Method and apparatus for alerting a television viewers to the programs other viewers are watching

• US 7,478,414 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Breyer, Steven Paul, Glusker, Sharon F., Ozer, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raman; Usha
• Application Number:
  US09/567,474
• Time in Patent Office: 3,172 Days
• Field of Search: 725 9- 21, 725/24, 725/46
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Described are methods and apparatus that allow viewers to access timely data showing what other viewers are watching at (or near) a given moment. Thus, for example, a viewer could tune in, find out which ten programs currently being broadcast are most popular, and then select from among these programs. In one embodiment, the data is displayed with links to those popular programs so viewers can easily tune to listed programs. In another embodiment, the viewer can identify a group of friends and find out what those friends are watching. The viewer could then tune into one of the programs his or her friends are watching, and so be prepared to discuss that program later.

Claims

1. In a broadcast system, a method for identifying programs of interest to a viewer in a group that includes other viewers based on the programming being currently viewed by the group of viewers, the method comprising:

simultaneously broadcasting a plurality of programs to a plurality of receivers, each receiver of the plurality of receivers being tuned into at least one of the plurality of programs;

receiving, from at least one receiver of the plurality of receivers, input for defining a viewer group, wherein the viewer group is defined by a viewer selecting individuals from a database having information corresponding to one or more of the plurality of receivers;

receiving, from each of the one or more receivers corresponding to the group, information identifying a program to which each of the receivers of the group is currently tuned;

compiling the information from each of the receivers corresponding to the group to obtain ranking data that ranks at least one of the plurality of programs by a number of the receivers of the group that are currently tuned to the at least one program to calculate a relative popularity of programs currently tuned to by the receivers in the group, wherein ranking data is a function of number of receivers in the group tuned to the specified program and excludes the viewership of the general population and wherein said compiling includes ignoring information received from the receivers of the group that is older than a predetermined time;

for at least one of the receivers of the group, determining whether an update should be sent to the at least one receiver based at least in part on a stored field value at a remote server corresponding to the at least one receiver, wherein the stored field value is modifiable by the at least one receiver; and

sending the ranking data to the at least one receiver when it is determined that an update should be sent according to the stored field value, and wherein the ranking data identifies programs to which receivers of the group are currently tuned;

wherein at least one receiver of the group, which receives the ranking data, displays a selectable link on a display simultaneously with a display of a program that is currently tuned to by the at least one receiver, wherein the selectable link is linked to a first list of programs that are currently being broadcast and that have been calculated as being the most popular programs being viewed by the group of receivers, and

upon subsequently receiving user input selecting the displayed link, displaying the first list of programs that have been calculated as being the most popular in the viewer group, wherein at least one program displayed in the first list of programs is displayed as a selectable link in the first list for directly accessing said at least one program and wherein each program displayed in the first list of programs is displayed by program title and wherein the first list of programs is further displayed with at least one other category listing that is identified by a name other than a program title, and wherein the at least one other category listing comprises a link to a second list of other programs that are determined to be of a lower popularity than programs that are listed by title in the first list of programs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the program to which the receivers are tuned comprises unique program identifier information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the program to which the receivers are tuned comprises a time value and a number corresponding to a carrier frequency of the program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein compiling the information comprises counting ones of the receivers tuned to the at least one of the plurality of programs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before sending the ranking data, receiving a request for the ranking data from the at least one receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically sending updates of the ranking data to the at least one receiver.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the updates are sent at least twenty times per day.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the link is displayed with programming tuned to by the at least one receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the link comprises a URI.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the at least one of the receivers, a list of viewer identifiers corresponding to a second plurality of receivers.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first list of programs lists the plurality of programs by ordered popularity, the ordered popularity of a particular program being a function of the number of the receivers tuned to the specified program.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of receivers comprises a subset of a plurality of total receivers that are selected from the plurality of total receivers based on demographic data.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving the demographic data from the at least one receiver before sending the ranking data.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a log message created by the at least one receiver that identifies the programs to which the at least one receiver is tuned;

receive a request for information ranking programs by popularity to which other members of the group are currently tuned;

receive an indication whether updates of the information should be sent to the receiver.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the log message identifies a zip code indicating a geographical area in which the receiver is located.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the log message is sent a specified time after the at least one receiver tunes to a program to which the receiver is tuned.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the specified time is greater than one minute.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method includes ignoring information conveyed in the log message when the log message is older than a particular time period.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the particular time period is over two hours.

20. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein ranking data is only sent to receivers that have first requested the ranking data.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, the method further including:

receiving a specific request from at least one receiver from the subset of receivers to be notified when a particular receiver within the group tunes to a different channel.

22. A method as recited in claim 1, the method further including:

notifying said at least one receiver when the different receiver in the group tunes to a different channel.

23. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further includes a particular viewer joining the group and wherein the particular viewer joining the group requires the permission from at least one member associated with the group.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the at least one member, for which permission is required, comprises the viewer that defined the group.

25. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first list of programs includes a plurality of programs displayed with relative popularity data, including one or more of percentage information and icons, that reflect the relative popularity of programs currently tuned to by the receivers in the group.

26. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first list of programs being displayed is displayed with an identification of a percentage of viewers viewing each program listed in the first list of programs and wherein a total percentage, comprising a sum of all reflected percentages displayed in the first list, totals 100 percent.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the at least one other category listing that refrains from including any program title is displayed with a corresponding cumulative percentage of viewers tuned to programs that are determined to be of the lower popularity, the cumulative percentage being part of the 100 percent total reflected in the first list of programs.

28. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein each program displayed in the first list of programs is displayed as a selectable link for directly accessing each corresponding program.

29. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the cumulative percentage of viewers tuned to programs that are determined to be of the lower popularity is ten percent or less.

30. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further includes modifying an EPG to display stars next to programs that reflect program popularity based on the percentage of viewers tuned to the programs.

31. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the log message is only sent a single time for each time a viewer tunes the at least one receiver to a particular program and only a specified period of time after the at least one receiver is tuned to the particular program.

32. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further includes receiving information a viewer has signed up to receive special notifications identifying channel changes by a particular identified friend and providing the special notifications when the particular identified friend changes channels and only when the friend remains tuned to a new channel for at least a predetermined period of time.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the predetermined period of time is at least one minute.

34. A computer-readable storage medium encoding computer-executable instructions for performing a method that includes:

simultaneously broadcasting a plurality of programs to a plurality of receivers, each receiver of the plurality of receivers being tuned into at least one of the plurality of programs;

receiving, from at least one receiver of the plurality of receivers, input for defining a viewer group, wherein the viewer group is defined by a viewer selecting individuals from a database having information corresponding to one or more of the plurality of receivers;

receiving, from each of the one or more receivers corresponding to the group, information identifying a program to which each of the receivers of the group is currently tuned;

compiling the information from each of the receivers corresponding to the group to obtain ranking data that ranks at least one of the plurality of programs by a number of the receivers of the group that are currently tuned to the at least one program to calculate a relative popularity of programs currently tuned to by the receivers in the group, wherein ranking data is a function of number of receivers in the group tuned to the specified program and excludes the viewership of the general population and wherein said compiling includes ignoring information received from the receivers of the group that is older than a predetermined time;

for at least one of the receivers of the group, determining whether an update should be sent to the at least one receiver based at least in part on a stored field value at a remote server corresponding to the at least one receiver, wherein the stored field value is modifiable by the at least one receiver; and

sending the ranking data to the at least one receiver when it is determined that an update should be sent according to the stored field value, and wherein the ranking data identifies programs to which receivers of the group are currently tuned;

wherein at least one receiver of the group, which receives the ranking data, displays a selectable link on a display simultaneously with a display of a program that is currently tuned to by the at least one receiver, wherein the selectable link is linked to a first list of programs that are currently being broadcast and that have been calculated as being the most popular programs being viewed by the group of receivers, and

upon subsequently receiving user input selecting the displayed link, displaying the first list of programs that have been calculated as being the most popular in the viewer group, wherein at least one program displayed in the first list of programs is displayed as a selectable link in the first list for directly accessing said at least one program and wherein each program displayed in the first list of programs is displayed by program title and wherein the first list of programs is further displayed with at least one other category listing that is identified by a name other than a program title, and wherein the at least one other category listing comprises a link to a second list of other programs that are determined to be of a lower popularity than programs that are listed by title in the first list of programs.

35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the information identifying the program to which the receiver is tuned comprises a unique program identifier.

36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the information identifying the program to which the receiver is tuned comprises at least one of a time value and a number corresponding to a carrier frequency of the program.

37. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein compiling the information comprises counting ones of the receivers tuned to the at least one of the plurality of programs.

38. A computing system apparatus comprising a processor and memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, implement a method that includes:

simultaneously broadcasting a plurality of programs to a plurality of receivers, each receiver of the plurality of receivers being tuned into at least one of the plurality of programs;

receiving, from at least one receiver of the plurality of receivers, input for defining a viewer group that is defined by a viewer selecting individuals from a database having information corresponding to one or more of the plurality of receivers;

receiving, from each of the one or more receivers corresponding to the group, information identifying a program to which each of the receivers of the group is currently tuned;

compiling the information from each of the receivers corresponding to the group to obtain ranking data that ranks at least one of the plurality of programs by a number of the receivers of the group that are currently tuned to the at least one program to calculate a relative popularity of programs currently tuned to by the receivers in the group, wherein ranking data is a function of number of receivers in the group tuned to the specified program and excludes the viewership of the general population and wherein said compiling includes ignoring information received from the receivers of the group that is older than a predetermined time;

for at least one of the receivers of the group, determining whether an update should be sent to the at least one receiver based at least in part on a stored field value at a remote server corresponding to the at least one receiver, wherein the stored field value is modifiable by the at least one receiver; and

sending the ranking data to the at least one receiver when it is determined that an update should be sent according to the stored field value, and wherein the ranking data identifies programs to which receivers of the group are currently tuned;

wherein at least one receiver of the group, which receives the ranking data, displays a selectable link on a display simultaneously with a display of a program that is currently tuned to by the at least one receiver, wherein the selectable link is linked to a first list of programs that are currently being broadcast and that have been calculated as being the most popular programs being viewed by the group of receivers, and

upon subsequently receiving user input selecting the displayed link, displaying the first list of programs that have been calculated as being the most popular in the viewer group, wherein at least one program displayed in the first list of programs is displayed as a selectable link in the first list for directly accessing said at least one program and wherein each program displayed in the first list of programs is displayed by program title and wherein the first list of programs is further displayed with at least one other category listing that is identified by a name other than a program title, and wherein the at least one other category listing comprises a link to a second list of other programs that are determined to be of a lower popularity than programs that are listed by title in the first list of programs.