System and method for providing targeted programming outside of the home

• US 7,305,691 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Cristofalo, MIchael
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/851,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20020166119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,402 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/34, 725/35, 725/46, 725/86, 725/89, 725/134, 725/81, 707/4, 707/10, 709/201, 455/456.1, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A system and method for providing targeted programming to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home. The method of receiving at least one of a user identification and a user profile, selecting a program based at least in part on the at least one of the user identification and the user profile, and providing a program for presentation to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home is disclosed. A system including presentation device connected to a controller is also disclosed. The controller receives at least one of a user identification and a user profile, obtains a program based at least in part on the at least one of the user identification and the user profile and provides a program to a presentation device for presentation to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home.

Claims

1. A method for providing targeted programming to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home, the method comprising:

receiving a user identification associated with a user, the user identification comprising an identifier corresponding to an account number used in a transaction;

receiving reception site information to identify a user action and a site at which the user action is taking place;

capturing additional user information from the identified user action and the reception site information;

updating a user profile to include the captured additional user information;

receiving the updated user profile based upon the user identification and the additional user information, the user profile including information characteristic of the user;

processing the updated user profile to provide user determinations regarding user actions;

selecting a targeted program based on the reception site information and the updated user profile and the user determinations, and

providing the targeted program for presentation to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by obtaining the user profile from a database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by obtaining the user profile from a device selected from the group consisting of:

memory and data storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by utilizing a controller to perform one or more functions selected from the group consisting of:

receiving the user identification, obtaining the user profile, selecting the program, and providing the program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identification is associated with a single user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identification is associated with a group including the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by utilizing a user interface device to receive the user identification.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprises transmitting the program to a presentation device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the program is transmitted over at least one medium selected from the group consisting of:

wireless transmission system, analog television broadcast, digital television broadcast) analog radio broadcast, digital radio broadcast, analog wireless communication network, digital wireless communication network, microwave system, millimeter wave system, infrared system, satellite transmission system, wire based transmission system, analog cable system, digital cable t system, coaxial connection, fiber optic link, telephone system, closed circuit system, Very high speed Digital Subscriber Lines, VUD, stand-alone system for providing pre-recorded programs, network connection, Internet, private network, public network, wireless network, wired network, ATM network, wide area network, local area network, intranet and extranet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the program is transmitted via streaming program segments.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is obtained from one or more devices selected from the group consisting of a memory and a data storage device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises generating the program.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the program is generated in real time.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises presenting the program utilizing a presentation device including a user identification component and an output component.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identification and the user profile is received from a user identification device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said user identification device includes one or more devices selected from the group consisting of:

wireless receiver, magnetic card reader, smart card reader, optical reader, optical scanner, barcode scanner, video camera, keyboard, keypad, touch screen, voice activated control interface, fingerprint scanner, voice recognition circuit, retina scanner and biometrics identifier device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is provided to a user via at least one presentation device selected from the group consisting of:

speaker, printer, television, borne theater system, video screen, computer workstation, personal computer, laptop computer, audio system, radio, audio playback device, MP3 player, gaming console, personal digital assistant;

set-top box, telephony device, wireless telephony device, wireless device, an Internet-enabled telephone, pager, web phone, web pad, web tablet, virtual reality system, heads-up display, and tactile or sensory perceptible signal generator.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is provided to a user via a presentation device that is a stand-alone unit.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is provided to a user via a presentation device that includes communication hardware and software to allow the user to connect a user device for receiving the programming.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the program is provided to the user device via at least one medium selected from the group consisting of:

wireless transmission system, analog television broadcast, digital television broadcast, analog radio broadcast, digital radio broadcast, analog wireless communication network, digital wireless communication network, microwave system, millimeter wave system, infrared system, satellite transmission system, wire based transmission system, analog cable system, digital cable system, coaxial connection, fiber optic link, telephone system, closed circuit system, Very high speed Digital Subscriber Lines, VGD, stand-alone system for providing pre-recorded programs, network connection, Internet, private network, public network, wireless lo network, wired network, ATM network, wide area network, local area network, intranet and extranet.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the program includes at least one form of programming selected from the group consisting of:

advertising, entertainment programming, educational programming, informative programming, television programming, radio programming, motion picture programming, video game programming, video programming, audio programming, live programming, pre-recorded programming, sports programming, music programming, music video programming, game show programming, news programming, and non-commercial programming.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the program includes at least one format selected from the group consisting of:

video, audio, still frame pictures, graphics, textual information, animations, multimedia, slow frame video data, video stills, sequences of individual frames, virtual reality data, live data, pre-recorded data and computer generated data.

23. A system for presenting targeted programming to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home comprising:

a user interface device that obtains user identification information including an account number used in a transaction and reception site information to identify a user action and a site at which the user action is taking place and additional user information from the identified user action and reception site information;

a controller that receives the user identification information including an account number used in a transaction and reception site information to identify a user action and a site at which the user action is taking place and that updates a user profile to include the additional user information, processes the undated user profile to provide determinations regarding user actions, and selects a targeted program based on the user identification information and the reception site information, the additional user information, and the determinations; and

a presentation device that receives the targeted program for presentation to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller transmits the program to the presentation device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller provides the program to the presentation device over a communications link.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller provides the program to the presentation device over at least one medium selected from the group consisting of;

wireless transmission system, analog television broadcast, digital television broadcast analog radio broadcast digital radio broadcast, analog wireless communication network, digital wireless communication network, microwave system, millimeter wave system, infrared system, satellite transmission system, wire based transmission system, analog cable system, digital cable system, coaxial connection, fiber optic link, telephone system, closed circuit system, Very high speed Digital Subscriber Lines, VGD, stand-alone system for providing pre-recorded programs, network connection, Internet, private network, public network, wireless lo network, wired network, ATM network, wide area network, local area network, intranet and extranet.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller provides the program via streaming program segments.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller selects the program from at least one source selected from the group consisting of:

a network, a satellite feed, a memory, a server and a data storage device.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller provides the program via a network.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller selects a program generated by the controller itself.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the controller generates the program In real time.

32. The system of claim 23 wherein the controller obtains a user profile associated with the user identification.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the controller obtains the user profile from at least one source selected from the group consisting of:

a memory. database, a data storage device, a server and a network.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the user identification and the user profile is located on the presentation device.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising a user identification device that provides at least one of the user identification and the user profile to the user interface device.

36. The system of claim 32, further comprising a second presentation device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the controller is adapted to select a second program for the second presentation device based at least in part on at least one of a second user identification and a second user profile.

38. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller is a hub.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the presentation device is located at a fixed reception site.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the program is stored at the reception site.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller and the presentation device are connected via a wireless connection.

42. The system of claim 23, wherein the program is stored on the presentation device.

43. The system of claim 23, further comprising a user identification device selected from the group consisting of:

wireless receiver, magnetic card reader, smart card reader, optical reader, optical scanner, barcode scanner, video camera, keyboard, keypad, touch screen, voice activated control interface, fingerprint scanner, voice recognition circuit, retina scanner and biometric identifier device.

44. The system of claim 23, wherein the presentation device includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

speaker, printer, television, home theater system, video screen, computer workstation, personal computer, laptop computer, audio system, radio, audio playback device, MP3 player, gaming console, personal digital assistant, set-top box, telephony device, wireless telephony device, wireless device, pager, web phone, web pad, web tablet, virtual reality system, heads-tip display, and tactile or sensory perceptible signal generator.

45. The system of claim 23, wherein the presentation device is a stand-alone unit.

46. The system of claim 23, wherein the presentation device is connected to a user device, the user device being configured for receiving the programming.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the presentation device is connected to the user device via one or more medium selected from the group consisting of:

wireless transmission system, analog television broadcast, digital television broadcast, analog radio broadcast, digital radio broadcast, analog wireless communication network, digital wireless communication network, microwave system, millimeter wave system, infrared system, satellite transmission system, Wire based transmission system, analog cable system, digital cable system, coaxial connection, fiber optic link, telephone system, closed circuit system, very high speed Digital Subscriber Lines, VGD, stand-alone system for providing pre-recorded programs, network connection, Internet, private network, public network, wireless network, wired network, ATM network, wide area network, local area network, intranet and extranet.

48. A system for presenting targeted programming to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home comprising:

an input device that receives a user identification comprising an identifier corresponding to an account number used in a transaction and receives reception site information to identify a user action and a site at which the user action is taking place and additional user information from the identified user action and reception site information;

a user profile database including user profile information;

a controller that obtains the user identification, the reception site information, the additional user information, and the user profile information to create an undated group profile information for a group of users and that further provides determinations regarding user actions and selects a targeted program based on the updated group profile information and the determinations; and

a presentation device connected to the controller, the presentation device being adapted to present the targeted program to the group of users outside of the users'"'"'homes.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller comprises a local hub.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the input device, the controller and the presentation device are located at a single reception site.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller transmits the program to the presentation device.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller provides the program to the presentation device.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the controller transmits the program to the presentation device via a communications link.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the controller provides the program to the presentation device over at least one medium selected from the group consisting of:

wireless transmission system, analog television broadcast, digital television broadcast, analog radio broadcast, digital radio broadcast, analog wireless communication network, digital wireless communication network, microwave system, millimeter wave system, infrared system, satellite transmission system, wire hazed transmission system, analog cable system, digital cable system, coaxial connection, fiber optic link, telephone system, closed circuit system, Very high speed Digital Subscriber Lines, VOD, stand-alone system for providing pre-recorded programs, network connection, Internet, private network, public network, wireless lo network, wired network, ATM network, wide area network, local area network, intranet and extranet.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the controller provides the program via streaming program segments.

56. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller selects the program from at least one source selected from the group consisting of:

a network, a satellite feed, a memory, a sewer and a data storage device.

57. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller generates the program.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the controller generates the program in real time.

59. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller obtains the user profile from one or more sources selected from the group consisting of:

a memory, a database, a data storage device, a server and a network.

60. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller selects the program based at least in part on the user profile.

61. The system of claim 48, wherein the presentation device is located at a fixed reception site.

62. The system of claim 48, wherein the controller and the presentation device are connected via a wireless connection.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein at least one of the user identification and the user profile is located on the presentation device.

64. The system of claim 48, further comprising a user identification device that provides the user identification.

65. The system of claim 48, wherein the presentation device includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

speaker, printer, television, home theater system, video screen, computer workstation, personal computer, laptop computer, audio system, radio, audio playback device, MP3 player, gaming console, personal digital assistant, set-top box, telephony device, wireless telephony device, wireless device, pager, web phone, web pad, web tablet, virtual reality system, heads-up display, and tactile or sensory perceptible signal generator.

66. The system of claim 48, wherein the presentation device is a stand-alone unit.

67. The system of claim 48, wherein the presentation device includes communication hardware and software to allow the user to conned a user device for receiving the program.

68. The system of claim 48, further comprising a second presentation device.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the controller is adapted to select a second program for the second presentation device based on at least one of a second user identification and a user profile.

70. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code means for causing a computer to;

receive a user identification associated with a user, the user identification comprising an identifier corresponding to an account number used in a transaction;

receive reception site information to identify a user action and a site at which the user action is taking place;

capture additional user information from the identified user action and the reception site information;

update a user profile to include the captured additional user information;

obtain the updated user profile associated with the user identification and the additional user information, the user profile including information characteristic of the user;

process the updated user profile to provide user determinations regarding user actions;

select a targeted program based on the reception site information and the updated user profile and the user determinations; and

provide the targeted program for presentation to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home.

71. A computer data signal encoded with computer executable instructions embodied in a transmission medium comprising:

a code segment including a user identification associated with a user, the user identification comprising an identifier corresponding to an account number used in a transaction;

a code segment including reception site information to identify a user action and a site at which the user action is taking place;

a code segment including additional user information from the identified user action ad the reception site information;

a code segment including an undated user profile associated with the user identification and the additional user information, the user profile including information characteristic of the user;

a code segment including user determinations regarding user actions; and

a code segment including a targeted program for presentation to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home, the targeted program being selected based on the reception site information, the user determinations, and the undated user profile.

72. A system for presenting targeted information to a user outside of the user'"'"'s home comprising:

a means for receiving a user identification associated with a user, the user identification comprising an identifier corresponding to an account number used in a transaction;

a means for receiving reception site information to identify a user action and a site at which the user action is taking place;

a means for capturing additional user information from the identified user action and the reception site information;

a means for updating a user profile to include the captured additional user information;

a means for receiving the updated user profile based upon the user identification and the additional user information, the user profile including information characteristic of the user;

a means for processing the undated user profile to provide user determinations regarding user actions;

a means for selecting a targeted program based on the reception site information and the updated user profile and the user determinations; and

a means for presenting the targeted program to a user outside of the user'"'"'s house.