Method and system for customizing television content
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- determining, by a microprocessor executable network discovery module, whether one or more computational devices are in communication, via a local area network, with an intelligent television, the intelligent television being associated with a set of viewers, the determining comprising generating a network topology of the one or more computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, the network topology comprising one or more of a listing of the type of the one or more computational devices, status of the one or more computational devices, viewer supplied credential for the one or more computational devices, estimated physical location of the one or more computational devices, and IP address of the one or more computational devices, wherein the network topology is generated from network topology information maintained by the one or more computational devices;
collecting, by a microprocessor executable viewer information collection module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter, viewer information regarding content from a content distributor viewed by the set of viewers using the intelligent television and viewed by the set of viewers using the one or more computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, set-top box, and/or set meter, one or more Internet-capable computational devices providing content to the set of viewers, comprising one or more of a cellular phone, tablet computer, laptop, personal computer, personal digital assistant, and e-reader;
tagging, by a microprocessor executable tagging module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter, the collected viewer information, wherein tags used in tagging one or more of characterize, summarize and refer to a type and/or content of the collected viewer information associated with an assigned tag;
applying, by a microprocessor executable filtration module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter, one or more rule sets to the collected viewer information, using one or more assigned tags, to determine which of the collected viewer information is to be transmitted; and
transmitting, from a household associated with the intelligent television and over an untrusted network, the filtered collected viewer information to a remote destination for determining a rating based, at least in part, on the filtered collected viewer information, wherein the rating is determined by an audience measurement algorithm and wherein the viewer information collection module determines whether a selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network of the set of viewers and applies the following rules;
(i) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module collects viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices and (ii) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is not part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module does not collect viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices.
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Abstract
An intelligent television is provided that can collect viewer information for use by a rating service.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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determining, by a microprocessor executable network discovery module, whether one or more computational devices are in communication, via a local area network, with an intelligent television, the intelligent television being associated with a set of viewers, the determining comprising generating a network topology of the one or more computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, the network topology comprising one or more of a listing of the type of the one or more computational devices, status of the one or more computational devices, viewer supplied credential for the one or more computational devices, estimated physical location of the one or more computational devices, and IP address of the one or more computational devices, wherein the network topology is generated from network topology information maintained by the one or more computational devices; collecting, by a microprocessor executable viewer information collection module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter, viewer information regarding content from a content distributor viewed by the set of viewers using the intelligent television and viewed by the set of viewers using the one or more computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, set-top box, and/or set meter, one or more Internet-capable computational devices providing content to the set of viewers, comprising one or more of a cellular phone, tablet computer, laptop, personal computer, personal digital assistant, and e-reader; tagging, by a microprocessor executable tagging module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter, the collected viewer information, wherein tags used in tagging one or more of characterize, summarize and refer to a type and/or content of the collected viewer information associated with an assigned tag; applying, by a microprocessor executable filtration module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter, one or more rule sets to the collected viewer information, using one or more assigned tags, to determine which of the collected viewer information is to be transmitted; and transmitting, from a household associated with the intelligent television and over an untrusted network, the filtered collected viewer information to a remote destination for determining a rating based, at least in part, on the filtered collected viewer information, wherein the rating is determined by an audience measurement algorithm and wherein the viewer information collection module determines whether a selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network of the set of viewers and applies the following rules;
(i) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module collects viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices and (ii) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is not part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module does not collect viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a microprocessor executable network discovery module to determine whether one or more computational devices are in communication, via a local area network, with an intelligent television, the intelligent television being associated with a set of viewers, the determining comprising generating a network topology of the one or more computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, the network topology comprising one or more of a listing of the type of the one or more computational devices, status of the one or more computational devices, viewer supplied credential for the one or more computational devices, estimated physical location of the one or more computational devices, and IP address of the one or more computational devices, wherein the network topology is generated from network topology information maintained by the one or more computational devices; a microprocessor executable viewer information collection module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter operable to collect viewer information regarding content from a content distributor viewed by the set of viewers using the intelligent television and viewed by the set of viewers using one or more Internet-capable computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, set-top box, and/or set meter, the one or more Internet-capable computational devices providing content to the set of viewers, comprising one or more of a cellular phone, tablet computer, laptop, personal computer, personal digital assistant, and e-reader; a microprocessor executable tagging module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter operable to tag the collected viewer information, wherein tags used in tagging one or more of characterize, summarize and refer to a type and/or content of the collected viewer information associated with an assigned tag; a microprocessor executable filtration module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter operable to apply one or more rule sets to the collected viewer information, using one or more assigned tags, to determine which of the collected viewer information is to be transmitted; and a wireless connectivity and/or communications module to transmit, from a household associated with the intelligent television and over an untrusted network, the filtered collected viewer information to a remote destination for determining a rating based, at least in part, on the filtered collected viewer information, wherein the rating is determined by an audience measurement algorithm and wherein the viewer information collection module determines whether a selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network of the set of viewers and applies the following rules;
(i) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module collects viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices and (ii) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is not part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module does not collect viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A tangible and non-transient computer readable medium comprising microprocessor executable instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, perform at least the following operations:
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determine whether one or more computational devices are in communication, via a local area network, with an intelligent television, the intelligent television being associated with a set of viewers, the determining comprising generating a network topology of the one or more computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, the network topology comprising one or more of a listing of the type of the one or more computational devices, status of the one or more computational devices, viewer supplied credential for the one or more computational devices, estimated physical location of the one or more computational devices, and IP address of the one or more computational devices, wherein the network topology is generated from network topology information maintained by the one or more computational devices; collect viewer information regarding content from a content distributor viewed by the set of viewers using the intelligent television and viewed by the set of viewers using one or more Internet-capable computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, set-top box, and/or set meter, the one or more Internet-capable computational devices providing content to the set of viewers, comprising one or more of a cellular phone, tablet computer, laptop, personal computer, personal digital assistant, and e-reader; tag the collected viewer information, wherein tags used in tagging one or more of characterize, summarize and refer to a type and/or content of the collected viewer information associated with an assigned tag; apply one or more rule sets to the collected viewer information, using one or more assigned tags, to determine which of the collected viewer information is to be transmitted; and transmit, from a household associated with the intelligent television and over an untrusted network, the filtered collected viewer information to a remote destination for determining a rating based, at least in part, on the filtered collected viewer information, wherein the rating is determined by an audience measurement algorithm and wherein the viewer information collection module determines whether a selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network of the set of viewers and applies the following rules;
(i) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module collects viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices and (ii) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is not part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module does not collect viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system comprising:
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a microprocessor executable viewer information collection module associated with intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter operable to collect viewer information regarding content from a content distributor viewed by set of viewers using the intelligent television and one or more Internet-capable computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, set-top box, and/or set meter; a microprocessor executable tagging module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter operable to tag the collected viewer information, wherein tags used in tagging one or more of characterize, summarize and refer to a type and/or content of the collected viewer information associated with an assigned tag; a microprocessor executable filtration module associated with the intelligent television, a set-top box, and/or set meter operable to apply one or more rule sets, using one or more assigned tags, to the collected viewer information to determine which of the collected viewer information is to be transmitted; a wireless connectivity and/or communications module to transmit, from a household associated with the intelligent television and over an untrusted network, the filtered collected viewer information to a remote destination for determining a rating and/or determining content to be provided to the viewer based, at least in part, on the filtered collected viewer information, wherein the collected viewer information comprises a product tag or identifier, wherein the product tag or identifier is one or more of a radio frequency identification tag and bar code, wherein the product tag or identifier is within a selected area or range of the intelligent television, and wherein the product tag or identifier is captured by a sensor or reader in and/or in wired and/or wireless communication with the intelligent television; and a microprocessor executable network discovery module to determine whether one or more computational devices are in communication, via a local area network, with an intelligent television, the intelligent television being associated with a set of viewers, the determining comprising generating a network topology of the one or more computational devices in communication, via a local area network, with the intelligent television, the network topology comprising one or more of a listing of the type of the one or more computational devices, status of the one or more computational devices, viewer supplied credential for the one or more computational devices, estimated physical location of the one or more computational devices, and IP address of the one or more computational devices, wherein the network topology is generated from network topology information maintained by the one or more computational devices, wherein the microprocessor executable filtration module identifies and groups, for common content, different modalities of viewing the content, wherein the one or more Internet-capable computational devices comprising one or more of a cellular phone, tablet computer, laptop, personal computer, personal digital assistant, and e-reader, wherein the rating is determined by an audience measurement algorithm, wherein the viewer information collection module determines whether a selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network of the set of viewers and applies the following rules;
(i) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module collects viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices and (ii) when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is not part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module does not collect viewer information from the one or more Internet-capable computational devices, wherein, when the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices is determined to be part of the local area network as determined by the network topology, the viewer information collection module determines an appropriate rule set to govern interaction with the selected one of the one or more Internet-capable computational devices, wherein different types of Internet-capable computational devices correspond to different rule sets governing interaction with the Internet-capable computational devices, and wherein the network topology information is maintained as a management information base by the one or more computational devices and accessed by the network discovery module.
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Specification