TV program database

• US 8,209,720 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Potrebic, Peter J., Taylor, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US11/468,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20060294548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,128 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61, 725/135, 725/145
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Before a programming guide is created, a unique code is assigned to each TV program that can be identified in the programming guide. Prior to the creation of the programming guide, a viewer selects the unique code corresponding to the TV show that the viewer would like to record whenever that TV show is broadcast. When the programming guide is created, the corresponding unique codes are associated with each TV program in the programming guide. The TV program corresponding to the viewer-selected unique code is then scheduled to be recorded in accordance with the announced broadcast schedule in the programming guide. A recording is made of the TV program corresponding to the viewer-selected unique code as the TV program is broadcast in accordance with the announced broadcast schedule in the programming guide.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a client device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the memory containing instructions for configuring the client device through execution of the instructions by the processor;

the client device comprising a network interface for accessing a database of show identifiers (IDs) and corresponding television (TV) programs, wherein a show ID is unique to a corresponding TV program, the client device being configured to present the show IDs and corresponding TV program titles in an onscreen guide configured for locating one or more TV programs in a universe of TV programs that can be broadcasted, wherein the universe of TV programs comprises at least one TV program that is currently unpublished in a program guide, and at least one different TV program that is currently published in the program guide;

the client being configured to associate a primary request ID with a particular one of the show IDs obtained from the database to indicate a viewer'"'"'s interest in a particular TV program represented by the particular show ID, wherein the particular TV program represented by the particular show ID is currently unpublished in the program guide, wherein a time and a date of broadcast, or a channel on which the TV program will be broadcasted, is unavailable until information regarding the time, the date, and the channel corresponding to the TV program is published in the program guide;

an EPG application stored in the memory to receive, at a later time, programming guide data that identifies TV programs published in the program guide and scheduled to be available, wherein the TV programs that are published in the program guide and scheduled to be available have the corresponding unique show IDs obtained from the database by the program guide publisher and associated with the TV programs in the program guide, and wherein the show ID is created and assigned to a corresponding TV program in the database by an entertainment industry service provider before the programming guide data containing that show ID is generated;

the client device being configured to identify the particular TV program associated with the primary request ID in the programming guide data by comparing the primary request ID with the show IDs obtained from the database by the program guide publisher and associated with the TV programs listed in the program guide;

based on the comparison, the client device being configured to determine that the programming guide data indicates that the particular TV program associated with the primary request ID is published in the program guide and is scheduled to be available to be received by the client device; and

a log application stored in the memory to update a log file responsive to viewing of the particular TV program, the log file comprising a history of TV programs viewed by a particular viewer out of multiple viewers in a household.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, the client device being configured to generate a report based on the log file, the report indicating a viewing pattern of the particular viewer of the multiple viewers in the household.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, the client device being configured to generate a message to a viewer'"'"'s telephone or email when the client device determines that an unwatched TV program will be broadcast.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, the client device being configured to automatically generate a program event, thereby scheduling the particular TV program associated with the primary request ID to be streamed and recorded when available.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, the log file containing a history of the TV programs that the viewer has watched on the client device, TV programs that the viewer has recorded, and TV programs for which the viewer has indicated a desire to watch by creating a primary request ID.

6. A method implemented, at least in part, by a computing device comprising computer readable instructions, the method comprising:

accessing a database of show identifiers (IDs) and corresponding television (TV) programs, wherein a show ID is unique to a corresponding TV program, for presenting an onscreen guide configured for locating one or more TV programs in a universe of TV programs that can be broadcasted, wherein the universe of TV programs comprises at least one TV program that is currently unpublished in a program guide;

associating a primary request ID with a particular one of the show IDs from the database to indicate a viewer'"'"'s interest in a particular TV program represented by the particular show ID, wherein the particular TV program represented by the particular show ID is currently unpublished in the program guide, wherein a time and a date of broadcast, or a channel on which the TV program will be broadcasted, is unavailable until information regarding the time, the date, and the channel corresponding to the TV program is published in the program guide;

receiving at a later time, programming guide data that identifies TV programs published in the program guide and scheduled to be available during an upcoming time, wherein the TV programs that are published in the program guide and scheduled to be available have the corresponding unique show IDs obtained from the database by the program guide publisher and associated with the TV programs in the program guide, and wherein the show ID is created and assigned to a corresponding TV program in the database by an entertainment industry service provider before the programming guide data containing that show ID is generated;

identifying the particular TV program associated with the primary request ID in the programming guide data by comparing the primary request ID with the show IDs obtained from the database by the program guide publisher and associated with the TV programs listed in the program guide;

determining, based on the comparison, that the programming guide data indicates that the particular TV program associated with the primary request ID is published in the program guide and is scheduled to be available;

automatically generating a program event, thereby scheduling the particular TV program associated with the primary request ID to be streamed and recorded according to the programming guide data;

automatically recording the TV program associated with the primary request ID upon streaming of the particular TV program based on the program event; and

responsive to playback of the TV program, updating a log file, which includes a history of TV programs watched by a specified viewer from among multiple viewers in a household.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising generating a report based on the log file, wherein the report indicates genres viewed on the client device by the specified viewer from among the multiple viewers in the household.

8. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the plurality of show IDs collectively represent the universe of all TV programs that can be identified in the programming guide data.

9. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising generating a message to a viewer'"'"'s telephone or email when the client device determines that an unwatched TV program will be broadcast.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the log file containing a history of the TV programs that the viewer has watched on the client device, TV programs that the viewer has recorded, and TV programs for which the viewer has indicated a desire to watch by creating a primary request ID.

11. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising associating a secondary request ID with a second show ID to indicate a request to not record the TV program represented by the second show ID.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the secondary request ID comprises an identity of a requestor responsible for associating the primary request ID with the particular show ID representing the TV program.

13. A system comprising:

a memory device;

a processor coupled to the memory device;

a database stored on the memory device and executed by the processor, wherein the database comprises;

a plurality of show identities (IDs), stored on the memory device, wherein;

each show ID represents an audio-visual content item;

each show ID is unique to the audio-visual content item, wherein a show ID is created and assigned to a corresponding audio-visual content item by an entertainment industry service provider initially before an electronic programming guide (EPG) containing the show ID is generated and published; and

the plurality of show IDs belongs to a universe of all audio-visual content items that can be made available to a viewer, the universe of audio-visual content items comprising;

at least one audio-visual content item that is currently unpublished in the EPG and unavailable, wherein a time and a date of broadcast, or a channel on which the audio-visual content item will be broadcasted, is unavailable until information regarding the time, the date, and the channel corresponding to the audio-visual content item is published in the EPG, and

at least one different audio-visual content item that is currently published in the EPG;

a log file stored on the memory device, the log file containing a viewing history of audio-visual content items viewed by a particular user of a household of multiple users, the log file being updated to indicate that a particular audio-visual content item has been viewed, the log file being used to generate a report showing patterns in the particular user'"'"'s viewing history out of the multiple users; and

a comparison mechanism executed by the processor to detect the patterns in the user'"'"'s viewing history and to compare the patterns to EPG data to detect audio-visual content published in the EPG and available that is consistent with the viewing patterns and has not yet been viewed by the user.

14. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the universe of all audio-visual content items that can be made available to a user comprises the universe of all audio-visual content items that can be made available to the user by one or more of:

broadcasting and streaming on-demand.

15. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the comparison mechanism comprises identifying a series that the user tends to watch and identifying one or more episodes of the series that are scheduled to be available and that the user has not viewed.

16. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the comparison mechanism generates a message to the user when the audio-visual content not yet viewed is detected to inform the user as to when the audio-visual content not yet viewed will be available.

17. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein the message is addressed to the user'"'"'s telephone or email.

18. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the processor generates the report based on the log file, wherein the report indicates genres viewed on the client device by a specified user from among multiple users in the household.

19. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the comparison mechanism operable to detect patterns in the user'"'"'s viewing history is operable to identify a class of sporting events that the user tends to watch and identifying an upcoming sporting event of the class in the EPG.

20. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the viewing history includes

audio-visual content items that the particular user has indicated a desire to watch;

audio-visual content items that the particular user has recorded; and

audio-visual content items that the particular user has watched, whether watched live or from a recording.