System and method for scheduling broadcast of and access to video programs and other data using customer profiles
First Claim
1. A method of scheduling customer access to data from a plurality of data sources, comprising the steps of:
- creating at least one customer profile for each eligible recipient of said data, said customer profile indicating the customer'"'"'s preferences for data having predetermined characteristics;
creating content profiles for each data source of said data, said content profiles indicating the degree of content of said predetermined characteristics in data from each data source;
inputting recipient identity information;
selecting a customer profile which corresponds to said recipient identity information;
relating said selected customer profile with the content profiles for the data available from each data source to the customer at a particular time;
determining a subset of data having content profiles which are determined in said relating step to most closely match said selected customer profile; and
presenting said subset of data to said customer for selection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for scheduling the receipt of desired movies and other forms of data from a network which simultaneously distributes many sources of such data to many customers, as in a cable television system. Customer profiles are developed for the recipient describing how important certain characteristics of the broadcast video program, movie or other data are to each customer. From these profiles, an "agreement matrix" is calculated by comparing the recipient'"'"'s profiles to the actual profiles of the characteristics of the available video programs, movies, or other data. The agreement matrix thus characterizes the attractiveness of each video program, movie, or other data to each prospective customer. "Virtual" channels are generated from the agreement matrix to produce a series of video or data programming which will provide the greatest satisfaction to each customer. Feedback paths are also provided so that the customer'"'"'s profiles and/or the profiles of the video programs or other data may be modified to reflect actual usage. Kiosks are also developed which assist customers in the selection of videos, music, books, and the like in accordance with the customer'"'"'s objective profiles.
966 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of scheduling customer access to data from a plurality of data sources, comprising the steps of:
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creating at least one customer profile for each eligible recipient of said data, said customer profile indicating the customer'"'"'s preferences for data having predetermined characteristics; creating content profiles for each data source of said data, said content profiles indicating the degree of content of said predetermined characteristics in data from each data source; inputting recipient identity information; selecting a customer profile which corresponds to said recipient identity information; relating said selected customer profile with the content profiles for the data available from each data source to the customer at a particular time; determining a subset of data having content profiles which are determined in said relating step to most closely match said selected customer profile; and presenting said subset of data to said customer for selection.
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2. A data transmission system which schedules customer access to data from a plurality of data sources, comprising:
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at least one customer profile for each eligible recipient of said data, said customer profile indicating the customer'"'"'s preferences for data having predetermined characteristics; content profiles for each data source of said data, said content profiles indicating the degree of content of said predetermined characteristics in data from each data source; means for inputting recipient identity information; means for selecting a customer profile which corresponds to said recipient identity information; a processor which relates said selected customer profile with the content profiles for the data available from each data source to the customer at a particular time and for determining a subset of data having content profiles which most closely match said selected customer profile; and means for presenting said subset of data to said customer for selection.
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3. A multimedia terminal for receiving data from a plurality of data sources, comprising:
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means for storing at least one customer profile indicating a customer'"'"'s preferences for data having predetermined characteristics; means for storing content profiles for each data source of said data, said content profiles indicating the degree of content of said predetermined characteristics in data from each data source; means for inputting recipient identity information; means for selecting a customer profile which corresponds to said recipient identity information; processing means for relating said selected customer profile with the content profiles for the data available from each data source to the customer at a particular time and for determining a subset of data having content profiles which most closely match said selected customer profile; and a display guide for presenting said subset of data to said customer for selection.
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4. A method of assisting customers in the selection of video, music or reading products for purchase or rental through the use of a kiosk comprising a processor, a memory, and a display device, comprising the steps of:
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creating content profiles for each video, music or book product, said content profiles indicating the degree of content of predetermined characteristics of said video, music or book products, and storing said content profiles in said memory; creating from user input into said computerized kiosk a plurality of customer profiles for customers desiring assistance in the selection of said video, music or book products, each customer profile indicating a customer'"'"'s preferences for said predetermined characteristics of said video, music or book products, and storing said plurality of customer profiles in said memory; said processor relating said customer profiles with the content profiles for the video, music or book products available for rental or purchase; said processor determining a subset of recommended video, music or book products having content profiles which most closely match a customer profile for a particular customer; and displaying on said display device said subset of recommended video, music or book products as rental or purchase recommendations to said particular customer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computerized kiosk for assisting customers in the selection of video, music or book products for purchase or rental, said kiosk comprising:
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a memory including content profiles for each video, music or book product, said content profiles indicating the degree of content of predetermined characteristics of said video, music or book products, and a plurality of customer profiles for customers desiring assistance in the selection of said video, music or book products, each customer profile indicating a customer'"'"'s preferences for said predetermined characteristics of said video, music or book products; a processor which relates said customer profiles with the content profiles for the video, music or book products available for rental or purchase and which determines a subset of recommended video, music or book products having content profiles which most closely match a customer profile for a particular customer; and a display device for displaying said subset of recommended video, music or book products as rental or purchase recommendations to said particular customer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification