Convergence of interactive television and wireless technologies

• US 7,900,229 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Dureau, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US10/271,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,059 Days
• Field of Search: 725/46, 725 9- 25, 705/14
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/466 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing user profiles in an interactive television system. An interactive television system includes a broadcast station, a set-top box, and a remote mobile or fixed unit. The system is configured to create and/or update a user profile in response to an access made in a first access mode. In response to detecting a user access in a second access mode, the system accesses the user profile, selects data based at least in part on the user profile, and transmits the data to the user.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a user profile in an interactive television system, the method comprising:

updating a user profile responsive to a first user activity, the first user activity being initiated via a first device;

initiating a second user activity, the second user activity being initiated via a second device which is different from the first device, wherein either

(i) the first user activity is related to television viewing and the second user activity is unrelated to television viewing, or

(ii) the first user activity is unrelated to television viewing and the second user activity is related to television viewing;

accessing the user profile in response to the second user activity; and

transmitting data to a user responsive to the second user activity, wherein the transmitted data is based at least in part on the user profile, and wherein the first user activity affects a content of said data transmitted to the user responsive to the second user activity.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating said user profile in response to said second user activity.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising selecting non-requested data based on said user profile and transmitting said non-requested data.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said non-requested data comprises an advertisement targeted to the user.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first user activity comprises an activity related to television viewing and the first device comprises a television receiver, and said second user activity is performed via a remote device that does not utilize the television receiver.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said first user activity is via a set-top box, said remote device is a wireless mobile unit, and wherein said set-top box and mobile unit are configured to communicate with one another.

7. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising detecting a physical location of the second device;

and selecting the data to be transmitted at least in part on the physical location of the second device.

8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the remote device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a fixed unit, and a portable computer system.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first user activity is performed via a remote device that does not utilize a television receiver, and said second user activity comprises an activity related to television viewing and the second device comprises a television receiver.

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

determining the type of said second device;

accessing a device profile corresponding to the second device;

formatting said data to correspond to said device profile prior to transmitting the data; and

transmitting the data to the second device.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising storing the user profile at one or more of a television broadcast station, user set-top box, or other remote location configured to communicate within the system.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating the user profile in response to detecting a physical location of a user'"'"'s location trackable mobile unit.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user profile is based on data obtained in a passive manner, active manner, or both.

14. An interactive television system comprising:

a remote unit;

a set-top box; and

a broadcast station coupled to convey a programming signal to the set-top box;

wherein the system is configured to;

update a user profile responsive to a first user activity, the first user activity being initiated via a first device corresponding to one of the remote unit and the set-top box;

detect a second user activity, the second user activity being initiated via a second device corresponding to one of the remote unit and the set-top box, the second device being different from the first device, wherein either

(i) the first user activity comprises an activity related to television viewing and the second user activity comprises an activity unrelated to television viewing, or

(ii) the first user activity comprises an activity unrelated to television viewing and the second user activity comprises an activity related to television viewing;

access the user profile in response to the second user activity; and

transmit data responsive to the second user activity, wherein the transmitted data is based at least in part on the user profile, and wherein the first user activity affects a content of said data transmitted to the user responsive to the second user activity.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the system is configured to update the user profile in response to the second user activity.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first device is the remote unit, said first user activity is via the remote unit and does not utilize the set-top box, and wherein the second device is the set-top box and the second user activity utilizes the set-top box.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the system is further configured to:

determine the type of the second device;

access a device profile corresponding to the second device;

format the data to correspond to the device profile prior to transmitting the data; and

transmit the data to the second device.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the user profile is stored at one or more of a television broadcast station, user set-top box, or other remote location configured to communicate within the television system.

19. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the system is further configured to select non-requested data based on said user profile and transmit said non-requested data to a user.

20. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the first device is the set-top box and the first user activity is performed via the set-top box, and wherein the second device is the remote unit and the second user activity is performed via the remote unit and does not utilize the set-top box.

21. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein said set-top box and remote unit are configured to communicate with one another.

22. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the system is further configured to detect a physical location of the second device;

and select the data to be transmitted at least in part on the detected location.

23. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the remote device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a fixed unit, and a portable computer system.

24. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the system is further configured to update the user profile in response to detecting a physical location of a user'"'"'s location trackable mobile unit.

25. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the user profile is based on data obtained in a passive manner, active manner, or both.

26. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, or triggers to launch execution of program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by a computing device to:

update a user profile responsive to a first activity, the first user activity being initiated via a first device;

detect a second user activity, the second user activity being initiated via a second device which is different from the first device, wherein either

(i) the first user activity comprises an activity related to television viewing and the second user activity comprises an activity unrelated to television viewing, or

(ii) the first user activity comprises an activity unrelated to television viewing and the second user activity comprises an activity related to television viewing;

access the user profile in response to the second user activity; and

transmit data responsive to the second user activity, wherein the transmitted data is based at least in part on the user profile, and wherein the first user activity affects a content of said data transmitted to the user responsive to the second user activity.

27. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the first user activity is performed via a set-top box, and the second user activity is performed via the remote unit and does not utilize the set-top box.

28. The carrier medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the remote unit is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a fixed unit, and a portable computer system.

29. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

determine the type of the second device;

access a device profile corresponding to the second device;

format the data to correspond to the device profile prior to transmitting the data; and

transmit the data to the second device.

30. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the program instructions are executable to select non-requested data based on said user profile and transmit said non-requested data to a user.

31. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the program instructions are executable to select the data to be transmitted at least in part on the detected physical location of the second device.

32. The carrier medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the user profile is based on data obtained in a passive manner, active manner, or both.