Personal media channel apparatus and methods

• US 8,776,101 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Donoghue, Patrick J., Thomas, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US13/402,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20120222056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 725/11, 725/34
• US Class Current: 725/11
• 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 21/2668 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Network content delivery apparatus and methods based on content compiled from various sources and particularly selected for a given user. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the content sources include DVR, broadcast, nPVR, and VOD. The user-targeted content is assembled into a playlist, and displayed as a continuous stream on a virtual channel particular to that user. User interfaces accessible through the virtual channel present various functional options, including the selection or exploration of content having similarity or prescribed relationships to other content, and the ability to order purchasable content. An improved electronic program guide is also disclosed which allows a user to start over, record, view, receive information on, “catch up”, and rate content. Apparatus for remote access and configuration of the playlist and virtual channel functions, as well as a business rules “engine” implementing operational or business goals, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of providing targeted content to one or more users of a content delivery network, said method comprising:

identifying a first user, said first user currently interacting with an individual one of a plurality of available content;

retrieving a stored list comprising an identification of one or more second users, said second users having elected to be informed of content selections by said first user;

generating a playlist representative of said first user'"'"'s interaction; and

notifying at least one of said one or more second users of said first user'"'"'s interaction with said individual one of said plurality of content via providing said generated playlist to said one or more second users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user is identified based at least in part on a social influence of said first user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said social influence of said first user is related to a celebrity status of said first user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of notifying is based at least in part on a geographic location of said at least one of said one or more second users.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises offering third users an opportunity to receive notifications related to said first user.

6. An apparatus configured to provide targeted content to one or more users of a content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:

a storage apparatus;

a network interface;

a user interface; and

a processor in data communication with said storage device, said network interface, and said user interface, said processor configured to execute a computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

identify a first user, said first user currently interacting with an individual one of a plurality of available content;

retrieve a list stored at said storage apparatus, said list comprising an indication of one or more second users which have elected to be informed of content interactions by said first user;

provide a playlist configured at least in part according to said first user'"'"'s interaction; and

notify at least one of said one or more second users of said first user'"'"'s interaction with said individual one of said plurality of available content via said provided playlist.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first user is identified based at least in part on a social influence of said first user.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said social influence of said first user is related to a celebrity status of said first user.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said notification is based at least in part on a geographic location of said at least one of said one or more second users.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said a plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause said apparatus to offer one or more third users an opportunity to receive notifications related to said first user.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said notification further comprises a recommendation of said individual one of said plurality of available content to said at least one of said one or more second users, said recommendation being based at least in part on demographic information related to said at least one of said one or more second users.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause said apparatus to receive a request from said at least one of said one or more second users to access said provided content channel.

13. A computer-readable apparatus comprising media configured to store a computer program comprising a plurality of instruction configured to, when executed:

receive a request for a content element from an identified first user;

retrieve a list of one or more second users which have elected to be informed of content selections of said identified first user;

generate a playlist configured at least in part on said requested content element from said first user; and

provide at least one of said one or more second users of said requested content element said generated playlist.

14. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first user is identified based at least in part on a social influence of said first user.

15. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, receive a request from at least one of said one or more second users for said generated playlist.

16. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 15, wherein an ability for said one or more second users to request said generated playlist is based on a subscription level associated with a respective second user.

17. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said information is based at least in part on a geographic location of said at least one of said one or more second users.

18. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said election to informed is based on one or more parameters of a user profile associated with a respective second user.

19. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 13, wherein said generated playlist comprises a playlist of content presented as a single content stream.

20. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 15, wherein said generated playlist is associated with said first user.