, with the virtual channels; and

means for transmitting the virtual program table; and

a virtual program table receiving apparatus comprising;

input means for inputting individual information of the first user;

first means for receiving the virtual program table; and

means for displaying the received virtual program table.

14. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 13, wherein the virtual channel includes a program not viewed by the first user.

15. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 13, wherein the virtual program table producing apparatus further comprises means for replacing a program organized into the virtual channel with a program organized in the real channel.

16. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 15, wherein the virtual program table producing apparatus further comprises means for producing program recording reservation setting scripts generating control commands for recording, in a recording medium, a program arranged in the virtual channel.

17. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting transmits the program recording reservation setting scripts.

18. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 17, wherein the first means for receiving receives the program recording reservation setting scripts.

19. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 13, wherein the virtual program table receiving apparatus further comprises second means for receiving a program arranged in the virtual channel.

20. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 18, wherein the virtual program table receiving apparatus further comprises means for converting the received program recording reservation setting scripts into a control signal.

21. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 19, wherein the virtual program table receiving apparatus further comprises means for recording, in a recording medium, the program received by the second means for receiving.

22. The virtual program table presenting system of claim 20, wherein the virtual program table receiving apparatus further comprises:

means for driving and controlling the means for recording based on the converted control signal; and

means for recording, in the recording medium, the program received by the second means for receiving.

23. A virtual program table presenting method performed by a virtual program table producing apparatus, the method comprising:

producing user program viewing inclination information indicating a first program a first user views based on a user'"'"'s program viewing history, the user program viewing inclination information including a first value indicating a number of times the first user views the first program, wherein the first value is a numerical value that is incremented by the virtual program table producing apparatus each time the first user views the first program for an amount of time greater than a predetermined amount of time;

inputting individual information indicating attributes of users;

classifying the users into groups based on the individual information;

producing group program viewing inclination information indicating a second program a group of users view, based on a program viewing history of the group of users, wherein the group program viewing inclination information includes a second value indicating a number of times the group of users view the second program;

receiving a policy value indicating a preference of the first user;

organizing programs broadcast in channels having a predetermined frequency band into virtual channels based on the, user program viewing inclination information, the group program viewing inclination information, and the policy value, wherein a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information is in ratio with a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the group program viewing inclination information, the ratio being identified by the policy value; and

producing a virtual program table by associating attribute information corresponding to program information of the programs with a virtual channel;

transmitting the virtual program table;

receiving the transmitted virtual program table; and

displaying the received virtual program table.

24. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 23, wherein the virtual channel includes a program not viewed by the first user.

25. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 23, further comprising replacing a program organized in the virtual channel with a program organized in the real channel based on the first value and the second value.

26. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 25, further comprising producing recording reservation setting scripts to generate control commands for recording, in a recording medium, a program organized in the virtual channel.

27. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting the program recording reservation setting scripts.

28. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 27, further comprising receiving the program recording reservation setting scripts.

29. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 23, further comprising receiving a program organized in the virtual channel.

30. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 28, further comprising converting the received program recording reservation setting scripts into a control signal.

31. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 29, further comprising recording, in a recording medium, the received program.

32. The virtual program table presenting method of claim 30, further comprising recording, in a recording medium the received program.

33. A system of recording programs comprising:

means for storing a program viewing history of viewed programs;

a virtual program table producing apparatus comprising;

means for producing user program viewing inclination information indicating a first program a first user views based on the stored program viewing history, the user program viewing inclination information including a first value indicating a number of times the first user views the first program, wherein the first value is a numerical value that is incremented each time the first user views the first program for an amount of time greater than a predetermined amount of time;

means for producing group program viewing inclination information indicating a second program a group of users view, based on the stored program viewing history, wherein the group program viewing inclination information includes a second value indicating a number of times the group of users view the second program;

means for receiving a policy value indicating a preference of the first user;

means for organizing a virtual channel by organizing programs broadcast in real channels having a predetermined frequency band into virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information, the group program viewing inclination information, and the policy value, wherein a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information is in ratio with a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the group program viewing inclination information, the ratio being identified by the policy value; and

means for accumulating program information as attribute information of programs broadcast in the real channels;

means for producing a virtual program table by fetching program information of the programs from the accumulated program information and associating the fetched program information, in the virtual program table, with the virtual channels;

first means for transmitting the virtual program table;

means for producing program recording reservation setting scripts generating a control command for recording, in a recording medium, a program arranged in the virtual channel; and

second means for transmitting the program recording setting scripts;

a program recording reservation setting scripts receiving apparatus comprising;

means for inputting individual information of a user;

first means for receiving the transmitted virtual program table;

display means for displaying the received virtual program table;

second means for receiving the program recording reservation setting scripts transmitted by the second means for transmitting;

means for converting, into a control signal, the program recording reservation setting scripts received by the second means for receiving; and

third means for transmitting the converted control signal; and

a recording apparatus comprising;

third means for receiving a control signal transmitted by the third means for transmitting;

fourth means for receiving programs arranged in the virtual channel;

means for recording, in a recording medium, a program received by the fourth means for receiving; and

means for controlling the means for recording, the means for recording, recording, in a recording medium, a program received by the fourth means for receiving in response to the control signal received by third means for receiving.

34. The program recording system of claim 33, wherein the virtual channel includes a program not viewed by the first user.

35. The program recording system of claim 33, wherein the virtual program table producing apparatus further comprises means for virtual channel changing replacing a program organized in the virtual channel with a program arranged in the real channel.

36. A program recording method performed by a virtual program table producing apparatus, the method comprising:

producing user program viewing inclination information indicating a first program a first user views based on a user'"'"'s program viewing history, the user program viewing inclination information including a first value indicating a number of times the first user views the first program, wherein the first value is a numerical value that is incremented by the virtual program table producing apparatus each time the user views the first program for an amount of time greater than a predetermined amount of time;

inputting individual information indicating attributes of users;

classifying the users into groups based on the individual information;

producing group program viewing inclination information indicating a second program a group of users view, based on a program viewing history of the group of users, wherein the group program viewing inclination information includes a second value indicating a number of times the groups of users view the second program;

receiving a policy value indicating a preference of the first user;

organizing programs broadcast in real channels having a predetermined frequency band into virtual channels based on the, user program viewing inclination information, the group program viewing inclination information, and the policy value, wherein a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the user program viewing inclination information is in ratio with a number of programs organized in the virtual channels based on the group program viewing inclination information, the ratio being identified by the policy value;

producing program recording reservation setting scripts for generating control commands to record, in a recording medium, a program organized in the virtual channel;

transmitting the program recording reservation setting scripts;

receiving the transmitted program recording reservation setting scripts;

converting the received program recording reservation setting scripts into a control signal;

transmitting the control signal;

receiving the transmitted control signal;

receiving a program organized in the virtual channel in response to the received control signal; and

recording the received program in a recording medium.

37. The program recording method of claim 36, wherein the virtual channel includes a program not viewed by the first user.

38. The program recording method of claim 36, further comprising replacing a program organized in the virtual channel with a program organized in the real channel based on the first value and the second value.

39. A virtual content program guide producing apparatus comprising:

means for storing content utilizing history of utilized contents;

means for producing user content utilizing inclination information indicating a first content a first user utilizes based on the stored content utilizing history, the user content utilizing inclination information including a first value indicating a number of times the first user utilizes the first content, wherein the first value is a numerical value that is incremented each time the first user utilizes the first content for an amount of time greater than a predetermined amount of time;

means for producing group content utilizing inclination information classifying users into a group based on individual information of the users and producing group content utilizing inclination information indicating a second content a group of users utilize based on the stored content utilizing history, wherein the group content utilizing inclination information includes a second value indicating a number of times the group of users utilize the second content;

means for detecting content information as attribute information of contents;

means for accumulating the detected content information;

means for receiving a policy value indicating a preference of the first user;

means for organizing a virtual content group by organizing contents of a real content group into a virtual group based on the produced content utilizing inclination information, the accumulated content information, and the policy value, wherein a number of contents organized in the virtual group based on the produced content utilizing inclination information is in ratio with a number of contents organized in the virtual group based on the accumulated content information, the ratio being identified by the policy value; and

means for producing virtual content program guide by arranging the accumulated content information based on the virtual content group.

40. The virtual content program guide producing apparatus of claim 39, wherein the virtual content group includes content not utilized by the first user.

41. The virtual content program guide producing apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

means for transmitting the virtual content program guide.

42. The virtual content program guide producing apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for organizing organizes the virtual content group by including time sequence information, extracted from the attribute information, of the contents in the virtual content group.

43. The virtual content program guide producing apparatus of claim 39, wherein the real content group is accumulated and administered by one or more content presenting devices for presenting contents to the first user.