Method and apparatus for manipulating content channels

• US 9,451,297 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: McCoy, Charles, Xiong, True, Wong, Ling Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): MONTOYA, OSCHTA I
• Application Number:
  US14/048,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20140040971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list.

Claims

1. A method for using a content channel comprising:

establishing an anonymous content channel;

selecting one or more content assets from a pool of content assets based on similarity between the content assets and anonymous content channel seeds;

providing an indication of the selected one or more content assets to a user device of a user of the anonymous content channel,

receiving user feedback for the anonymous content channel;

cloning the anonymous content channel; and

incorporating the user feedback in the cloned anonymous content channel.

2. A computer-implemented system for using a content channel comprising:

means for establishing an anonymous content channel;

means for selecting one or more content assets from a pool of content assets based on similarity between the content assets and anonymous content channel seeds;

means for providing an indication of the selected one or more content assets to a user device of a user of the anonymous content channel;

means for receiving user feedback for the anonymous content channel;

means for cloning the anonymous content channel; and

means for incorporating the user feedback in the cloned anonymous content channel.

3. The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

means for deleting the anonymous content channel following access of the anonymous content channel.

4. The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

means for restricting modification of the anonymous content channel seeds.

5. The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

means for utilizing the anonymous content channel to provide related content assets.

6. The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the anonymous content channel seeds include:

a reference to a content asset and/or search term.

7. The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

means for storing the anonymous content channel for subsequent access.

8. The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

means for excluding previously accessed content assets selected from the anonymous content channel.

9. The computer-implemented system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

means for identifying the anonymous content channel with a user-generated name.