PERSONALIZED VIDEO SYSTEM

• US 20090133059A1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Messer, Alan, Gibbs, Simon J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A media device suitable for playing video content including television programming is provided. The media device comprises a device usage monitor configured to substantially automatically monitor selected usage information related to video content that is played on the media device; a rating engine configured to substantially automatically generate content ratings for specific video content that has been played by the media device, wherein the content ratings are based at least in part of the usage information; and a user interface suitable for presenting a plurality of content channels to the user, wherein at least some of the presented channels are personalized channels that include video content that is selected based at least in part on the content ratings generated by the rating engine.

Claims

1. A method of providing personalized video content, comprising:

automatically determining at least one personalized channel based on device usage information for a device capable of performing at least one video operation; and

automatically determining at least one piece of video content for each personalized channel based on the device usage information.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

playing selected pieces of video content on the device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically monitoring usage of the device to collect the device usage information; and

storing the collected device usage information,

wherein the device usage information relates to operating video content on the device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

prefetching selected pieces of video content; and

storing the selected pieces of video content on the device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one personalized channel is associated with a theme and the at least one piece of video content for each of the at least one personalized channel is related to the theme associated with the personalized channel.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically updating the at least one personalized channel based on updated device usage information; and

automatically updating the at least one piece of video content for each of the at least one personalized channel based on the updated device usage information.

7. A method of providing personalized video content to a user of a consumer electronic device, comprising:

transmitting content ratings and user profiles substantially automatically determined based on videos played on a media device suitable for playing video media to a remote content server;

receiving a plurality of personalized channels and personalized video content associated with the plurality of personalized channels selected based at least in part on the content ratings and the user profiles from the remote content server;

presenting the plurality of personalized channels and personalized video content associated with the plurality of personalized channels to a user of the media device;

receiving a selection of a particular piece of personalized video content from the user; and

playing the selected piece of personalized video content on the media device.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the content ratings are determined based at least in part on usage information with respect to the media device for playing the videos.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

prefetching selected video content; and

temporarily storing the prefetched video content on the media device.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

requesting additional video content related to a particular piece of personalized video content selected by the user; and

presenting the additional video content to the user.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving personalized advertisement selected based at least in part on the content ratings and the user profiles from the remote content server; and

presenting the personalized advertisement to the user.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a particular piece of personalized advertisement from the user;

playing the selected piece of personalized advertisement on the media device; and

notifying the remote content server of the selected piece of personalized advertisement.

13. A media device suitable for playing video content including television programming, the device comprising:

a device usage monitor configured to substantially automatically monitor selected usage information related to video content that is played on the media device;

a rating engine configured to substantially automatically generate content ratings for specific video content that has been played by the media device, wherein the content ratings are based at least in part of the usage information; and

a user interface suitable for presenting a plurality of content channels to the user, wherein at least some of the presented channels are personalized channels that include video content that is selected based at least in part on the content ratings generated by the rating engine.

14. A media device as recited in claim 13, wherein at least some of the personalized channels are arranged to have a plurality of distinct pieces of video content associated therewith and wherein the user interface if further configured to present overview information that identifies a plurality of distinct pieces of video content that may be viewed by the user in response to the selection of a particular personalized channel by the user;

and wherein in response to a selection of a particular piece of content by the user from the plurality of presented pieces of content associated with the selected channel, the media device causes the selected piece of content to play.

15. A media device as recited in claim 13, wherein the media device is a consumer electronics device selected from the group consisting of a television, a video recorder, a mobile multimedia player, a cable box, and a set top box.

16. A media device suitable for playing video content, comprising:

a device usage monitor configured to substantially automatically monitor selected usage information related to video content that is played by the media device;

a rating engine configured to substantially automatically generate content ratings for specific video content that has been played on the media device, wherein the content ratings are based at least in part of the usage information; and

a user interface suitable for presenting personalized video content to the user, wherein the personalized video content is selected based at least in part on the content ratings generated by the rating engine.

17. A media device as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a profiling engine configured to substantially automatically determine user profiles for specific device users,

wherein the personalized video content is selected further based at least in part on the user profiles determined by the profiling engine.

18. A media device as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit content ratings and user profiles to a server and receives personalized video content from the server.

19. A video content provider for providing personalized video content to a user of a media device, wherein the media device is capable of playing video media, and wherein the video content provider is a part of the media device, the video content provider comprising:

a device usage monitor configured to substantially automatically monitor selected usage of the media device with respect to playing videos on the media device;

a rating engine configured to substantially automatically generate content ratings for the videos that have been played on the media device based at least in part on the selected usage of the media device and in reference to a plurality of rating rules; and

a user interface suitable for

presenting a plurality of channels to the user, wherein at least some of the presented channels are personalized channels that include video content that is selected based at least in part on the content ratings generated by the rating engine,

in response to a selection of a particular channel by the user from the plurality of presented channels, presenting a plurality of distinct pieces of video content associated with the selected channel that may be viewed by the user; and

in response to a selection of a particular piece of video content by the user from the plurality of presented distinct pieces of video content associated with the selected channel, causing the media device to play the selected piece of video content.

20. A video content provider as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a profiling engine configured to substantially automatically determine user profiles for device users,

wherein the video content associated with the personalized channels is selected further based at least in part on the user profiles determined by the profiling engine.

21. A video content provider as recited in claim 20, wherein a user profile for a user comprises information selected from the group consisting of gender, sex, geographical location, and preference.

22. A video content provider as recited in claim 20, wherein a user profile for a user comprises information obtained from user actions with respect to operating the media device.

23. A video content provider as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit the content ratings generated by the rating engine and the user profiles determined by the profiling engine to a remote server system and receive the personalized channels and the video content associated with each of the personalized channels from the remote server system.

24. A video content provider as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a channel manager configured to manage and update the personalized channels and the video content associated with each of the personalized channels.

25. A video content provider as recited in claim 24, wherein the channel manager is configured to request updated personalized channels and updated video content associated with the updated personalized channels to be presented to the user of the media device each time when the media device is powered on.

26. A video content provider as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a video prefetcher configured to obtaining selected pieces of video content associated with the personalized channels in anticipation of the user selecting particular pieces of video content via the user interface for playing on the media device.

27. A video content provider as recited in claim 19, wherein the user interface is further suitable for providing playback control to the user while the selected piece of video content is played on the media device.

28. A video content provider as recited in claim 19, wherein the media device is a consumer electronic device selected from a group consisting of a television, a video recorder, a mobile multimedia player, a cable box, and a set top box.

29. A video content provider as recited in claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of the rating rules comprises a device usage pattern and a rating action, wherein when the device usage pattern of a particular rating rule is inferred from the monitored usage of the media device, the rating action of that rating rule is use to adjust a content rating for a piece of video associated with the monitored usage of the media device.

30. A consumer electronic device suitable for playing video media, comprising:

a transceiver suitable for networked communication with a remote content server system to receive a plurality of personalized channels and personalized video content associated with the plurality of personalized channels from the remote content server, wherein the plurality of personalized channels and personalized video content are selected based at least in part on usage patterns of the consumer electronic device that are automatically detected by the consumer electronic device; and

a user interface suitable for presenting the plurality of personalized channels and the personalized video content to a user of the consumer electronic device and enabling the user to select a particular piece of video content to be played on the consumer electronic device.

31. A consumer electronic device as recited in claim 30, wherein the user interface is further suitable for presenting content information associated with the particular piece of video content in response to the user selecting that piece of video content.

32. A consumer electronic device as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

a channel manager suitable for managing the plurality of personalized channels and personalized video content from the remote content server and for requesting updated personalized channels and updated personalized video content associated with the updated personalized channels from the remote content server.

33. A consumer electronic device as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

a rating engine suitable for substantially automatically generating content ratings for videos that have been played on the consumer electronic device; and

a profiling engine suitable for substantially automatically determining user profiles for users of the consumer electronic device,

wherein the transceiver is further suitable for transmitting the content ratings generated by the rating engine and the user profiles determined by the profiling engine to the remote content server so that the content ratings and the user profiles are used to select the plurality of personalized channels and personalized video content for the consumer electronic device.

34. A consumer electronic device as recited in claim 30, wherein the consumer electronic device is one selected from the group consisting of a television, a cable box, and a set top box, and further comprising:

a plurality of standard television channels and standard television programs associated with the plurality of standard television channels,

wherein the user interface is further suitable for presenting both the plurality of personalized channels and the plurality of standard television channels and enabling the user to select any television program or video content associated with these channels.

35. A computer program product for providing personalized video content to a user of a consumer electronic device, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having a plurality of computer program instructions stored therein, which are operable to cause at least one computing device to:

transmit content ratings and user profiles substantially automatically determined based on videos played on a media device suitable for playing video media to a remote content server;

receive a plurality of personalized channels and personalized video content associated with the plurality of personalized channels selected based at least in part on the content ratings and user profiles from the remote content server;

present the plurality of personalized channels and personalized video content associated with the plurality of personalized channels to a user of the media device;

receive a selection of a particular piece of personalized video content from the user; and

play the selected piece of personalized video content on the media device.

36. A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein the content ratings are determined based at least in part on usage information with respect to the media device for playing the videos.

37. A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein the plurality of computer program instructions are further operable to:

prefetch selected video content; and

temporarily store the prefetched video content on the media device.

38. A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein the plurality of computer program instructions are further operable to:

request additional video content related to a particular piece of personalized video content selected by the user; and

present the additional video content to the user.

39. A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein the plurality of computer program instructions are further operable to:

receive personalized advertisement selected based at least in part on the content ratings and the user profiles from the remote content server; and

present the personalized advertisement to the user.

40. A computer program product as recited in claim 39, wherein the plurality of computer program instructions are further operable to:

receive a selection of a particular piece of personalized advertisement from the user;

play the selected piece of personalized advertisement on the media device; and

notify the remote content server of the selected piece of personalized advertisement.

41. A system for providing personalized video content via consumer electronic devices, comprising:

at least one consumer electronic device, wherein each consumer electronic device is communicatively connected with a server, and wherein each consumer electronic device is suitable for (1) playing video content, (2) substantially automatically rating the video content played on the consumer electronic device based at least in part on usage of the consumer electronic device for playing the video content, (3) transmitting the video content ratings to the server, (4) receiving personalized video content selected by the server, and (5) presenting the personalized video content selected by the server to a user; and

the server suitable for (1) receiving video content ratings from each consumer electronic device, (2) selecting the personalized video content for each consumer electronic device based at least in part on the video content ratings received from that consumer electronic device, and (3) transmitting the personalized video content selected for each consumer electronic device to that consumer electronic device.

42. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein each consumer electronic device is further suitable for (6) presenting a plurality of personalized channels to the user, wherein selected ones of the personalized video content are associated with selected ones of the plurality of personalized channels.

43. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein each consumer electronic device is further suitable for (7) receiving a selection of a particular piece of the personalized video content from the user;

and (8) playing the particular piece of the personalized video content selected by the user.

44. A system as recited in claim 43, wherein each consumer electronic device is further suitable for (9) requesting additional video content related to the particular piece of the personalized video content selected by the user from the server;

(10) receiving the additional video content from the server; and

(11) presenting the additional video content to the user.

45. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein each consumer electronic device is further suitable for (12) receiving a selection of a particular piece of the additional video content from the user;

and (13) playing the particular piece of the additional video content selected by the user.

46. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein

each consumer electronic device is further suitable for (14) receiving personalized advertisement selected by the server, and (15) presenting the personalized advertisement selected by the server to the user;

and

the server is further suitable for (4) selecting the personalized advertisement for each consumer electronic device based at least in part on the video content ratings received from that consumer electronic device, and (5) transmitting the personalized advertisement selected for each consumer electronic device to that consumer electronic device.

47. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein each consumer electronic device is further suitable for (16) receiving a selection of a particular piece of the personalized advertisement from the user;

(17) playing the particular piece of the personalized advertisement selected by the user; and

(18) notifying the server of the particular piece of personalized advertisement selected by the user.

48. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein each consumer electronic device is further suitable for (19) prefetching selected pieces of the personalized video content;

and (20) temporarily storing the prefetched personalized video content.