System and method for creating and using a smart electronic programming guide

• US 20080320521A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imagine Communications Limited (Gores Broadcast Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Imagine Communications Limited (Gores Broadcast Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: DeLay, John L., Beadle, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,094,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user'"'"'s pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user'"'"'s identifying and use information. Specifically, disclosed are systems and/or methods for creating a smart electronic programming guide, including determining an identity of a user interacting with a content presentation system, collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user'"'"'s interaction with the content presentation system, storing the channel use information, determining a value for each of the plural channels as a function of the channel use information, and creating a smart electronic programming guide for the plural channels as a function of the determined value.

Claims

1. A method for creating a smart electronic programming guide, comprising:

(a) determining an identity of a user interacting with a content presentation system;

(b) collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user'"'"'s interaction with the content presentation system;

(c) storing the channel use information;

(d) determining a value for each of said plural channels as a function of the channel use information; and

(e) creating a smart electronic programming guide for said plural channels as a function of the determined value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is determined using identification information selected from the list consisting of:

biometrics, voice activation, fingerprint, user-entered password, use of a unique key on a remote device by which the user interacts with the content presentation system, use of a unique remote device by which the user interacts with the content presentation system, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining an identity of a user includes comparing said identification information with a pre-existing database of identification information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the value for a first channel of said plurality of channels is determined as a ratio of a total duration of a presentation of content associated with said first channel over a predetermined time period to a total duration of a presentation of content associated with each of said plural channels over said predetermined time period.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately one half hour.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately an hour.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately one day.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined time period is less than or equal to one week.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined time period is more than one week.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined time period corresponds to a first predetermined time slot and a first value for said first channel is stored for a first occurrence of said first predetermined time slot.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a second value for said first channel is stored for a second occurrence of said first predetermined time slot.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said determined value for said first channel includes said first and second values.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel use information includes information selected from the group consisting of:

a channel number of a first one of said plural channels, a time of initiating a presentation of content associated with said first channel to the user;

a date of initiating a presentation of content associated with said first channel to the user;

a duration of a presentation of content associated with said first channel to the user;

a total duration of a presentation of content associated with each of said plural channels to the user, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the channel use information does not include information for any of said plural channels for which a duration of a presentation of content associated with any of said plural channels is less than a predetermined amount.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the value for said first channel is determined as a ratio of a total duration of a presentation of content associated with said first channel over a predetermined time period to a total duration of a presentation of content associated with each of said plural channels over said predetermined time period.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately one half hour.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately an hour.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately one day.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined time period is less than or equal to one week.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined time period is more than one week.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said value is determined at least in part by a method selected from the group consisting of:

an unweighted finite memory method, a finite memory and weighting method, a method using recursive updates;

a method using recursive updates and weights, an adaptive weighting method, a significance test, and combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein a first channel in said smart electronic programming guide has a value greater than a value for any other of said plural channels.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein upon activation of said content presentation system said first channel is presented to the user.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said smart electronic programming guide only includes ones of said plural channels that have a determined value greater than a predetermined amount.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein said smart electronic programming guide only includes ones of said plural channels that have a determined value for a predetermined time slot greater than a predetermined amount.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a first smart electronic programming guide for said plural channels for a first mode of content delivery by said content presentation system and creating a second smart electronic programming guide for said plural channels for a second mode of content delivery by said content presentation system.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said content presentation system is a television and said first mode of content delivery is via a main television display and said second mode of content delivery is via a picture-in-picture display.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein said smart electronic programming guide includes a first section listing a first channel of said plurality of channels based on said determined value, and a second section listing a second channel of said plurality of channels wherein said second channel is related to said first channel.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said relationship between said first and second channels is based on a type of program associated with said first channel.

32. A system for creating a smart electronic programming guide, comprising:

circuitry for determining an identity of a user interacting with a content presentation system;

circuitry for collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user'"'"'s interaction with said content presentation system;

an electronic storage device for storing said channel use information;

circuitry for determining a value for each of said plural channels as a function of said channel use information; and

circuitry for creating a smart electronic programming guide for said plural channels as a function of said determined value.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said circuitry for determining an identity of said user includes circuitry for collecting identification information selected from the list consisting of:

biometrics, voice activation, fingerprint, user-entered password, use of a unique key on a remote device by which the user interacts with the content presentation system, use of a unique remote device by which the user interacts with the content presentation system, and combinations thereof.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said circuitry for determining an identity of said user includes circuitry for comparing said identification information with a pre-existing identification information stored in a database of identification information.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein said circuitry for determining the value for a first channel of said plurality of channels includes circuitry for determining a ratio of a total duration of a presentation of content associated with said first channel over a predetermined time period to a total duration of a presentation of content associated with each of said plural channels over said predetermined time period.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately one half hour.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately an hour.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately one day.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein said predetermined time period is less than or equal to one week.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein said predetermined time period is more than one week.

41. The system of claim 35 wherein said predetermined time period corresponds to a first predetermined time slot and including circuitry for storing a first value for said first channel in a first database for a first occurrence of said first predetermined time slot.

42. The system of claim 41 including circuitry for storing a second value for said first channel in said first database for a second occurrence of said first predetermined time slot.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein said circuitry for determining the value for said first channel operates on said first and second values.

44. The system of claim 32 wherein said circuitry for collecting channel use information includes circuitry for collecting information selected from the group consisting of:

a channel number of a first one of said plural channels, a time of initiating a presentation of content associated with said first channel to the user;

a date of initiating a presentation of content associated with said first channel to the user;

a duration of a presentation of content associated with said first channel to the user;

a total duration of a presentation of content associated with each of said plural channels to the user, and combinations thereof.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein said circuitry for collecting channel use information does not collect information for any of said plural channels for which a duration of a presentation of content associated with any of said plural channels is less than a predetermined amount.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein said circuitry for determining a value for a first channel includes circuitry for determining a ratio of a total duration of a presentation of content associated with said first channel over a predetermined time period to a total duration of a presentation of content associated with each of said plural channels over said predetermined time period.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately one half hour.

48. The system of claim 46 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately an hour.

49. The system of claim 46 wherein said predetermined time period is approximately one day.

50. The system of claim 46 wherein said predetermined time period is less than or equal to one week.

51. The system of claim 46 wherein said predetermined time period is more than one week.

52. The system of claim 32 wherein said circuitry for determining a value includes circuitry for running an algorithm selected from the group consisting of:

an unweighted finite memory algorithm, a finite memory and weighting algorithm, an algorithm using recursive updates;

an algorithm using recursive updates and weights, an adaptive weighting algorithm, a significance test algorithm, and combinations thereof.

53. The system of claim 32 wherein said circuitry for creating a smart electronic programming guide includes circuitry for presenting to said user, upon activation of said content presentation system, content associated with a first channel wherein said first channel has a value greater than a value for any other of said plural channels.

54. The system of claim 32 wherein said circuitry for creating a smart electronic programming guide populates a database with ones of said plural channels wherein each of said ones have a determined value greater than a predetermined amount.

55. The system of claim 32 wherein said circuitry for creating a smart electronic programming guide populates a database only with ones of said plural channels that have a determined value for a predetermined time slot greater than a predetermined amount.

56. The system of claim 32 further comprising circuitry for creating a first smart electronic programming guide for said plural channels for a first mode of content delivery by said content presentation system and circuitry for creating a second smart electronic programming guide for said plural channels for a second mode of content delivery by said content presentation system.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

58. The system of claim 56 wherein said content presentation system is a television and said first mode of content delivery includes circuitry for displaying content via a main television display and said second mode of content delivery includes circuitry for displaying content via a picture-in-picture display.

59. The method of claim 32 wherein said content presentation system is selected from the group consisting of:

a television, a radio, an internet-connected device, a music playing device, a portable entertainment device, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone/information system, and combinations thereof.

60. A method for switching from a first signal provided by a content provider to a second signal provided by the content provider, comprising:

(a) identifying a user of a first content presentation system that is operatively connected to said content provider, wherein said content provider provides one or more signals, including said first and second signals, to said first content presentation system;

(b) creating a first smart electronic programming guide based on the identity of said user and based on previously determined information for said user wherein said information is determined for a recurring first time period;

(c) associating said first smart electronic programming guide with a first actuator operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system;

(d) operating said first actuator to thereby present said first smart electronic programming guide to said user, wherein said first smart electronic programming guide includes programming information for said first and second signals;

(e) operating a second actuator to select said second signal; and

(f) operating a third actuator to thereby switch said first content presentation system from presenting said first signal provided by said content provider to presenting said second signal provided by said content provider.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein at least any two of said first, second, or third actuators are the same.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the determining of said identity of said user comprises:

(a)(i) providing a first portable device to interact with said first content presentation system, wherein said first portable device includes said first actuator which is operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system via said first portable device, and wherein said first actuator obtains biometric information from said user;

(a)(ii) operating said first actuator by said user;

(a)(iii) obtaining biometric information from said user via said first actuator; and

(a)(iv) providing the obtained biometric information to said content provider.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising:

determining at said content provider said identification of said user based on the provided biometric information.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein determining said identification of said user includes comparing said provided biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising:

transmitting a signal from said content provider based at least on said provided biometric information.

66. The method of claim 60 wherein the creating said first smart electronic programming guide comprises:

(b)(i) collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user'"'"'s interaction with said first content presentation system;

(b)(ii) storing the channel use information;

(b)(iii) determining a value for each of said plural channels as a function of the channel use information; and

(b)(iv) creating said first smart electronic programming guide for said plural channels as a function of the determined value.

67. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

(g) operatively connecting a first data collection device to a second data collection device wherein said first data collection device is operatively connected to said first content presentation system and said second data collection device is operatively connected to a second content presentation system, and wherein said first and second content presentation systems are each operatively connected to said content provider; and

(h) transmitting at least one of said identity, said channel use information, and said first smart electronic programming guide from said first data collection device to said second data collection device.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising transmitting at least one of said identity, said channel use information, and said first smart electronic programming guide from said second data collection device to a third data collection device.

69. The method of claim 67 further comprising

(i) associating said first smart electronic programming guide with a fourth actuator operable by said user for interacting with said second content presentation system;

(j) operating said fourth actuator to thereby present said first smart electronic programming guide to said user, wherein said first smart electronic programming guide includes programming information for a third signal and a fourth signal;

(k) operating a fifth actuator to select said fourth signal; and

(l) operating a sixth actuator to thereby switch said first content presentation system from presenting said third signal provided by said content provider to presenting said fourth signal provided by said content provider.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein at least any two of said fourth, fifth, or sixth actuators are the same.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein said first and said third signals are the same.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein said second and said fourth signals are the same.

73. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

(g) creating a second smart electronic programming guide based on the identity of said user and based on previously determined information for said user wherein said information is determined for a recurring second time period;

(h) associating said second smart electronic programming guide with said first actuator operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system;

(i) operating said first actuator to thereby present said second smart electronic programming guide to said user, wherein said second smart electronic programming guide includes programming information for said first and second signals;

(j) operating a second actuator to select said second signal; and

(k) operating a third actuator to thereby switch said first content presentation system from presenting said first signal provided by said content provider to presenting said second signal provided by said content provider.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein at least any two of said first, second, or third actuators are the same.

75. The method of claim 60 wherein said recurring first time period is a time period of one half hour duration.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at a same time of day for a plurality of days.

77. The method of claim 75 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at a same time of day on the same day of the week for a plurality of weeks.

78. The method of claim 60 wherein said recurring first time period is a time period of one hour duration.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at a same time of day for a plurality of days.

80. The method of claim 78 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at a same time of day on the same day of the week for a plurality of weeks.

81. A system for switching from a first signal provided by a content provider to a second signal provided by the content provider, comprising:

a first content presentation system;

circuitry for determining an identity of a user of said first content presentation system that is operatively connected to said content provider, wherein said content provider provides one or more signals to said first content presentation system;

circuitry for creating a first smart electronic programming guide based on the identity of said user and based on previously determined information for said user wherein said information is determined for a recurring first time period;

a first actuator operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system; and

circuitry for associating said first smart electronic programming guide with said first actuator wherein the operation of said first actuator switches said first content presentation system from presenting said first signal provided by said content provider to presenting said second signal provided by said content provider.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein said circuitry for determining said identity of said user comprises:

a first portable device including said first actuator which is operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system, and wherein said first actuator obtains biometric information from said user;

circuitry for obtaining biometric information from said user via said first actuator; and

circuitry for providing the obtained biometric information to said content provider.

83. The system of claim 82 further comprising:

circuitry for determining at said content provider said identification of said user based on the provided biometric information.

84. The system of claim 83 wherein said circuitry for determining said identification of said user includes circuitry for comparing said provided biometric information with a pre-existing database of biometric information.

85. The system of claim 84 further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a signal from said content provider based at least on said provided biometric information.

86. The system of claim 81 wherein said circuitry for creating said first smart electronic programming guide comprises:

circuitry for collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user'"'"'s interaction with said first content presentation system;

a memory device for storing the channel use information;

circuitry for determining a value for each of said plural channels as a function of the channel use information; and

circuitry for creating said first smart electronic programming guide for said plural channels as a function of the determined value.

87. The system of claim 81 further comprising:

circuitry for operatively connecting a first data collection device to a second data collection device wherein said first data collection device is operatively connected to said first content presentation system and said second data collection device is operatively connected to a second content presentation system, and wherein said first and second content presentation systems are each operatively connected to said content provider; and

a first transmitter for transmitting at least one of said identity, said channel use information, and said first smart electronic programming guide from said first data collection device to said second data collection device.

88. The system of claim 87 further comprising a second transmitter for transmitting at least one of said identity, said channel use information, and said first smart electronic programming guide from said second data collection device to a third data collection device.

89. The system of claim 87 further comprising

circuitry for associating said first smart electronic programming guide with a second actuator operable by said user for interacting with said second content presentation system, wherein the operation of said second actuator causes said first smart electronic programming guide to be presented to said user, and wherein said first smart electronic programming guide includes programming information for a third signal and a fourth signal;

a third actuator the operation of which by said user selects said fourth signal; and

a fourth actuator the operation of which by said user switches said second content presentation system from presenting said third signal provided by said content provider to presenting said fourth signal provided by said content provider.

90. The system of claim 89 wherein at least any two of said second, third, or fourth actuators are the same.

91. The system of claim 89 wherein said first and said third signals are the same.

92. The system of claim 91 wherein said second and said fourth signals are the same.

93. The system of claim 81 further comprising:

circuitry for creating a second smart electronic programming guide based on the identity of said user and based on previously determined information for said user wherein said information is determined for a recurring second time period; and

circuitry for associating said second smart electronic programming guide with said first actuator operable by said user for interacting with said first content presentation system, wherein operating said first actuator switches said first content presentation system from presenting a third signal provided by said content provider to presenting a fourth signal provided by said content provider.

94. The system of claim 93 wherein said first and said third signals are the same.

95. The system of claim 94 wherein said second and said fourth signals are the same.

96. The system of claim 81 wherein said recurring first time period is a time period of one half hour duration.

97. The system of claim 96 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at a same time of day for a plurality of days.

98. The system of claim 96 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at a same time of day on the same day of the week for a plurality of weeks.

99. The system of claim 81 wherein said recurring first time period is a time period of one hour duration.

100. The system of claim 99 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at a same time of day for a plurality of days.

101. The system of claim 99 wherein said recurring first time period occurs at a same time of day on the same day of the week for a plurality of weeks.