Dynamic adjustment of EPG level of detail based on user behavior

• US 7,814,512 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wasserman, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Montoya; Oschta
• Application Number:
  US10/260,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,937 Days
• Field of Search: 725/46
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/185 Thawing materials
• 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 21/44222 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 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Systems and methods described herein related to dynamically adjusting levels of detail of content event descriptions contained in an EPG according to a user'"'"'s behavior. Predictions are made based on the user'"'"'s behavior as to which content events the user may desire to see a more detailed description for. Rankings are assigned to future events based on the user'"'"'s behavior. When it comes time to update the EPG (i.e., download event descriptions for one or more new time periods), the rankings are utilized to determine which events should have event descriptions of a greater detail stored for them. Memory is more efficiently utilized by having high level event descriptions available for events in which the user is likely to be interested and low level event descriptions available for events in which the user is probably not interested.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

downloading, by a client device, from a server into a memory of the client device an electronic programming guide (EPG) that includes multiple first level of detail event descriptions, one for each of multiple content events available through the EPG;

using, by client device, client viewing behavior to predict events that are likely to be of interest to a user of the client device;

for the predicted events, downloading, by the client device, from the server into the memory of the client device a respective second level of detail event description;

in response to downloading the second level of detail event descriptions, deleting, by the client device, the first level of detail event descriptions for the predicted events; and

in response to downloading second level of detail event descriptions, selectively deleting, by the client device, event descriptions from the memory of the client device based on an amount of available memory space to store event descriptions.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second level of detail event descriptions are more detailed than corresponding first level of detail event descriptions.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

rank ordering one or more of the multiple content events according to the client viewing behavior; and

downloading the second level of detail event descriptions based on the ranking.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client viewing behavior comprises the client device accessing at least one episode of a content event series, which indicates that a second level of detail event description should be downloaded for one or more future episodes of the content event series.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client viewing behavior comprises the client device frequently accessing a particular programming channel, which indicates that a second level of detail event description should be downloaded for one or more future events appearing on the particular programming channel.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client viewing behavior comprises the client device detecting an event recommendation from a content provider, which indicates that a second level of detail event description should be downloaded for an event identified by the event recommendation.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client viewing behavior comprises accessing at least a threshold number of events of a particular genre, which indicates that a second level of detail event description should be downloaded for one or more future events of the same genre.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the particular genre is a genre selected from the following list of genres:

drama, comedy, science fiction, documentary, mystery, western, action, or suspense.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client viewing behavior comprises a client request for a second level of detail event description for one or more events.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first level of detail event descriptions comprise an event title and an event start time for particular events.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client device is a television.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client device is a set top box connected to a television.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client device is a computing device.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second level of detail event descriptions include all data contained in corresponding first level of detail event descriptions plus additional data.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the events are television programs.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the events are audio programs.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each second level of detail event description includes a brief summary of a respective event that is not included in corresponding first level of detail event descriptions.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising downloading a third level of detail event description for an event when indicated by client behavior, the third level of detail event description being more detailed than a corresponding second level of detail event description.

19. One or more computer storage memory devices containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on a computer, perform the following steps:

downloading, by a client device, from a server into a memory of the client device an electronic programming guide (EPG) that includes multiple first level of detail event descriptions, one for each of multiple content events available through the EPG;

using, by the client device, client viewing behavior to predict events that are likely to be of interest to a user of the client device;

for the predicted events, downloading, by the client device, from the server into the memory of the client device a respective second level of detail event description;

in response to downloading the second level of detail event descriptions, deleting, by the client device, the first level of detail event descriptions for the predicted events; and

in response to downloading second level of detail event descriptions, selectively deleting, by the client device, event descriptions from the memory of the client device based on an amount of available memory space to store event descriptions.

20. The one or more computer storage memory devices as recited in claim 19, wherein the events comprise television programs.

21. The one or more computer storage memory devices as recited in claim 19, wherein the events comprise multimedia programs.

22. A client device, comprising:

a processor;

connection means to provide a connection between the client device and a broadcast network;

memory to store multiple event descriptions for events accessible by the client device over the broadcast network; and

an electronic programming guide (EPG) application configured to download an EPG over the broadcast network that displays event information for events available through the client device, the EPG containing a respective base level of detail event descriptions for each of the available events, the EPG application comprising;

a monitor configured to monitor events accessed by the client device to determine and record client device behavior;

a controller configured to determine that a user of the client device prefers an enhanced level of detail event description for an event available via the client device; and

a download module configured to;

download the enhanced level of detail event description for the event,

delete the base level of detail event description for the event, and

selectively delete event descriptions from the memory of the client device based on an amount of available memory space to store event descriptions such that at least one available event is left without an event description stored in memory.

23. The client device as recited in claim 22, wherein the enhanced level of detail event description for the event comprises at least a first and a second enhanced level of detail event descriptions, the first enhanced level of detail event description containing greater detail than the base level of detail event description, and the second enhanced level of detail event description containing greater detail than the first enhanced level of detail event description.

24. The client device as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitor is further configured to rank order one or more of the monitored events according to the recorded client device behavior;

and the download module is further configured to download the enhanced level of detail event description based on the rank of an event.

25. The client device as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitor is further configured to determine when the client device accesses at least one episode of an event series;

and the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for future episodes in the event series when the monitor determines that one episode of the series has been accessed.

26. The client device as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitor is further configured to determine when a particular channel is accessed frequently by the client device;

and the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for one or more future events on a frequently accessed channel.

27. The client device as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitor is further configured to determine when an event is recommended by a content provider;

and the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for events recommended by the content provider.

28. The client device as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitor is further configured to identify a particular event genre that is frequently accessed by the client device;

and the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for events of a frequently accessed genre.

29. The client device as recited in claim 22, wherein the monitor is further configured to identify events selected by a user;

and the download module is further configured to download an enhanced level of detail event description for events selected by the user.

30. The client device as recited in claim 22, further comprising a set top box housing.

31. The client device as recited in claim 22, further comprising a television.

32. The client device as recited in claim 22, further comprising a personal computing device.

33. The client device as recited in claim 22, wherein the download module is further configured to replace a base level of detail event description for the event with the enhanced level of detail description for the event when the enhanced level of detail description is downloaded.