Method, system and apparatus for conveying personalized content to a viewer

• US 8,127,331 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: Heilbron, Maarten Boudewijn, Ratsch, Peter Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLYNN, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US11/571,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20080301736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,261 Days
• Field of Search: 725/61, 725 46- 47
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• 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 21/4312 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

According to embodiments of the present invention a method, system and apparatus for conveying personalized content to a viewer is provided. A method for conveying personalized content comprises obtaining an indication of viewer-selected content and receiving an indication of a viewing time by which a target receiver device is required to have received the viewer-selected content. The method further comprises determining a delivery window based on the viewing time and generating a delivery component including the viewer-selected content and an identifier associated with the target receiver device. The method further comprises causing the delivery component to be delivered to the target receiver device during the delivery window.

Claims

1. A method for execution by a content provider comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface on a screen connected to a target receiver device to request inputting of an indication of a report, an indication of a desired time of viewing and an indication of a desired frequency of viewing;

determining a delivery window based at least on the desired time of viewing;

requesting content for the report;

generating a delivery component including a completed report and an identifier associated with the target receiver device; and

causing the delivery component to be delivered to the target receiver device during the delivery window, wherein said causing comprises;

broadcasting the delivery component to a plurality of receiver devices, the plurality of receiver devices comprising the target receiver device; and

exclusively authorizing the target receiver device to acquire the delivery component;

wherein said requesting, said generating and said causing are carried out at the desired frequency of viewing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said screen is implemented as part of a computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said screen is implemented as part of a television.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said screen is implemented as part of a wireless communication device, a cellular phone, a wireless e-mail device or a Personal Digital Assistant.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising soliciting the viewer to provide said identifier associated with the target receiver device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising soliciting the viewer to provide said indication of a desired time of viewing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining a delivery window comprises calculating a delivery beginning time which occurs at a pre-determined time interval before the desired time of viewing, the pre-determined time interval being sufficient for the target receiver device to acquire said delivery component.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether said viewer-selected content comprises generic content and, in the affirmative, said causing the delivery component to be delivered further comprises:

compiling a generic broadcast component;

broadcasting said generic broadcast component to the plurality of receiver devices;

transmitting an identifier of said generic broadcast component to the target receiver device to enable said target receiver device to acquire said generic broadcast component during the delivery window.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitting an identifier is performed before said transmitting said generic broadcast component.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said indication of a report comprises a selection code.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said causing the delivery component to be delivered further comprises inserting said delivery component into a broadcast stream at a beginning of said delivery window.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising maintaining said delivery component on said broadcast stream until an end of said delivery window.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising maintaining said delivery component on said broadcast stream for a portion of said delivery window, said portion sufficient to enable the target receiver device to acquire said delivery component.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said causing the delivery component to be delivered comprises packetizing said delivery component and forwarding said packetized delivery component to the target receiver device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of an identifier of the target receiver device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading an iTV application to said target receiver device.

17. A set top box registered to a viewer, the set top box comprising:

a first interface operable to receive a content stream from a content provider;

a second interface adapted to receive from the viewer an indication of a report, an indication of a desired time of viewing and an indication of a desired frequency of viewing;

a processing unit coupled to said first and second interfaces, the processing unit operable for;

effecting a transmission to the content provider of said indication of a report, said indication of a desired time of viewing and said indication of a desired frequency of viewing, said transmission being instrumental in causing a delivery component to be broadcast to all potential recipient set top boxes before the viewing time, the delivery component comprising a completed report for the viewer;

waking up at a pre-determined time before the desired time of viewing to acquire the delivery component from the content provider by the desired time of viewing via said first interface;

and

conveying the completed report to the viewer

wherein the waking up and the conveying are carried out at the desired frequency of viewing.

18. The set-top box of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is operable for effecting said transmission via said first interface.

19. The set top box of claim 17, wherein said set-top box comprises a third interface for connecting to a telephone line;

and wherein the processing unit is operable for effecting said transmission via said third interface.

20. The set-top box of claim 17, wherein said second interface is operable to receive signals from a control device.

21. The set-top box of claim 17, wherein said first interface is adapted for satellite broadcast reception.

22. The set-top box of claim 17, where said first interface is adapted for a coaxial cable transmission.

23. The set-top box of claim 17, wherein said first interface is adapted for receiving said content stream from an xDSL-based distribution system.

24. A system for content delivery, comprising:

a target receiver device;

a content provider for distributing a content stream to a plurality of receiver devices, the plurality of receiver devices including the target receiver device;

the content provider operable for;

presenting a graphical user interface on a screen connected to the target receiver device to request inputting of an indication of a report, an indication of a desired time of viewing and an indication of a desired frequency of viewing;

determining a delivery window based at least on the desired time of viewing;

requesting content for the report;

generating a delivery component including a completed report and an identifier associated with the target receiver device; and

causing the delivery component to be delivered to the target receiver device during the delivery window;

broadcasting the delivery component to a plurality of receiver devices, the plurality of receiver devices comprising the target receiver device; and

exclusively authorizing the target receiver device to acquire the delivery component

wherein said requesting, said generating and said causing are carried out at the desired frequency of viewing.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a broadcast distribution network connecting said target receiver device and said content provider.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said broadcast distribution network comprises a satellite broadcast network.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said broadcast distribution network comprises a coaxial cable distribution network.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said distribution network comprises an xDSL-based distribution network.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the screen is implemented as part of a computing apparatus connected to said content provider via a data network;

and wherein said computing apparatus is operable to generate a selection code that represents at least a portion of said indication of a report.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said computing apparatus is further operable to transmit said selection code to said content provider.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein said target receiver device is operable to store an indication of the desired time of viewing.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said target receiver device is operable to wake up at a pre-determined time before the desired time of viewing to acquire the delivery component from said content provider.

33. The system of claim 24, further comprising a second receiver device;

said second receiver device being operable to;

solicit an indication of the identifier associated with the target receiver device; and

transmit said indication of the identifier associated with the target receiver device to the content provider.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein said target receiver device is operable to wake up at a pre-determined time before the desired time of viewing to acquire the delivery component from the content provider.