Method and apparatus for selecting customized multimedia content for a user in pervasive computing environments

• US 8,561,107 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Joseph Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONG, MICHAEL HYUN
• Application Number:
  US10/192,214
• Time in Patent Office: 4,115 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/46, 725/114, 725/37, 725/141, 725/39, 341/175
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 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 21/2668 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 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• 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 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts

Abstract

A method of delivering and minimizing duplication of multimedia content to users in pervasive computing environments is disclosed. A mobile device enters a first environment and establishes a short-range wireless connection to a non-mobile device in its proximity. The non-mobile device transmits metadata as it displays content. The metadata is received by the mobile device and stored in a local buffer. The mobile device accumulates a viewing history of content that has recently been viewed. The mobile device later enters a second environment and establishes short-range wireless connection to another non-mobile device. The viewing history is transmitted from the mobile to the non-mobile device and is used to select and sequence content.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a short-range wireless transceiver to communicate with a plurality of non-mobile devices, wherein each of the plurality of non-mobile devices receives content and metadata from at least one content provider, the metadata comprising a topic associated with the content;

a module that receives and stores the metadata from the plurality of non-mobile devices in a viewing history table that maintains a viewing history of a non-mobile device of the plurality of non-mobile devices, the metadata comprising an information topic associated with a presentation content;

a controller that searches, selects and sequences at least some content associated with the metadata based on (1) presentation content user preferences comprising an information source, an information topic preference, a date, a time, a duration, and a keyword and (2) the viewing history table to yield a selection and a sequence, wherein performing the selecting and the sequencing prevents duplication of an information summary; and

a module that communicates instructions to the non-mobile device of the plurality of non-mobile devices specifying the presentation content according to the selection and the sequence.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the presentation content is radio content.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the presentation content is television content.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the presentation content is web-based content.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the presentation content user preferences further comprise a priority ranking of the information source.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the presentation content user preferences further comprise a priority ranking of the information topic.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises the information source, an information summary duration, a title of the information summary, and a related information topic.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, the computer-readable storage medium stores further instructions which result in the method further comprising:

transmitting the presentation content user preferences and the viewing history to a network-based profile server.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the storing and the communicating is performed with a plurality of non-mobile devices and the viewing history table maintains the viewing history of the plurality of non-mobile devices.

10. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the metadata associated with the radio content comprises a channel, a creation date, and a creation time.

11. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the metadata associated with the television content comprises a channel, a creation date and a creation time.

12. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the metadata associated with the web-based content comprises a uniform resource locator, a size of the information summary, a creation date, and a creation time.

13. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the metadata corresponds to the information summary.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the metadata is expressed in an extensible markup language format.

15. A method comprising:

receiving metadata at a mobile device from a plurality of non-mobile devices, the metadata corresponding to multimedia content stored by each of the plurality of non-mobile devices and comprising a topic associated with the multimedia content;

selecting at least one of the metadata based on a search logic created using user profiles and viewing history tables stored in the mobile device, the viewing history tables indicating a viewing history of the plurality of non-mobile devices,

storing metadata from a non-mobile device of the plurality of non-mobile devices in a viewing history table stored on the mobile device that maintains a viewing history of the non-mobile device, the metadata comprising an information topic associated with a presentation content;

selecting and sequencing at the mobile device the presentation content based on (1) presentation content user preferences comprising an information source, an information topic preference, a date, a time, a duration, and a keyword and (2) the viewing history table to yield a selection and a sequence, wherein performing the selecting and the sequencing prevents duplication of an information summary; and

communicating instructions from the mobile device to the non-mobile device of the plurality of non-mobile devices specifying the presentation content according to the selection and the sequence.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the presentation content is radio content.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the presentation content is television content.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the presentation content is web-based content.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the presentation content user preferences further comprise a priority ranking of the information source.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the information source is a television broadcast channel.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the information source is a radio frequency channel.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the information source is a web site.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the presentation content user preferences further comprise a priority ranking of the information topic.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the metadata corresponds to the presentation content directed to the information topic, the presentation content comprising the information summary.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the viewing history table is created based on detecting the presentation content viewed by a user in a pervasive computing environment throughout a predetermined time period.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the storing and the communicating is performed with a plurality of non-mobile devices and the viewing history table maintains the viewing history of the plurality of non-mobile devices.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the metadata comprises the information source, an information summary duration, a title of the information summary, and a related information topic.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the metadata associated with the radio content comprises a channel, a creation date, and a creation time.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the metadata associated with the television content comprises a channel, a creation date and a creation time.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the metadata associated with the web-based content comprises a uniform resource locator, a size of the information summary, a creation date, and a creation time.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the metadata is expressed in an extensible markup language format.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the predetermined time period is defined in hours.