Real-time audience monitoring, content rating, and content enhancing
First Claim
1. A method in a Set-Top Box that assists in presenting content to one or more viewers, the method for providing information about interactions with the viewers, comprising:
- monitoring received input from the one or more viewers; and
in response to detecting that the received input is an interaction of a type of interest, sending an event message to an event server, the event message identifying the type of the detected interaction and an indication of the Set-Top Box.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for collecting usage information in real-time for a computing device receiving digital content for presentation, such as to enable various types of real-time content modifications or content-related service enhancements, is described. In some situations, real-time information is collected about Set-Top Boxes that allow viewers to receive various types of content (e.g., video broadcasts such as single-channel or multi-channel television programming, audio broadcasts, media-on-demand, etc.) and to interact with the content and with related services in various ways, such as information about content viewing and types of viewer interactions. Having access to information related to content viewing and to various types of user interactions provides a variety of benefits, with real-time or near real-time collection of such information enabling dynamic modifications to provided content, functionality, and services.
339 Citations
102 Claims
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1. A method in a Set-Top Box that assists in presenting content to one or more viewers, the method for providing information about interactions with the viewers, comprising:
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monitoring received input from the one or more viewers; and
in response to detecting that the received input is an interaction of a type of interest, sending an event message to an event server, the event message identifying the type of the detected interaction and an indication of the Set-Top Box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 40, 48)
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23. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to provide information about interactions with one or more viewers of content being presented, the computing device for assisting in presenting the content to the viewers, the providing of information by performing a method comprising:
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monitoring received input from the one or more viewers; and
in response to detecting that the received input is an interaction of a type of interest, sending an event message to an event server that identifies the type of the detected interaction and that includes an indication of the computing device or of one or more of the viewers.
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28. A computing device for providing information about interactions with one or more viewers of content being presented, the computing device for assisting in presenting the content to the viewers comprising:
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a monitoring component capable of monitoring received input from the one or more viewers; and
notification component capable of, in response to detecting that the received input is an interaction of a type of interest, sending an event message to an event server that identifies the type of the detected interaction and that includes an indication of the computing device or of the one or more viewers.
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31. A computing device for providing information about interactions with one or more viewers of content being presented, the computing device for assisting in presenting the content to the viewers, comprising:
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means for monitoring received input from the one or more viewers; and
means for, in response to detecting that the received input is an interaction of a type of interest, sending an event message to an event server that identifies the type of the detected interaction and that includes an indication of the computing device or of the one or more viewers.
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32. A method in an event tracking server for monitoring interactions between viewers of content presented on content presentation devices and Set-Top Boxes associated with those content presentation devices, the Set-Top Boxes for assisting in presenting the content to the viewers, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple Set-Top Boxes in response to an interaction with that Set-Top Box by one or more viewers of a content presentation device associated with that Set-Top Box;
determining one or more of the Set-Top Boxes from which an event message has not been received for a predetermined period of time;
sending a status message to each of the determined Set-Top Boxes;
determining a current status of each of the determined Set-Top Boxes based on responses received to the sent status messages; and
tracking audience information for the presented content based on the received event messages and on the determined current status of at least some of the Set-Top Boxes. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to monitor interactions between viewers of content presented on remote content presentation devices and remote computing devices associated with those content presentation devices, the remote computing devices for assisting in presenting the content to the viewers, the monitoring of the interactions by performing a method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple remote computing devices in response to an interaction with that remote computing device by one or more viewers of a content presentation device associated with that remote computing device;
determining one or more of the remote computing devices from which an event message has not been received for a predetermined period of time;
sending a status message to each of the determined remote computing devices; and
determining a current status of each of the determined remote computing devices based on responses received to the sent status message, so that audience information for the presented content can be tracked based on the received event messages and on the determined current status of at least some of the remote computing devices.
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49. A computing device for monitoring interactions between viewers of content presented on remote content presentation devices and remote computing devices associated with those content presentation devices, the remote computing devices for assisting in presenting the content to the viewers, comprising:
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a message receiver component capable of receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple remote computing devices in response to an interaction with that remote computing device by one or more viewers of a content presentation device associated with that remote computing device;
a remote computing device status component capable of determining one or more of the remote computing devices from which an event message has not been received for a predetermined period of time, of sending a status message to each of the determined remote computing devices, and of determining a current status of each of the determined remote computing devices based on responses received to the sent status messages; and
an audience tracker component capable of tracking audience information for the presented content based on the received event messages and on the determined current status of at least some of the remote computing devices.
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50. A method for selecting content to be presented to multiple display devices each associated with one of multiple remote Set-Top Boxes, the selecting based on event messages provided by the Set-Top Boxes, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple Set-Top Boxes in response to an interaction with that Set-Top Box by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that Set-Top Box;
identifying from the event messages viewers to whom the content is currently being presented; and
selecting based on the identified viewers distinct content to be presented to the multiple display devices. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to select content to be presented to multiple display devices each associated with one of multiple remote computing devices, the selecting based on event messages provided by the remote computing devices, the selecting of the content by performing a method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple remote computing devices in response to an interaction with that remote computing device by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that remote computing device;
identifying from the event messages viewers to whom the content is currently being presented; and
selecting based on the identified viewers distinct content to be presented to the multiple display devices. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70)
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67. A method for selecting content to be presented to a television associated with a remote Set-Top Box, the selecting based on event messages provided by the Set-Top Box, the method comprising:
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receiving one or more event messages from the Set-Top Box that are each in response to an interaction with that Set-Top Box by one or more viewers of the associated television;
identifying from the event messages one or more viewers to whom the content is currently being presented; and
selecting based on the identified viewers distinct content to be presented to the television.
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71. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to select content to be presented to a television associated with a remote computing device, the selecting based on event messages provided by the computing device, the selecting of the content by performing a method comprising:
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receiving one or more event messages from the remote computing device that are each in response to an interaction with that remote computing device by one or more viewers of the associated television;
identifying from the event messages one or more viewers to whom the content is currently being presented; and
selecting based on the identified viewers distinct content to be presented to the television.
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72. A method for detecting unauthorized viewing of content being presented to multiple display devices each associated with one of multiple remote Set-Top Boxes, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple Set-Top Boxes in response to an interaction with that Set-Top Box by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that Set-Top Box; and
identifying from the event messages that the content is not authorized to be presented on the display device associated with one of the Set-Top Boxes. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to detect unauthorized viewing of content being presented to multiple display devices each associated with one of multiple remote computing devices, the detecting of the unauthorized viewing by performing a method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple remote computing devices in response to an interaction with that remote computing device by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that remote computing device; and
identifying from the event messages that the content is not authorized to be presented on the display device associated with one of the remote computing devices. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82)
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78. A method for monitoring content being presented on one or more remote display devices each associated with a distinct remote Set-Top Box, the monitoring based on event messages provided by the Set-Top Boxes, the method comprising:
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receiving an indication to monitor content being presented on one or more remote display devices each associated with a distinct remote Set-Top Box;
receiving one or more event messages from one or more of the Set-Top Boxes that are each in response to an interaction with one of the Set-Top Boxes by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that one Set-Top Box;
determining based on the received event messages the content that is being presented on the display devices; and
providing an indication of the determined content.
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83. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to monitor content being presented on one or more remote display devices each associated with a distinct remote computing device, the monitoring based on event messages provided by the remote computing devices, the monitoring of the content by performing a method comprising:
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receiving an indication to monitor content being presented on one or more remote display devices each associated with a distinct remote computing device;
receiving one or more event messages from one or more of the computing devices that are each in response to an interaction with one of the computing devices by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that one computing device;
determining based on the received event messages the content that is being presented on the display devices; and
providing an indication of the determined content.
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84. A method for determining popularity of at least one of multiple groups of content each being presented to multiple display devices, each display device associated with one of multiple remote Set-Top Boxes, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple Set-Top Boxes in response to an interaction with that Set-Top Box by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that Set-Top Box;
determining based on the received event messages a number of display devices on which at least one of the multiple groups of content is being presented; and
providing an indication of the determined number of display devices for at least one of the multiple groups of content. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87)
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88. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to determine popularity of at least one of multiple groups of content each being presented to multiple display devices, each display device associated with one of multiple remote computing devices, the determining of the popularity by performing a method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple remote computing devices in response to an interaction with that remote computing device by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that remote computing device;
determining based on the received event messages a number of display devices on which at least one of the multiple groups of content is being presented; and
providing an indication of the determined number of display devices for at least one of the multiple groups of content. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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89. A method for adjusting user interface functionality provided in conjunction with content being presented on a remote display device associated with a remote Set-Top Box, the adjusting based on event messages provided by the Set-Top Box, the method comprising:
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receiving one or more event messages from the Set-Top Box that are each in response to an interaction with that Set-Top Box during which one or more viewers of the associated display device invoke provided user interface functionality;
determining based on the user interface functionality invocations to adjust the user interface functionality provided to the viewers; and
adjusting the user interface functionality provided to the viewers.
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95. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to adjust user interface functionality provided in conjunction with content being presented on a remote display device associated with a remote computing device, the adjusting based on event messages provided by the remote computing device, the adjusting by performing a method comprising:
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receiving one or more event messages from the remote computing device that are each in response to an user interface functionality interaction with that remote computing device by one or more viewers of the associated display device;
determining based on the user interface functionality interactions to adjust the user interface functionality provided to the viewers; and
adjusting the user interface functionality provided to the viewers.
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96. A method for determining reactions of viewers to content being presented to multiple display devices, each display device associated with one of multiple remote Set-Top Boxes, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple Set-Top Boxes in response to an interaction with that Set-Top Box by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that Set-Top Box;
determining based on the received event messages the display devices that change whether the content is being presented; and
providing an indication of the reaction of the viewers to the content based on the determined display device changes. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100, 101)
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102. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to determine reactions of viewers to content being presented to multiple display devices, each display device associated with one of multiple remote computing devices, the determining of the reactions by performing a method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event messages that are each sent from one of the multiple remote computing devices in response to an interaction with that remote computing device by one or more viewers of the display device associated with that remote computing device;
determining based on the received event messages the display devices that change whether the content is being presented; and
providing an indication of the reaction of the viewers to the content based on the determined display device changes.
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Specification