Electronic programming guide

• US 8,739,221 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silver, Edward Michael, Roberts, Linda Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US13/848,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20130219419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 725/46, 725/47, 709217-232
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• 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 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A broadcast programming guide is generated based on either designation by or a habit of a user. The programming guide may determine one or more favorite channels of the user based on habitual viewing. The programming guide may suggest channels of interest, based on genres of programming shown on the favorite channels.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

monitoring selections of channels at times of days;

determining favorite channels from the selections of channels;

populating a viewing habits data table that lists each of the favorite channels at a corresponding one of the times of days;

determining the viewing habits data table is undefined for a particular time of day;

selecting a program related to one of the favorite channels listed in the viewing habits data table; and

adding the program to the viewing habits data table at the particular time of day that is undefined.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining a current time matches the particular time of day.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise suggesting the program when the current time matches the particular time of day.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise displaying a title of the program.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise generating an electronic programming guide.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise displaying a title of the program in the electronic programming guide.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise displaying a title of the program at the particular time of day in the electronic programming guide.

8. A method, comprising:

monitoring selections of channels at times of days;

determining, by a processor, favorite channels from the selections of channels;

generating a viewing habits data table in memory;

populating the viewing habits data table to list each of the favorite channels at a corresponding one of the times of days;

determining by the processor that the viewing habits data table is undefined for a particular time of day;

selecting a program related to one of the favorite channels listed in the viewing habits data table; and

adding the program to the viewing habits data table at the particular time of day that is undefined.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising determining a current time matches the particular time of day.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising suggesting the program when the current time matches the particular time of day.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising displaying a title of the program.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising generating an electronic programming guide.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising displaying a title of the program in the electronic programming guide.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising displaying a title of the program at the particular time of day in the electronic programming guide.

15. A memory storing code that when executed causes a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

monitoring selections of channels at times of days;

determining favorite channels from the selections of channels;

populating a viewing habits data table that lists each of the favorite channels at a corresponding one of the times of days;

determining the viewing habits data table is undefined for a particular time of day;

selecting a program related to one of the favorite channels listed in the viewing habits data table; and

adding the program to the viewing habits data table at the particular time of day that is undefined.

16. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a current time matches the particular time of day.

17. The memory according to claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise suggesting the program when the current time matches the particular time of day.

18. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise displaying a title of the program.

19. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise generating an electronic programming guide.

20. The memory according to claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise displaying a title of the program in the electronic programming guide.