System and method for common interest analysis among multiple users

• US 8,051,078 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lau, Clement, Wang, Annie, Gauba, Ravi, Rafey, Richter A., Hofrichter, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Cam Y T
• Application Number:
  US11/243,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,219 Days
• Field of Search: 707/732, 707/999.03, 707/999.1, 707/736
• US Class Current: 707/732
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A multi-media broadcasting system that links a user profiles associated with a first user with a second user profile associated with a second user, where the first and second user profiles each comprise an indication of an interest common to the first and second users. The user profiles allow a user to customize a viewing experience via the broadcasting system. In addition, the system detects a content update to the first user profile, wherein the content update is associated with a content item that comprises content having a characteristic within the interest common to the first and second users. Furthermore, the system notifies the second user of the content update if the second user profile has not been updated with the content update.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

linking, a set-top-box without user input, a first user profile associated with a first user of a multi-user broadcasting system with a second user profile associated with a second user of the multi-user broadcasting system, wherein the linking is based on a program interest that is common to the first and second users, and wherein each user profile allows its associated user to customize a viewing experience received via the multi-user broadcasting system and the program interest is selected from the group consisting of type of program, genre of program, and content of program, wherein the linking includes determining the profiles that have a common interest which is of interest to corresponding the first and second users by using a filter;

detecting a user common interest content update to the first user profile, wherein the user common interest content update is associated with a content item having the program interest that is common to the first and second users; and

notifying the second user of the user common interest content update without updating the second user profile with the user common interest content update;

receiving an indication from the second user to update the second user profile with the user common interest content update; and

automatically updating the second user profile with the user common interest content update.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which when executed in a processing system performs a method for updating user profiles comprising:

linking, by a set top box without user input, a first user profile associated with a first user of a multi-user broadcasting system with a second user profile associated with a second user of the multi-user broadcasting system, wherein the linking is based on a program interest that is common to the first and second users, and wherein each user profile allows its associated user to customize a viewing experience received via the multi-user broadcasting system and the program interest is selected from the group consisting of type of program, genre of program, and content of program, wherein the linking includes determining the profiles that have a common interest which is of interest to corresponding the first and second users by using a filter;

detecting a user common interest content update to the first user profile, wherein the user common interest content update is associated with a content item having the program interest that is common to the first and second users;

notifying the second user of the content update without updating the second user profile with the user common interest content update;

receiving an indication from the second user to update the second user profile with the user common interest content update; and

automatically updating the second user profile with the user common interest content update.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor though a bus;

a storage device to store a first user profile associated with a first user of a multi-user broadcasting system and a second user profile associated with a second user of the multi-user broadcasting system, wherein the first and second user profiles each comprise an indication of a program interest common to the first and second users, and wherein each user profile allows its associated user to customize a viewing experience received via the multi-user broadcasting system and the program interest is selected from the group consisting of type of program, genre of program, and content of program, wherein the linking includes determining the profiles that have a common interest which is of interest to corresponding the first and second users by using a filter; and

coded instructions stored in the memory which, when executed, cause the processor to;

link, without user input, the first user profile and the second user profile based on the common program interest,

detect a user common interest content update to the first user profile, wherein the user common interest content update is associated with a content item having the program interest that is common to the first and second users,

notify the second user of the content update without updating the second user profile with the user common interest content update,

receive an indication from the second user to update the second user profile with the user common interest content update, and automatically update the second user profile with the user common interest content update.

4. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor though a bus; and

coded instructions stored in the memory which, when executed, cause the processor to;

link, without user input, a first user profile associated with a first user of a multi-user broadcasting system with a second user profile associated with a second user of the multi-user broadcasting system, wherein the linking is based on a program interest that is common to the first and second users, and wherein each user profile allows its associated user to customize a viewing experience received via the multi-user broadcasting system and the program interest is selected from the group consisting of type of program, genre of program, and content of program, wherein the linking includes determining the profiles that have a common interest which is of interest to corresponding the first and second users by using a filter;

detect a user common interest content update to the first user profile, wherein the user common interest content update is associated with a content item having the program interest that is common to the first and second users;

notify the second user of the content update without updating the second user profile with the user common interest content update,

receive an indication from the second user to update the second user profile with the user common interest content update, and automatically update the second user profile with the user common interest content update.