Configuration of presentations of selectable TV services according to usage

• US 8,739,212 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jerding, Dean F., Rodriguez, Arturo A., Banker, Robert O., Schlarb, John M., Van Orden, Robert T., Crandall, Bindu
• Primary Examiner(s): CORBO, NICHOLAS T
• Application Number:
  US13/596,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20120324488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/39
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for accessing services in a television system. In one implementation, a DHCT presents a user a menu containing a plurality of selectable link representations corresponding to separate services or applications offered by the cable television system. The user navigates the menu with a remote device and selects a desired service by choosing the selectable link representation corresponding to the desired service or application. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selectable link command into an executable call, and activates the service or application corresponding to the selected link representation from the menu chosen by the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing an interface to enable configuration of a service guide menu, the interface according to a mark-up language format;

receiving a specification by a user at the interface of a manner of ordering of hypertext links corresponding to services, wherein the ordering is based on usage by a user of a service among a plurality of services;

ordering the hypertext links according to the specification; and

presenting for display at a display device a service guide menu with the hypertext links ordered according to the specification and the usage,

wherein selection of a hypertext link comprises translating associated hyperlink markup language destination information for the selected link to an executable call for a service activation application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ordering is based on a frequency of activation of a service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the specification requires that the ordering of the hypertext links is from a first location to a second location, the first location corresponding to the most frequently activated service.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the specification requires that the ordering of the hypertext links is from a first location to a second location, the first location corresponding to the least frequently activated service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ordering is based on an amount of time of use of a service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the specification requires that the ordering of the hypertext links is from a first location to a second location, the first location corresponding to the service activated for the longest amount of time.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the specification requires that the ordering of the hypertext links is from a first location to a second location, the first location corresponding to the service activated for the least amount of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ordering is based on a combination of an amount of time of use of a service and a frequency of activation of the service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the specification is received by a user proximal to the display device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the specification is received by a system operator located remotely from the display device.