Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs

• US 8,505,049 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Knudson, Edward B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDRAMUNO, FRANKLIN S
• Application Number:
  US12/212,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20090019485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 725/40, 725/46, 725/34, 725/48, 725/60
• US Class Current: 725/40
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility. User television equipment may be connected via two-way communications paths to transmit messages to each other.

Claims

1. A method for personalizing an interactive video guide display, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a personal profile, wherein the personal profile includes a first feature;

displaying a personalized video guide display associated with the personal profile, wherein the first feature is displayed in a first area of the video guide display, the first area occupying less than an entirety of the video guide display;

receiving a user selection of one or more features to be added to the personalized interactive video guide display;

updating the personal profile to include the one or more user selected features;

determining whether the one or more user selected features are related to the first feature; and

in response to determining that the one or more user selected features are related to the first feature, displaying the first feature and the one or more user selected features in the first area of the personalized interactive video guide display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user selection of one or more features further comprises receiving one or more rating restrictions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user selection of one or more features further comprises receiving one or more favorite programs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user selection of one or more features further comprises receiving one or more favorite channels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user selection of one or more features further comprises receiving one or more favorite actors.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user selection of one or more features further comprises receiving one or more favorite directors.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user selection of one or more features further comprises receiving one or more favorite programming genres.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the one or more user selected features further comprises displaying a listing of one or more programs.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the one or more user selected features further comprises displaying a list of one or more websites.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the one or more user selected features further comprises displaying a list of one or more merchandise.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the user selection of one or more features to set targeted advertising.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the user selection of one or more features to set automatic reminders.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the user selection of one or more features to set automatic recording of programs.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a user to send messages to other users in a club that is related to the one or more user selected features.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a user to receive messages from other users in a club that is related to the one or more user selected features.

46. The method of claim 1, further comprising

in response to determining that the one or more user selected features are not related to the first feature, displaying the one or more user selected features in a second area of the personalized interactive video guide display.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein

each feature is associated with at least one of a user interest and a programming category, and

determining whether the one or more user selected features are related to the first feature includes comparing at least one of a user interest and a programming category associated with the one or more user selected features and at least one of a user interest and a programming category associated with the first feature.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the one or more user selected features are related to the first feature is based on user input.

16. A system for personalizing an interactive video guide display, the system comprising user video equipment configured to:

receive a user selection of a personal profile, wherein the personal profile includes a first feature;

display a personalized video guide display associated with the personal profile, wherein the first feature is displayed in a first area of the video guide display, the first area occupying less than an entirety of the video guide display;

receive a user selection of one or more features to be added to the personalized interactive video guide display;

update the personal profile to include the one or more user selected features;

determine whether the one or more user selected features are related to the first feature; and

in response to determining that the one or more user selected features are related to the first feature, display the first feature and the one or more selected user features in the first area of the personalized interactive video guide display.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to receive one or more rating restrictions.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to receive one or more favorite programs.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to receive one or more favorite channels.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to receive one or more favorite actors.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to receive one or more favorite directors.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to receive one or more favorite programming genres.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to display a listing of one or more programs.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to display a list of one or more websites.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to display a list of one or more merchandise.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to use the user selection of one or more features to set targeted advertising.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to use the user selection of one or more features to set automatic reminders.

28. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to use the user selection of one or more features to set automatic recording of programs.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to allow a user to send messages to other users in a club that is related to the one or more user selected features.

30. The system of claim 16, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to allow a user to receive messages from other users in a club that is related to the one or more user selected features.

31. A system for personalizing an interactive video guide display, the system comprising:

means for receiving a user selection of a personal profile, wherein the personal profile includes a first feature;

means for displaying a personalized video guide display associated with the personal profile, wherein the first feature is displayed in a first area of the video guide display, the first area occupying less than an entirety of the video guide display;

means for receiving a user selection of one or more features to be added to the personalized interactive video guide display;

means for updating the personal profile to include the one or more user selected features;

means for determining whether the one or more user selected features are related to the first feature; and

means for displaying the first feature and the one or more selected user features in the first area of the personalized interactive video guide display.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for receiving one or more rating restrictions.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for receiving one or more favorite programs.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for receiving one or more favorite channels.

35. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for receiving one or more favorite actors.

36. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for receiving one or more favorite directors.

37. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for receiving one or more favorite programming genres.

38. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for displaying a listing of one or more programs.

39. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for displaying a list of one or more websites.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the user video equipment is further configured to display a list of one or more merchandise.

41. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for using the user selection of one or more features to set targeted advertising.

42. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for using the user selection of one or more features to set automatic reminders.

43. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for using the user selection of one or more features to set automatic recording of programs.

44. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for allowing a user to send messages to other users in a club that is related to the one or more user selected features.

45. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for allowing a user to receive messages from other users in a club that is related to the one or more user selected features.