Facility for Processing Verbal Feedback and Updating Digital Video Recorder(DVR) Recording Patterns

• US 20110004477A1
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kottawar, Saidas T., Macias, Mike V., Gandhi, Salil P., Mahajan, Sandip D., Bansal, Ravi P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,504,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/088 Word spotting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

A method, a system and a computer program product for using speech/voice recognition technology to update digital video recorder (DVR) program recording patterns, based on program viewer/listener feedback. A speech controlled pattern modification (SCPM) utility utilizes a DVR recording sub-system integrated with speech processing functionality to compare control phrases with phrases uttered by a viewer. If a control phrase matches a phrase uttered by the viewer, the SCPM utility modifies the DVR recording patterns, according to a set of pre-programmed governing rules. For example, the SCPM utility may avoid modifying the recording patterns for programs within a list of “favorite” programs but may modify the recording patterns for programs excluded from the list. The SCPM utility determines priority of the uttered phrases by identifying users and retrieving a preset priority level of the identified users. The priority level is then used to control changes to the recording patterns.

Claims

1. In a digital video recorder (DVR) system having a DVR recording controller sub-system, said recording controller sub-system integrated with a speech recognition system, a method comprising:

recording control phrases for subsequent comparison with phrases uttered by a viewer using the DVR recording controller sub-system;

creating a set of governing rules to manage changes to recording patterns;

comparing words and phrases uttered by a speaker with pre-recorded control words and phrases;

identifying a match for the words and phrases uttered by a speaker with the pre-recorded control words and phrases;

in response to identification of the match;

(a) designating said words and phrases uttered by the speaker as user feedback;

(b) updating user feedback data; and

automatically modifying program recording patterns based on user feedback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing further comprises:

translating one or more words and phrases into text using speech and voice recognition technology;

comparing translated words and phrases with the control words and phrases;

determining whether a match exists based on a comparison of said translated words and phrases and said control words and phrases; and

obtaining an identity of a speaker using speech and voice recognition technology.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying further comprises:

determining whether to trigger the specific changes indicated by the set of governing rules by using a group of filters on detected words and phrases;

when a match of control words and phrases is identified, initiate changes in the recording patterns according to one or more of;

(a) a set of governing rules;

(b) a frequency of detection of the uttered words and phrases;

(c) a group of filtering rules; and

(d) control keypad interactions; and

wherein said match provides an indication of a level of appreciation or dislike for a particular program;

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said creating further comprises:

implementing the set of governing rules via a configuration procedure to indicate specific changes to recorded patterns; and

wherein said governing rules include;

(a) transferring feedback to a broadcaster;

(b) elimination of future recordings of a particular program based on the match;

(c) initiation of a confirmation procedure at a pre-specified interval including an interval at a completion of a program that is viewed current to detection of recognized words and phrases; and

(d) elimination of future recording only if further specific matches are identified or if particular results are obtained following the application of one or more filters.

5. The method of claim 3:

wherein said group of filtering rules provide one or more conditions from among;

(a) elimination of a program unless the program is included in a list of favorite programs; and

(b) trigger an action provided by the set of governing rules based on a priority level of a detected speaker.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a functionality of the DVR recording sub-system via one or more of;

(a) a computer system; and

(b) a web-based interface;

initiating changes to recording patterns by one or more of;

(a) directly via the DVR; and

(b) remotely, via an external device or external SCPM software that uses an internet-based Application Programming Interface (API) provided by the DVR.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

developing the DVR recording sub-system which is able to generate and modify recording patterns;

generating modifiable program recording patterns; and

detecting verbal utterances via one or more audio sensor devices including a microphone.

8. A data processing system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory system;

a speech/voice recognition system;

a DVR recording sub-system;

network connectivity;

a utility which when executed on the processor provides the functions of;

developing the DVR recording sub-system which is able to generate and modify recording patterns;

recording control phrases for subsequent comparison with phrases uttered by a viewer using the DVR recording sub-system;

creating a set of governing rules to manage changes to recording patterns;

generating modifiable program recording patterns;

detecting verbal utterances via one or more audio sensor devices including a microphone;

comparing words and phrases uttered by a speaker with pre-recorded control words and phrases;

identifying a match for the words and phrases uttered by a speaker with the pre-recorded control words and phrases;

in response to identification of the match;

(a) designating said words and phrases uttered by the speaker as user feedback;

(b) updating user feedback data; and

automatically modifying program recording patterns based on user feedback.

9. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein said functions for comparing further comprises functions for:

translating one or more words and phrases into text using speech and voice recognition technology;

comparing translated words and phrases with the control words and phrases;

determining whether a match exists based on a comparison of said translated words and phrases and said control words and phrases; and

obtaining an identity of a speaker using speech and voice recognition technology.

10. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein said functions for modifying further comprises functions for:

determining whether to trigger the specific changes indicated by the set of governing rules by using a group of filters on detected words and phrases;

when a match of control words and phrases is identified, initiate changes in the recording patterns according to one or more of;

(a) a set of governing rules;

(b) a frequency of detection of the uttered words and phrases;

(c) a group of filtering rules; and

(d) control keypad interactions; and

wherein said match provides an indication of a level of appreciation or dislike for a particular program.

11. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein said functions for creating further comprises functions for:

implementing the set of governing rules via a configuration procedure to indicate specific changes to recorded patterns; and

wherein said governing rules include;

(a) transferring feedback to a broadcaster;

(b) elimination of future recordings of a particular program based on the match;

(c) initiation of a confirmation procedure at a pre-specified interval including an interval at a completion of a program that is viewed current to detection of recognized words and phrases; and

(d) elimination of future recording only if further specific matches are identified or if particular results are obtained following the application of one or more filters.

12. The data processing system of claim 10:

wherein said group of filtering rules provide one or more conditions from among;

(a) elimination of a program unless the program is included in a list of favorite programs; and

(b) trigger an action provided by the set of governing rules based on a priority level of a detected speaker.

13. The data processing system of claim 8, further comprising functions for:

accessing a functionality of the DVR recording sub-system via one or more of;

(a) a computer system; and

(b) a web-based interface;

initiating changes to recording patterns by one or more of;

(a) directly via the DVR; and

(b) remotely, via an external device or external SCPM software that uses an internet-based API provided by the DVR.

14. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

program code on said computer readable medium that when executed within a data communication device, said program code provides the functionality of;

developing a DVR recording sub-system which is able to generate and modify recording patterns;

recording control phrases for subsequent comparison with phrases uttered by a viewer using the DVR recording sub-system;

creating a set of governing rules to manage changes to recording patterns;

generating modifiable program recording patterns;

detecting verbal utterances via one or more audio sensor devices including a microphone;

comparing words and phrases uttered by a speaker with pre-recorded control words and phrases;

identifying a match for the words and phrases uttered by a speaker with the pre-recorded control words and phrases;

in response to identification of the match;

(a) designating said words and phrases uttered by the speaker as user feedback;

(b) updating user feedback data; and

automatically modifying program recording patterns based on user feedback.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said program code for comparing further comprises program code for:

translating one or more words and phrases into text using speech and voice recognition technology;

comparing translated words and phrases with the control words and phrases;

determining whether a match exists based on a comparison of said translated words and phrases and said control words and phrases; and

obtaining an identity of a speaker using speech and voice recognition technology.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said program code for modifying further comprises program code for:

determining whether to trigger the specific changes indicated by the set of governing rules by using a group of filters on detected words and phrases;

when a match of control words and phrases is identified, initiate changes in the recording patterns according to one or more of;

(a) a set of governing rules;

(b) a frequency of detection of the uttered words and phrases;

(c) a group of filtering rules; and

(d) control keypad interactions; and

wherein said match provides an indication of a level of appreciation or dislike for a particular program.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said program code for creating further comprises program code for:

implementing the set of governing rules via a configuration procedure to indicate specific changes to recorded patterns; and

wherein said governing rules include;

(a) transferring feedback to a broadcaster;

(b) elimination of future recordings of a particular program based on the match;

(c) initiation of a confirmation procedure at a pre-specified interval including an interval at a completion of a program that is viewed current to detection of recognized words and phrases; and

(d) elimination of future recording only if further specific matches are identified or if particular results are obtained following the application of one or more filters.

18. The computer program product of claim 16:

wherein said group of filtering rules provide one or more conditions from among;

(a) elimination of a program unless the program is included in a list of favorite programs; and

(b) trigger an action provided by the set of governing rules based on a priority level of a detected speaker.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising program code for:

accessing a functionality of the DVR recording sub-system via one or more of;

(a) a computer system; and

(b) a web-based interface;

initiating changes to recording patterns by one or more of;

(a) directly via the DVR; and

(b) remotely, via an external device or external SCPM software that uses an internet-based API provided by the DVR.