Systems and methods for modifying an interactive media guidance application interface based on time of day

• US 8,850,481 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Shannon, Steve, Starkenburg, Michael Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malangone, Carmine
• Application Number:
  US11/541,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,923 Days
• Field of Search: 725/46, 725/47
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically displaying personalized interactive media guidance application screens based on the time of day are provided. The interactive media guidance application may monitor user interactions with the user equipment, and identify individual user profiles for different times of day. Using this information, the interactive media guidance application may partition the day into day parts, each associated with a user profile. The interactive media guidance application may also create or select a plurality of personalized interfaces or configurations for displaying media guidance information, where each interface or configuration reflects the interests of an identified user profile. When a user accesses the interactive media guidance application, the interactive media guidance application may identify the user profile associated with the current day part, and display the personalized interface or configuration associated with the identified user profile.

Claims

1. A method for rearranging the display of media guidance information in an interactive media guidance application, comprising:

partitioning a day into day parts;

identifying media accessed by a user device at a current day part of the day parts;

retrieving sets of user preferences;

comparing each of the sets of user preferences to the media associated with the current day part;

determining whether any of the sets of user preferences are associated with the media accessed at the current day part;

in response to determining that a set of user preferences of the sets of user preferences is associated with the media accessed at the current day part;

automatically identifying a user, associated with the set of user preferences, as associated with the current day part; and

generating for display, on the user device, media guidance information using a combination of modules associated with the user; and

in response to determining that none of the sets of user preferences are associated with the media accessed at the current day part, generating for display, on the user device, a second combination of modules associated with a day part subsequent to the current day part, wherein the day part subsequent to the current day part is associated with another set of user preferences of the sets of user preferences.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the sets of user preferences is associated with one user of a plurality of users.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the combination of modules is selected based on the identified set of preferences.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring user interactions with the interactive media guidance application; and

assigning the set of user preferences based on the monitored user interactions.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the day part subsequent to the current day part is associated with a second user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the day parts are repeated for a plurality of days of the week.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the day parts are repeated every day of the week.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating for display media guidance information using the combination of modules comprises dynamically generating the combination of modules based on the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating for display media guidance information using the combination of modules comprises selecting a pre-existing combination of modules from a library of pre-existing combinations based on the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive program guide.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the media guidance information displayed using the combination of modules comprises television program information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each module of the combination of modules is selected from the group consisting of:

a recommendations module, a recorded programs module, an on-demand module, a listings module, a date and time module, a news module, a sports module, a weather module, a local module, a movie module, and an on-line module.

13. A system for rearranging the display of media guidance information in an interactive media guidance application, the system comprising control circuitry, the control circuitry configured to:

partition a day into day parts;

identify media accessed on a display device at a current day part of the day parts;

retrieve sets of user preferences;

compare each of the sets of user preferences to the media associated with the current day part;

determine whether any of the sets of user preferences are associated with the media accessed at the current day part;

in response to determining that a set of user preferences of the sets of user preferences is associated with the media accessed at the current day part;

automatically identify a user, associated with the set of user preferences, as associated with the current day part; and

direct the display device to display media guidance information using a combination of modules associated with the user; and

in response to determining that none of the sets of user preferences are associated with the media accessed at the current day part, generating for display, on the user device, a second combination of modules associated with a day part subsequent to the current day part, wherein the day part subsequent to the current day part is associated with another set of user preferences of the sets of user preferences.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the sets of user preferences is associated with one user of a plurality of users.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is configured to select the combination of modules based on the identified set of preferences.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

monitor user interactions with the interactive media guidance application; and

assign the set of user preferences based on the monitored user interactions.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the day part subsequent to the current day part associated with a second user.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the day parts are repeated for a plurality of days of the week.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the day parts are repeated every day of the week.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein displaying media guidance information using the combination of modules comprises dynamically generating the combination of modules based on the user.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein displaying media guidance information using the combination of modules comprises selecting a pre-existing combination of modules from a library of pre-existing combinations based on the user.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive program guide.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the media guidance information displayed using the first combination of modules comprises television program information.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein each module of the combination of modules is selected from the group consisting of:

a recommendations module, a recorded programs module, an on-demand module, a listings module, a date and time module, a news module, a sports module, a weather module, a local module, a movie module, and an on-line module.