PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH MONITORING OF ADVERTISEMENT USAGE AND USER ACTIVITIES

• US 20100192172A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TV Guide Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Kern, Donald C., Ellis, Michael D., Hassell, Joel G., Lemmons, Thomas R., Berezowski, David M., Thomas, William L., Knudson, Edward B., Boyer, Franklin E., Marshall, Connie T.
• Application Number:
  US12/751,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20100192172A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A program guide system is provided in which interactive television program guide advertisement usage is monitored. Advertisement usage may be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are transmitted from a television distribution facility to user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are received by the user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored at the time at which advertisements are displayed by a program guide. Less important data may be filtered from the collected advertisement usage data. Other activities that may be monitored include the viewing activities of the user, which program guide screens are displayed, and which non-program-guide applications are used. Real-time ratings information (e.g., real-time ratings of the popularity of certain television programs, video games, or other applications) may be provided to users in real time.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an interactive program guide comprising:

collecting real-time ratings information for programs with control circuitry;

receiving a user selection of a geographical area;

processing, with a processor, the real-time ratings information to generate a list of the most popular programs among viewers located in the selected geographical area; and

transmitting, with the control circuitry, the list of the most popular programs among viewers located in the selected geographical area to user equipment for display in a program guide screen that comprises displayed program guide listings of the list, wherein the displayed listings indicate the popularity of programs at user equipment at a plurality of locations in the selected geographical area.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the geographical area is a nation, state, metropolitan area, city, or town.

3. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to select one of the program listings to perform an action with the corresponding program.

4. The method defined in claim 3, wherein the action is setting a recording for the corresponding program, setting a reminder for the corresponding program, or making a purchase of the corresponding program.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the real-time ratings information is collected by monitoring the viewing activities of users.

17. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the displayed listings are displayed in order of the popularity of the corresponding television programs.

19. The method defined in claim 17, wherein the program guide screen displays a predetermined number of program guide listings.

31. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of at least one genre;

processing the real-time ratings information to generate a list of the most popular programs of the at least one genre; and

transmitting the list of the most popular programs of the at least one genre to the user equipment.

32. The method defined in claim 31, wherein the at least one genre is one or more of sports, movies, and comedy.

41. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user indication of a time frame;

processing the real-time ratings information to generate a list of the most popular programs during the time frame; and

transmitting the list of the most popular programs during the time frame to the user equipment.

42. The method defined in claim 41, wherein the time frame is the last hour, a current evening, a current week, or this instant.

6. A system for displaying an interactive program guide comprising

a processor configured to:

collect real-time ratings information for programs;

receive a user selection of a geographical area; and

process the real-time ratings information to generate a list of the most popular programs among viewers located in the selected geographical area; and

transmit the list of the most popular programs among viewers located in the selected geographical area to user equipment for display in a program guide screen that comprises displayed program guide listings of the list, wherein the displayed listings indicate the popularity of programs at user equipment at a plurality of locations in the selected geographical area.

7. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the geographical area is a nation, state, metropolitan area, city, or town.

8. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to select one of the program listings to perform an action with the corresponding program.

9. The system defined in claim 8, wherein the action is setting a recording for the corresponding program, setting a reminder for the corresponding program, or making a purchase of the corresponding program.

10. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the real-time ratings information is collected by monitoring the viewing activities of users.

22. The system defined in claim 6, wherein the displayed listings are displayed in order of the popularity of the corresponding television programs.

24. The system defined in claim 22, wherein the program guide screen displays a predetermined number of program guide listings.

36. The system defined in claim 6, wherein

the processor is further configured to:

receive a user selection of at least one genre;

process the real-time ratings information to generate a list of the most popular programs of the at least one genre; and

transmit the list of the most popular programs of the at least one genre to the user equipment.

37. The system defined in claim 36, wherein the at least one genre is one or more of sports, movies, and comedy.

46. The system defined in claim 6, wherein

the processor is further configured to:

receive a user indication of a time frame;

process the real-time ratings information to generate a list of the most popular programs during the time frame; and

transmit the list of the most popular programs during the time frame to the user equipment.

47. The system defined in claim 46, wherein the time frame is the last hour, a current evening, a current week, or this instant.

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51. A method for displaying listings, comprising:

collecting real-time ratings information for media or applications with control circuitry;

receiving a user selection of a type of media or application;

processing, with a processor, the real-time ratings information to generate a list of the most popular media or applications of the selected type; and

transmitting, with the control circuitry, the list of the most popular media or applications of the selected type to user equipment for display in a display that comprises a plurality of listings of the list, wherein the displayed listings indicate the popularity of media or applications of the selected type at user equipment at a plurality of locations.

52. The method defined in claim 51, wherein the type is a television program or a video game.

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