Method for automatic and semi-automatic event scheduling based on information embedded in multimedia content

• US 6,813,776 B2
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schaffa, Frank Andre, Seidman, David Israel, Chernock, Richard Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter
• Application Number:
  US09/167,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,219 Days
• Field of Search: 725/61, 725/39-58, 386/1, 386/83
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17363 at or near the user terminal

Abstract

The method of the present invention allows a viewer/listener to schedule a future event based on information which is embedded in a multimedia presentation, such as a promotional commercial. The viewer or the viewer'"'"'s equipment, on the basis of the viewer'"'"'s preferences, causes the event to be scheduled at the appropriate time. The types of events that can be scheduled include:

scheduling the reception of a future television/radio/data download program, including turning the processing device on and switching to a correct channel or station;

scheduling play of audio or visual reminders for informing of the imminent start of a scheduled program;

scheduling the recordation of future program or data imbedded in such a program on a recording device, e.g., VCR, audio recorder, computer medium recorder; and

schedule the downloading of data.

Claims

1. A method for providing a scheduling function to the recipient of a multimedia presentation independent of any Electronic Program Guide, said method comprising steps of:

communicating program scheduling information to a multimedia broadcast processing device, said scheduling information integrated within and presented during said multimedia broadcast presentation from a broadcast location;

determining whether said program scheduling information was received at said processing device, extracting said program scheduling information if it was received, and placing said program scheduling information in a data queue;

notifying a user of availability of said program scheduling information for programming of a future presentation;

said user making a selection to schedule a future program or an event according to said program scheduling information received; and

processing said selection according to contents of said program scheduling information so that said Processing device automatically tunes to a selected program at a subsequent scheduled time according to a user preference,

wherein program scheduling functionality is performed without need for communication back to a broadcast location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

ascertaining and embedded said program scheduling information into a content of said multimedia presentation during an authoring step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of extracting further comprising the steps of:

a. setting preferences and tuning a program selection;

b. waiting until said program scheduling information has been placed on said data queue; and

c. waiting until a notification time is reached.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said steps of notifying and making a selection are performed without interrupting said multimedia presentation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of notifying is performed by various notification means, said various notifying means being selectable by said user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said multimedia presentation is video.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said multimedia presentation is audio.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said notification means includes a remote control input device, said step of making a selection is performed by a single key press on said input device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of making a selection is performed using an on-screen graphics menu.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of processing further comprising following steps:

d. waiting until said notification time has passed;

e. terminating the notification of said user of availability of said program scheduling information and continuing processing at step (b);

f. determining whether said user has made said selection, if said user has not made said selection continuing processing at step (d);

g. terminating the notification of said user of availability of said program scheduling information; and

h. waiting until a scheduled presentation time is reached.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of processing further comprises a step of recording a subsequent program at a scheduled time according to said program scheduling information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of processing further comprises a step of recording content embedded in a subsequent program at a scheduled time according to said program scheduling information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of processing further comprises a step of reminding said user of said scheduled event at a scheduled time according to said program scheduling information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein after said step of reminding, the step of allowing said user to tune said processing device to said scheduled program by making a current selection.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of reminding is a video reminder on said processing device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of reminding is an audio reminder on said processing device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of making a current selection is performed by a single key press on said input device.

18. A computer program device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for providing a semi-automatic scheduling function to audience of a multimedia broadcast presentation independent of any Electronic Program Guide, said method comprising steps of:

communicating program scheduling information to a multimedia broadcast processing device, said scheduling information integrated within and presented during said multimedia broadcast presentation from a broadcast location;

determining whether said program scheduling information was received at said processing device,

extracting said program scheduling information if it was received, and placing said program scheduling information on a data queue;

notifying a user of availability of said program scheduling information for programming of a future presentation;

said user making a selection to schedule a future program or an event according to said program scheduling information received; and

processing said selection according to contents of said program scheduling information so that said processing device automatically tunes to a selected program at a subsequent scheduled time according to a user preference,

wherein program scheduling functionality is performed without need for communication back to a broadcast location.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of:

ascertaining and embedded said program scheduling information into a content of said multimedia presentation during an authoring step.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of extracting further comprising the steps of:

a. setting preferences and tuning a program selection;

b. waiting until said program scheduling information has been placed on said data queue; and

c. waiting until a notification presentation time is reached.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said steps of notifying and making a selection are performed without interrupting said multimedia presentation.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of notifying is performed by various notification means, said various notifying means being selectable by said user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said multimedia presentation is video.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said multimedia presentation is audio.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said notification means includes a remote control input device, said step of making a selection is performed by a single key press on said input device.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said step of making a selection is performed using an on-screen graphics menu.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of processing further comprising following steps:

d. waiting until said notification presentation time has passed;

e. terminating the notification of said user of availability of said program scheduling information and continuing processing at step (b);

f. determining whether said user has made said selection, if said user has not made said selection continuing processing at step (d);

g. terminating the notification of said user of availability of said program scheduling information; and

h. waiting until a scheduled presentation time is reached.

28. The method of claim 27, said step of processing further comprises a step of recording a subsequent program at a scheduled time according to said program scheduling information.

29. A The method of claim 28, wherein said step of processing further comprises a step of recording content embedded in a subsequent program at a scheduled time according to said program scheduling information.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said step of processing further comprises a step of reminding said user of said scheduled event at a scheduled time according to said program scheduling information.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein after said step of reminding, the step of allowing said user to tune said processing device to said scheduled program by making a current selection.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of reminding is a video reminder on said processing device.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of reminding is an audio reminder on said processing device.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of making a current selection is performed by a single key press on said input device.