Systems and methods for improved audience measuring

• US 8,578,403 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Berezowski, David M, Ellis, Michael D
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US09/823,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,603 Days
• Field of Search: 725 10- 21, 709217-232
• US Class Current: 725/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• 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 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

Systems and methods for measuring audience information of programs are described. Systems and methods for providing audience information to users of interactive television applications are described.

Claims

1. A method for measuring audience size information based on playbacks of a recorded program comprising:

receiving indications of playbacks of the recorded program from a plurality of audience members;

updating audience size information for the recorded program in response to receiving the indications from the plurality of audience members;

wherein updating audience size information comprises updating a market share of the recorded program; and

providing the updated audience size information to at least one user within an interactive television application.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is an audio program.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is a television program.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is a pay-per-view program.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is a video-on-demand program.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the recorded program is a near-video-on-video program.

7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein updating audience size information comprises updating audience size information based on the number of times each audience member played back the recorded program.

8. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication for a user-identified action, wherein such action controls how the recorded program is played back;

executing the user-identified action in response to receiving the indication; and

updating audience size information based on the user-identified action.

9. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the user-identified action comprises actions selected from the group consisting of fast-forward, rewind, stop, pause, record, and play.

10. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

11. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the audience size information comprises providing an interactive indicator that notifies the at least one user when audience size information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the at least one user to compare programs based on audience size information provided to the at least one user for the programs.

13. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information for a portion of the recorded program.

14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein the portion of the recorded program is a scene within the recorded program.

15. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information for a genre of programs.

16. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information for the recorded program based on a time slot.

17. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing audience size information for a subset of the plurality of audience members to the at least one user.

18. The method defined in claim 17 wherein the subset of the plurality of audience members is defined based on user demographics.

19. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information to the at least one user in a flip display.

20. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information to the at least one user in a browse display.

21. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information to the at least one user in a program listings display.

22. The method defined in claim 1 wherein updating the audience size information further comprises updating the audience size information based on a user profile of an audience member from which an indication was received related to the playback of the recorded program.

23. The method defined in claim 1 wherein updating audience size information further comprises calculating audience size for the recorded program.

24. The method defined in claim 23 wherein calculating the audience size comprises calculating the audience size based on assigning points to playback information.

25. The method defined in claim 23 wherein calculating the audience size further comprises accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

26. A method for measuring audience size information for an upcoming program in an interactive television application comprising:

receiving indications from a plurality of audience members to perform actions related to the upcoming program;

updating audience size information for the upcoming program in response to receiving the indications; and

providing the audience size information to at least one user within the interactive television application.

27. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the upcoming program is an audio program.

28. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the upcoming program is a television program.

29. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the upcoming program is a pay-per-view program.

30. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the upcoming program is a video-on-demand program.

31. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the upcoming program is a near-video-on-video program.

32. The method defined in claim 26 wherein updating audience size information comprises updating a market share of the upcoming program.

33. The method defined in claim 26 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing an interactive indicator, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

34. The method defined in claim 26 further comprising allowing the user to compare programs based on audience size information provided to the user for the programs.

35. The method defined in claim 26 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information for a portion of the upcoming program.

36. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the portion of the upcoming program is a scene within the upcoming program.

37. The method defined in claim 26 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information for a genre of programs.

38. The method defined in claim 26 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information for the upcoming program based on a time slot.

39. The method defined in claim 26 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information for a subset of the plurality of audience members to the user.

40. The method defined in claim 39 wherein the subset of the plurality of audience members is defined based on user demographics.

41. The method defined in claim 26 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information to the user in a flip display.

42. The method defined in claim 26 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information to the user in a browse display.

43. The method defined in claim 26 wherein providing the audience size information further comprises providing the audience size information to the user in a program listings display.

44. The method defined in claim 26 wherein updating audience size information comprises updating the audience size information based on the number of times the plurality of audience members performed actions related to the upcoming program.

45. The method defined in claim 26 wherein updating the audience size information further comprises updating the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members viewed program information related to the upcoming program.

46. The method defined in claim 26 wherein updating the audience size information further comprises updating the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members purchased the upcoming program.

47. The method defined in claim 26 wherein updating the audience size information further comprises updating the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members set reminders for the upcoming program.

48. The method defined in claim 26 wherein updating the audience size information further comprises updating the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members scheduled to record the upcoming program.

49. The method defined in claim 26 wherein updating the audience size information further comprises updating the audience size information based on a user profile of an audience member from which an indication was received related to the upcoming program.

50. The method defined in claim 26 further comprising calculating audience size information for the upcoming program.

51. The method defined in claim 50 wherein calculating the audience size information comprises calculating the audience size information based on assigning points to playback information.

52. The method defined in claim 50 wherein calculating the audience size information further comprises accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

53. A system for measuring audience size information based on playbacks of a recorded program comprising:

means for receiving indications of playbacks of the recorded program from a plurality of audience members;

means for updating audience size information for the recorded program in response to receiving the indications from the plurality of audience members;

wherein the means for updating audience size information comprises means for updating a market share of the recorded program; and

means for providing the updated audience size information to at least one user within an interactive television application.

54. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the recorded program is an audio program.

55. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the recorded program is a television program.

56. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the recorded program is a pay-per-view program.

57. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the recorded program is a video-on-demand program.

58. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the recorded program is a near-video-on-video program.

59. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for updating audience size information comprises means for updating audience size information based on the number of times each audience member played back the recorded program.

60. The system defined in claim 53 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication for a user-identified action, wherein such action controls how the recorded program is played back;

means for executing the user-identified action in response to receiving the indication; and

means for updating audience size information based on the user-identified action.

61. The system defined in claim 60 wherein the user-identified action comprises actions selected from the group consisting of fast-forward, rewind, stop, pause, record, and play.

62. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

63. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing an interactive indicator, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

64. The system defined in claim 53 further comprising means for allowing the at least one user to compare programs based on audience size information provided to the at least one user for the programs.

65. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information for a portion of the recorded program.

66. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the portion of the recorded program is a scene within the recorded program.

67. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information for a genre of programs.

68. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information for the recorded program based on a time slot.

69. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises providing audience size information for a subset of the plurality of audience members to the at least one user.

70. The system defined in claim 69 wherein the subset of the plurality of audience members is defined based on user demographics.

71. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information to the at least one user in a flip display.

72. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information to the at least one user in a browse display.

73. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing audience size information to the at least one user in a program listings display.

74. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for updating the audience size information further comprises means for updating the audience size information based on a user profile of an audience member from which an indication was received related to the playback of the recorded program.

75. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the means for updating audience size information further comprises means for calculating audience size for the recorded program.

76. The system defined in claim 75 wherein the means for calculating the audience size comprises means for calculating the audience size based on assigning points to playback information.

77. The system defined in claim 75 wherein the means for calculating the audience size further comprises means for accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

78. A system for measuring audience size information for an upcoming program in an interactive television application comprising:

means for receiving indications from a plurality of audience members to perform actions related to the upcoming program;

means for updating audience size information for the upcoming program in response to receiving the indications; and

means for providing the audience size information to at least one user within the interactive television application.

79. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the upcoming program is an audio program.

80. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the upcoming program is a television program.

81. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the upcoming program is a pay-per-view program.

82. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the upcoming program is a video-on-demand program.

83. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the upcoming program is a near-video-on-video program.

84. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for updating audience size information comprises means for updating a market share of the upcoming program.

85. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing an interactive indicator that notifies the user when audience size information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

86. The system defined in claim 78 further comprising means for allowing the user to compare programs based on audience size information provided to the user for the programs.

87. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information for a portion of the upcoming program.

88. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the portion of the upcoming program is a scene within the upcoming program.

89. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information for a genre of programs.

90. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information for the upcoming program based on a time slot.

91. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for providing audience size information further comprises means for providing audience size information for a subset of the plurality audience members to the user.

92. The system defined in claim 91 wherein the subset of the plurality of audience members is defined based on user demographics.

93. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information to the user in a flip display.

94. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information to the user in a browse display.

95. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for providing the audience size information further comprises means for providing the audience size information to the user in a program listings display.

96. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for updating the audience size information further comprises means for updating the audience size information based on the number of times the plurality of audience members performed actions related to the upcoming program.

97. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for updating the audience size information further comprises means for updating the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members viewed program information related to the upcoming program.

98. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for updating the audience size information further comprises means for updating the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members purchased the upcoming program.

99. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for updating the audience size information further comprises means for updating the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members set reminders for the upcoming program.

100. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for updating the audience size information further comprises means for updating the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members scheduled to record the upcoming program.

101. The system defined in claim 78 wherein the means for updating the audience size information further comprises means for updating the audience size information based on a user profile of an audience member from which an indication was received related to the upcoming program.

102. The system defined in claim 78 further comprising means for calculating audience size information for the upcoming program.

103. The system defined in claim 102 wherein the means for calculating the audience size information comprises means for calculating the audience size information based on assigning points to playback information.

104. The system defined in claim 102 wherein the means for calculating the audience size information further comprises means for accessing a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

105. A system for measuring audience size information based on playbacks of a recorded program comprising:

a user input device;

a display device; and

an interactive television application implemented at least partially on control circuitry and programmed to;

receive indications of playbacks of the recorded program from a plurality of audience members;

update audience size information for the recorded program in response to receiving the indications from the plurality of audience members;

update a market share of the recorded program; and

direct the display device to provide the updated audience size information to at least one user within an interactive television application.

106. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the recorded program is an audio program.

107. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the recorded program is a television program.

108. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the recorded program is a pay-per-view program.

109. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the recorded program is a video-on-demand program.

110. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the recorded program is a near-video-on-video program.

111. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update audience size information based on the number of times each audience member played back the recorded program.

112. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to:

receive an indication for a user-identified action from the user input device, wherein such action controls how the recorded program is played back;

execute the user-identified action in response to receiving the indication; and

update audience size information based on the user-identified action.

113. The system defined in claim 112 wherein the user-identified action comprises actions selected from the group consisting of fast-forward, rewind, stop, pause, record, and play.

114. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

115. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide an interactive indicator, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

116. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to allow the at least one user to compare programs based on audience size information provided to the at least one user for the programs.

117. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information for a portion of the recorded program.

118. The system defined in claim 117 wherein the portion of the recorded program is a scene within the recorded program.

119. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information for a genre of programs.

120. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information for the recorded program based on a time slot.

121. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to:

provide the audience size information for a subset of a plurality of audience members to the at least one user.

122. The system defined in claim 121 wherein the subset of the plurality of audience members is defined based on user demographics.

123. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information to the at least one user in a flip display.

124. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information to the at least one user in a browse display.

125. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information to the at least one user in a program listings display.

126. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update audience size information based on a user profile of an audience member from which an indication was received related to the playback of the recorded program.

127. The system defined in claim 105 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate audience size.

128. The system defined in claim 127 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate the audience size information based on assigning points to playback information.

129. The system defined in claim 127 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to access a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.

130. A system for measuring audience size information for an upcoming program in an interactive television application comprising:

a user input device; and

an interactive television application implemented at least partially on control circuitry and programmed to;

receive indications from a plurality of audience members to perform actions related to the upcoming program;

update audience size information for the upcoming program in response to receiving the indications; and

direct to display device to provide the audience size information to at least one user within the interactive television application.

131. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is an audio program.

132. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is a television program.

133. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is a pay-per-view program.

134. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is a video-on-demand program.

135. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the upcoming program is a near-video-on-video program.

136. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update a market share of the upcoming program.

137. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide an interactive indicator that notifies the user when audience size information is available, wherein the interactive indicator comprises content selected form the group consisting of text, graphics, audio, video, and animation.

138. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to allow the user to compare programs based on audience size information provided to the user for the programs.

139. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information for a portion of the upcoming program.

140. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the portion of the upcoming program is a scene within the upcoming program.

141. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information for a genre of programs.

142. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide the audience size information for the upcoming program based on a time slot.

143. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information for a subset of the plurality audience members to the user.

144. The system defined in claim 143 wherein the subset of the plurality of audience members is defined based on user demographics.

145. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information to the user in a flip display.

146. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information to the user in a browse display.

147. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to direct the display device to provide audience size information to the user in a program listings display.

148. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience size information based on the number of times the plurality of audience members performed actions related to the upcoming program.

149. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members viewed program information related to the upcoming program.

150. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members purchased the upcoming program.

151. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members set reminders for the upcoming program.

152. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update the audience size information based on the number of times that the plurality of audience members scheduled to record the upcoming program.

153. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to update audience size information based on a user profile of an audience member from which an indication was received related to the upcoming program.

154. The system defined in claim 130 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate audience size information for the upcoming program.

155. The system defined in claim 154 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to calculate the audience size information based on assigning points to playback information.

156. The system defined in claim 154 wherein the interactive television application is further programmed to access a table of grading information for assigning points to playback information.