Personal media channel apparatus and methods

• US 9,380,329 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• 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:
  US14/325,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20150007213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 premises device configured to provide targeted content, said device comprising:

a storage apparatus;

a network interface;

a user interface; and

a processor in data communication with said network interface and said user interface, said processor configured to execute a computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by said processor;

request, via said network interface, a prioritized list comprising one or more of;

content recommended by a first user;

content with which said first user has previously interacted; and

/or

content with which said first user is currently interacting;

receive, via said user interface, a selection from a second user for at least one of said content on said list; and

notify a server entity of said selection by said second user;

wherein said prioritization of said list comprises a prioritization based on information obtained from a user profile associated with said first user and an availability of said content.

2. The premises device of claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises an on-screen display and a wireless control unit.

3. The premises device of claim 2, wherein said on-screen display comprises a display of an Internet website.

4. The premises device of claim 1, wherein a link to a chat room related to said at least one of said content is provided via said user interface.

5. The premises device of claim 4, wherein said chat room comprises one or more third users interested in a subject matter of said at least one of said content.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable apparatus comprising media configured to store a computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed by a processor:

receive from a first user an indication that said first user is viewing an individual one of a plurality of content accessible via said content delivery network;

in response to said receipt thereof, deliver information which relates to said viewership of said individual one of said plurality of content by said first user to at least one second user;

receive from said at least one second user a request for access to said individual one of said plurality of content;

acknowledge a request to perform at least one user action with respect to said individual one of said plurality of content, said at least one user action being performed by one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user; and

at least in part in response to said request, provide consideration to one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user;

wherein said consideration comprises a discount on a service available through said content delivery network.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said individual one of said plurality of content comprises a charitable program; and

said at least one user action comprises a charitable donation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first user comprises a celebrity.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said delivery of said information which relates to said viewership of said individual one of said plurality of content by said first user is based at least in part on a geographical location of one or more of said first user and said at least one second user.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said delivery of said information which relates to said viewership of said individual one of said plurality of content by said first user is based at least in part on a type associated with said individual one of said plurality of content.

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

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said social influence of said first user is related to a celebrity status of said first user.

13. 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.

14. A method of recommending content for a user in a content delivery network, said method comprising:

receiving from a first user an electronic indication that said first user is viewing an individual one of a plurality of digitally-rendered content accessible via said content delivery network;

in response to said act of receiving, electronically informing at least one second user of said viewing of said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content by said first user;

receiving from said at least one second user an electronic request for access to said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content;

electronically acknowledging a request to perform at least one user action with respect to said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content, said at least one user action being performed by one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user; and

at least in part in response to said act of acknowledging, electronically providing consideration to one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user,

wherein said consideration comprises a discount on a service available through said content delivery network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content comprises a charitable program; and

said at least one user action comprises a charitable donation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first user comprises a celebrity.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said act of informing is based at least in part on a geographical location of one or more of said first user and said at least one second user.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said act of informing is based at least in part on a type associated with said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content.

19. A method of recommending content for a user in a content delivery network, said method comprising:

receiving from a first user an indication that said first user is viewing an individual one of a plurality of digitally-rendered content accessible via said content delivery network;

in response to said act of receiving, informing at least one second user of said viewing of said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content by said first user;

receiving from said at least one second user a request for access to said individual one of said plurality of content;

acknowledging a request to perform at least one user action with respect to said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content, said at least one user action being performed by one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user; and

at least in part in response to said act of acknowledging, providing consideration to one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user;

wherein;

said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content comprises a charitable program; and

said at least one user action comprises an electronically initiated charitable donation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first user comprises a celebrity.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said act of informing is based at least in part on a geographical location of one or more of said first user and said at least one second user.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said act of informing is based at least in part on a type associated with said individual one of said plurality of digitally-rendered content.

23. A method of recommending content for a user in a content delivery network, said method comprising:

a step for receiving from a first user an indication that said first user is viewing an individual one of a plurality of content means accessible via said content delivery network;

a step for, in response to said act of receiving, informing at least one second user of said viewing of said individual one of said plurality of content means by said first user;

a step for receiving from said at least one second user a request for access to said individual one of said plurality of content means;

a step for acknowledging a request to perform at least one user action with respect to said individual one of said plurality of content means, said at least one user action being performed by one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user; and

a step for at least in part in response to said act of acknowledging, providing consideration means to one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user; and

wherein said consideration means comprises a discount on a service available through said content delivery network.

24. A method of recommending content for a user in a content delivery network, said method comprising:

a step for receiving from a first user an indication that said first user is viewing an individual one of a plurality of content means accessible via said content delivery network;

a step for, in response to said act of receiving, informing at least one second user of said viewing of said individual one of said plurality of content means by said first user;

a step for receiving from said at least one second user a request for access to said individual one of said plurality of content means;

a step for acknowledging a request to perform at least one user action with respect to said individual one of said plurality of content, said at least one user action being performed by one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user; and

a step for at least in part in response to said act of acknowledging, providing consideration to one or more of said first user and/or said at least one second user;

wherein;

said individual one of said plurality of content comprises a charitable program; and

said at least one user action comprises a step for providing a charitable donation.