Methods, systems, and products for customizing content-access lists

• US 8,856,841 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alphonso, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matz, William R., Swix, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LANGHNOJA, KUNAL N
• Application Number:
  US12/692,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20100122275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 725/14, 725/46, 725/39
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• 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 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• 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 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/64723 Monitoring of network processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of network load traffic related reporting in data switching networks H04L43/062
• 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 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products describe customizing the presentation of a content-access list. A preference for a subscriber is received, and a content database is searched for content related to the preference and for content unrelated to the preference. An option list is received including an option, and a non-preference-related option is also received. The non-preference-related option is added to the option list, and the option list is sent to the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving at a processor a preference for a subscriber from a content-access-history database;

searching a content database for content related to the preference;

searching the content database for content unrelated to the preference;

receiving at the processor an option list from the content database, wherein the option list comprises an option;

receiving a non-preference-related option from the content database;

adding the non-preference-related option to the option list; and

sending the option list to the subscriber.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising wirelessly accessing the option list.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a list of movies.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising sorting the list of movies according to the preference.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the non-preference-related option comprises receiving purchase information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the non-preference-related option comprises receiving a history.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the non-preference-related option comprises receiving credit card purchase information.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the non-preference-related option comprises receiving demographic information.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the non-preference-related option comprises receiving a questionnaire.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a profile of the subscriber.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sorting the option list by genre.

12. A system, comprising:

a processor executing code that causes the processor to;

receive a preference for a subscriber from a content-access-history database;

search a content database for content related to the preference;

search the content database for content unrelated to the preference;

receive an option list from the content database, wherein the option list comprises an option;

receive a non-preference-related option from the content database;

add the non-preference-related option to the option list; and

send the option list to the subscriber.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code for wirelessly accessing the option list.

14. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code for generating a list of movies.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising code for sorting the list of movies according to the preference.

16. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code for receiving purchase information.

17. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code for receiving a history.

18. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code for receiving credit card purchase information.

19. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code for receiving demographic information.

20. The system according to claim 12, further comprising code for receiving a profile of the subscriber.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the preference is genre.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a preference for a subscriber from a content-access-history database;

searching a content database for content related to the preference;

searching the content database for content unrelated to the preference;

receiving an option list from the content database, wherein the option list comprises an option;

receiving a non-preference-related option from the content database;

adding the non-preference-related option to the option list; and

sending the option list to the subscriber.

23. A method, comprising:

receiving a preference for a subscriber at a processor;

searching a content database for content related to the preference;

searching the content database for content unrelated to the preference;

receiving at the processor an option list associated with the preference;

receiving at the processor an option that is unrelated to the preference; and

adding the option to the option list.

24. A method, comprising:

receiving at a processor a genre preference for a subscriber;

searching a content database for content related to the genre preference;

searching the content database for content unrelated to the genre preference;

generating an option list by the processor that is associated with the genre preference;

receiving an option that is unrelated to the genre preference; and

generating another option list comprising the option.