Sourcing EPG data

• US 9,185,324 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multimedia Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Transpacific IP Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Shoykher, Mikhail, Visosky, John S., Cassar, Ron, Csiki, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US13/970,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20140053207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 725 87- 88, 725/48, 725/49, 725 50- 51
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00448 horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/26291 : for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 : Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/414 : Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 : sound input device, e.g. microphone
• 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 21/42206 : characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 : Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 : Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 : characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43 : Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 : Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 : of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43079 : of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 : Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• 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 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 : Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 : by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 : Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 : by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 : Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 : using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• 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 21/44213 : Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/462 : Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• 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 21/47 : End-user applications
• 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 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 : for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 : using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 : End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 : using a channel name
• 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 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 : for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• 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 21/4882 : 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 21/6125 : 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 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 : specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• 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 21/85 : Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 : Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

An EPG data service for an Intelligent TV includes various of source plugins polling and retrieving updated EPG information from a plurality of respective EPG information sources and an EPG subservice receiving the EPG information retrieved by the various source plugins, aggregate the EPG information, and provide a relevant portion of the EPG information to an application of the Intelligent TV. For an EPG source with substantially no updated EPG information, the respective source plugin associates EPG information from the EPG source with dummy EPG data. The EPG subservice aggregates the updated EPG information from the plurality of EPG sources and resolve conflicts between duplicate EPG information from the plurality of EPG sources according to various rules.

Claims

1. A method of managing Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) information for an Intelligent television (TV), comprising:

executing, by a processor of the Intelligent TV, two or more EPG source plug-ins;

polling, by a first EPG source plug-in through a network, a first EPG source for updated EPG information to determine if updated EPG information is available from the first EPG source of EPG information, wherein the first source of EPG information is associated with digital television EPG information, wherein, for an EPG source with no updated EPG information, the polling and/or retrieving step comprises associating the EPG information from the EPG source with dummy EPG data, wherein the dummy EPG data is one of a plain channel listing and a standard label in an EPG time slot;

if updated EPG information is available from the first EPG source, retrieving, by the first EPG source plug-in, the updated EPG information from the first EPG source;

polling, by a second EPG source plug-in through the network, a second EPG source for updated EPG information to determine if updated EPG information is available from the EPG second source of EPG information, wherein the second EPG source of EPG information is associated with cloud-stored EPG information;

if updated EPG information is available from the second EPG source, retrieving, by the second EPG source plug-in, the updated EPG information from the second EPG source, wherein one or more of the polling step and the retrieving step is activated after a channel scanning operation by the Intelligent TV;

aggregating, by the processor, the updated EPG information from the first and second EPG sources; and

providing, by the processor, a relevant portion of the updated EPG information to an application of the Intelligent TV.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an interval or periodicity for one or more of the polling step and the retrieving step is set by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the polling step and the retrieving step comprises sending to an Internet or cloud EPG source a channel name list of the Intelligent TV and retrieving EPG information from the Internet or cloud EPG source that matches channels in the channel name list.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the polling step and the retrieving step further comprises retrieving EPG information for only one or more of selected programs and channels from the EPG sources.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregating step comprises aggregating the updated EPG information from the plurality of EPG sources and resolving conflicts between duplicate EPG information from the plurality of EPG sources according to a plurality of rules.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the resolving conflicts step comprises using EPG information from a first EPG source as a primary source and overwriting conflicting EPG information from the primary source with a second EPG source that is considered more reliable.

17. A tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium comprising microprocessor executable instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, perform the steps of claim 1.

7. An EPG data service for an Intelligent TV, comprising:

a processor of an Intelligent TV executing a first source plug-in that;

polls, through a network, a first EPG source for updated EPG information to determine if updated EPG information is available from the first EPG source of EPG information, wherein the first EPG source of EPG information is associated with digital television EPG information, wherein, for an EPG source with no updated EPG information, the polling and/or retrieving step comprises associating the EPG information from the EPG source with dummy EPG data, wherein the dummy EPG data is one of a plain channel listing and a standard label in an EPG time slot; and

if updated EPG information is available from the first EPG source, retrieves the updated EPG information from the first EPG source;

the processor of an Intelligent TV executing a second source plug-in that;

polls, through the network, a second EPG source for updated EPG information to determine if updated EPG information is available from the second EPG source of EPG information, wherein the second EPG source of EPG information is associated with cloud-stored EPG information; and

if updated EPG information is available from the second EPG source, retrieves the updated EPG information from the second EPG source, wherein one or more of the polling step and the retrieving step is activated after a channel scanning operation by the Intelligent TV; and

the processor of an Intelligent TV executing an EPG subservice that;

receives the updated EPG information retrieved by the first and/or second source plug-ins;

aggregates the EPG information; and

provides a relevant portion of the EPG information to an application of the Intelligent TV.

8. The EPG data service of claim 7, wherein, for an EPG source with substantially no updated EPG information, the first and/or second source plug-in is configured to associate EPG information from the EPG source with dummy EPG data, wherein the dummy EPG data is one of a plain channel listing and a standard label in an EPG time slot.

9. The EPG data service of claim 7, wherein an interval or periodicity one or more of the first and second of source plug-ins to poll and retrieve the updated EPG information is user-defined.

10. The EPG data service of claim 7, wherein an Internet or cloud source plug-in of the first and/or second of source plug-ins is configured to send to an Internet or cloud EPG source a channel name list of the Intelligent TV and retrieving EPG information from the Internet or cloud EPG source that matches channels in the channel name list.

11. The EPG data service of claim 7, wherein one or more of the first and/or second of source plug-ins are configured to poll and retrieve the updated EPG information for only selected programs and/or channels from the EPG sources.

12. The EPG data service of claim 7, the EPG subservice is configured to aggregate the updated EPG information from the plurality of EPG sources and resolve conflicts between duplicate EPG information from the plurality of EPG sources according to a plurality of rules.

13. The EPG data service of claim 12, the EPG subservice is configured to resolve conflicts using EPG information from the first EPG source as a primary source and overwriting conflicting EPG information from the primary source with the second EPG source that is considered more reliable.

14. An Intelligent TV comprising:

a memory;

a processor in communication with memory, the processor operable to execute;

an EPG display application configured to generate an EPG display for the Intelligent TV; and

an EPG data service, the EPG data service comprises;

a first source plug-in that;

polls, through a network, a first EPG source for updated EPG information to determine if updated EPG information is available from the first EPG source of EPG information, wherein the first EPG source of EPG information is associated with digital television EPG information; and

if updated EPG information is available from the first EPG source, retrieves the updated EPG information from the first EPG source, wherein, for an EPG source with no updated EPG information, the polling and/or retrieving step comprises associating the EPG information from the EPG source with dummy EPG data, wherein the dummy EPG data is one of a plain channel listing and a standard label in an EPG time slot;

a second of source plug-in that;

polls, through the network, a second EPG source for updated EPG information to determine if updated EPG information is available from the second EPG source of EPG information, wherein the second EPG source of EPG information is associated with cloud-stored EPG information; and

if updated EPG information is available from the second EPG source, retrieves the updated EPG information from the second EPG source, wherein one or more of the polling and the retrieving operations is activated after a channel scanning operation by the Intelligent TV; and

an EPG subservice that;

receives the updated EPG information retrieved by the first and/or second source plug-ins;

aggregates the EPG information; and

provides a relevant portion of the EPG information to an application of the Intelligent TV.

15. The intelligent TV of claim 14, wherein one or more of the first and/or second of source plug-ins are configured to poll and retrieve the updated EPG information at a default or user-defined interval.

16. The intelligent TV of claim 14, wherein an Internet or cloud source plug-in of the first and/or second of source plug-ins are configured send to an Internet or cloud EPG source a channel name list of the Intelligent TV and retrieving EPG information from the Internet or cloud EPG source that matches channels in the channel name list.