Set top terminal for organizing program options available in television delivery system

• US 7,770,196 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• 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: Hendricks, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHELEHEDA, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US09/966,594
• Time in Patent Office: 3,228 Days
• Field of Search: 725/46, 725/47, 725/54, 725/50
• US Class Current: 725/50
• 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 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/86 Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/22 per use
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/96 CATV systems for accessing the Internet H04H60/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/97 : using uplink of the CATV systems
• 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 21/25891 : 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 21/4181 : for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• 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 21/4312 : 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 21/4385 : 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 21/4622 : 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 21/64307 : 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 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• 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 set top terminal is disclosed for creating a favorites menu of television programs available for viewing, based on a user'"'"'s preferences. The terminal receives a television signal from an operations center, extracts individual programs from the signal, and sends one or more of the individual programs to a television for display, based on a selection by the user. The terminal generates an interactive electronic program guide for the selection of programs. The favorites menu of the guide narrows the list of available programs to those most likely of interest to the user. The terminal receives and stores user information, including general demographic information and viewing preference information. The viewing preference information may be received directly from the user, for example by querying the user. Alternatively, it may be learned by tracking the user'"'"'s viewing habits. The viewing preference information may include, for example, frequently-watched channels, frequently-watched programs, or information related to program content. The user information may be stored in a user profile. Using the user information, the terminal identifies those programs available for viewing that most closely match the user information. A program menu including the identified programs is then generated for display on a television.

Claims

1. A set top terminal for generating an interactive electronic program guide for display on a television connected to the set top terminal, the terminal comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform;

retrieving information via a program control information signal of a program selected from a plurality of programs and watched by a subscriber;

storing said information;

identifying frequently-watched programs most often watched by said subscriber based upon said stored information;

receiving a television signal;

generating an electronic program guide for controlling display of content on a television screen based on a reprogrammable menu format stored in the memory, wherein a reprogramming of the reprogrammable menu format occurs subsequent to receiving an interruption sequence on a program control information channel, the interruption sequence advising that reprogramming information follows, and wherein the guide comprises a favorites menu including names of programs available for selection, wherein the programs included in the favorites menu are based on the identified frequently-watched programs;

receiving selection signals from a subscriber input of a program that will be broadcast at a future time selected from said favorites menu;

notifying said subscriber that a change of channel is imminent based upon nearing said future time of said program that will be broadcast at said future time; and

changing said channel to said program at said future time.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, further perform storing in memory identifiers of the frequently-watched programs.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the retrieving of said information includes identifying frequently-watched channels and storing in memory the frequently-watched channels.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the menu includes a list of frequently-watched programs.

5. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the generating of the electronic program guide includes generating the favorites menu to display programs selected from the identified frequently-watched programs.

6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein an allocation of a bandwidth associated with the received television signal is dynamically changed based on a category of programming associated with the received television signal, and wherein a menu capacity associated with the electronic program guide is dynamically modified by adding or deleting at least one submenu in response to the change in bandwidth.

7. A set top terminal comprising:

means for receiving information via a program control information signal about television viewing preferences of a subscriber;

a memory that stores the information;

means for identifying frequently-watched programs most often watched by said subscriber based upon said stored information;

means for receiving a television signal from an operations center;

means for extracting from the television signal individual programs for display on a television associated with the terminal;

means for generating an interactive program menu on the television based on a reprogrammable menu format received from a cable head end and stored in the memory, wherein a reprogramming of the reprogrammable menu format occurs subsequent to receiving an interruption sequence on a program control information channel, listing a group of available programs, the group being selected based on said identified frequently-watched programs;

means for receiving a signal from a subscriber input device selecting a program available at a future time selected from said group of identified frequently-watched programs;

means for notifying said subscriber that a change of channel is imminent based upon nearing said future time of said selected program available at said future time; and

means for changing said channel to said selected program at said future time.

8. The terminal of claim 7, wherein the television viewing preferences include frequently-watched channels.

9. The terminal of claim 7, further comprising:

means for receiving program content information for the individual programs from the operations center,

wherein the means for generating comprises means for generating the menu including said identified frequently-watched programs.

10. A set top terminal comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform;

matching individual programs to a subscriber based upon information received via a program control information signal about television viewing preferences of said subscriber and identifying frequently-watched programs most often watched by said subscriber;

generating an interactive program menu based on a reprogrammable menu format stored in the memory that displays a group of programs based on said identified frequently-watched programs, wherein a reprogramming of the reprogrammable menu format occurs subsequent to receiving an interruption sequence, the interruption sequence advising that reprogramming information follows;

receiving a signal from a subscriber input device selecting a program available at a future time selected from said group of programs based on said identified frequently-watched programs;

notifying said subscriber that a change of channel is imminent based upon nearing said future time of said selected program available at said future time; and

changing said channel to said selected program at said future time.

11. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the matching of the individual programs to said subscriber comprises matching based on information regarding content of the individual programs provided in said program control information signal.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform;

retrieving information via a program control information signal of a program selected from a plurality of programs;

storing said information;

identifying frequently-watched programs most often watched by a subscriber based upon said stored information;

receiving a television signal;

extracting individual programs from the television signal;

generating an electronic program guide based on a reprogrammable menu format stored in the memory for controlling display of content on a television screen, wherein a reprogramming of the reprogrammable menu format occurs subsequent to receiving an interruption sequence on a program control information channel, the interruption sequence advising that reprogramming information follows, and wherein the guide comprises a favorites menu including names of programs available for selection, wherein the programs included in the favorites menu are based on the identified frequently-watched programs;

receiving selection signals from a subscriber input of a program that will be broadcast at a future time selected from said favorites menu;

notifying said subscriber that a change of channel is imminent based upon nearing said future time of said program that will be broadcast at said future time; and

changing said channel to said program at said future time.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to perform:

decompressing the television signal to obtain the extracted individual programs from the television signal,

wherein said generating of said electronic program guide includes at least one of the extracted individual programs.

14. A method comprising:

retrieving information via a program control information signal of a program selected from a plurality of programs;

storing said information;

identifying frequently-watched programs most often watched by a subscriber based upon said stored information;

receiving a television signal;

extracting individual programs from the television signal;

generating an electronic program guide based on a reprogrammable menu format stored in a memory, wherein a reprogramming of the reprogrammable menu format occurs subsequent to receiving an interruption sequence on a program control information channel, the interruption sequence advising that reprogramming information follows, and wherein the electronic program guide controls display of content on a television screen, the guide comprising a favorites menu including names of programs available for selection, wherein the programs included in the favorites menu are based on the identified frequently-watched programs;

receiving selection signals from a subscriber input of a program that will be broadcast at a future time selected from said favorites menu;

notifying said subscriber that a change of channel is imminent based upon nearing said future time of said program that will be broadcast at said future time; and

changing said channel to said program at said future time.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

decompressing the television signal to obtain the extracted individual programs from the television signal,

wherein said generating of said electronic program guide includes at least one of the extracted individual programs.