Client-server electronic program guide

• US 9,426,509 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Lemmons, Thomas R., Thomas, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park, Sunghyoun
• Application Number:
  US14/985,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/73 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/735 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/466 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 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• 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 21/4755 : 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 21/4782 : 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 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• 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 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• 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 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• 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 client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide data, schedules reminders, schedules program recordings, and parentally locks programs based on the expressions. Users'"'"' viewing histories may be tracked. The program guide server may analyze the viewing histories and generates viewing recommendations, targets advertising, and collects program ratings information based on the viewing histories.

Claims

1. A video guidance system for identifying unviewed video files, comprising:

a server, comprising;

a database configured to store;

a plurality of video files,

a plurality of program listing data structures, wherein each program listing data structure of the plurality of program listing data structures is associated with a respective video file of the plurality of video files, and wherein each program listing data structure comprises a respective video file identifier associated with the respective video file,

a plurality of viewing history data structures, wherein each viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures is associated with a respective user of a plurality of users and comprises video file identifiers of video files previously viewed by the respective user, and

a plurality of user profile data structures, wherein each user profile data structure is associated with a respective user of the plurality of users and comprises a preference level for at least one attribute; and

a control circuitry configured to;

receive, from a user equipment, a request associated with a first user of the plurality of users, wherein the request is for a first video file, and wherein the request comprises a first video file identifier of the first video file;

search the database for the first video file associated with the first video file identifier received in the request;

transmit, to the user equipment, the first video file;

search the database for a first viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures, wherein the first viewing history data structure is associated with the first user;

update the first viewing history data structure to include the first video file identifier;

receive a request for program listings, wherein the request for program listings is associated with the first user;

search the database, using the first viewing history data structure, to identify a first set of program listing data structures for video files that are consistent with the first viewing history data structure, wherein the first set includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have been previously viewed by the first user and includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user;

search the database for a first user profile data structure of the plurality of user profile data structures, wherein the first user profile data structure is associated with the first user;

search the database, using the first user profile data structure, to identify a second set of program listing data structures for video files that are consistent with the first user profile data structure, wherein the second set includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have been previously viewed by the first user and includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user;

compare video file identifiers in the first and second sets of program listing data structures to video file identifiers in the first viewing history data structure;

based on the comparison, identify which video files in the first and second sets of program listing data structures have been previously viewed by the first user and which video files have not been previously viewed by the first user;

create an indication for each video file in the first and second sets of program listing data structures that have been identified to have been previously viewed by the first user, wherein the indication indicates that each respective video file has been previously viewed by the first user; and

transmit, to the user equipment, a response to the request for program listings comprising the first and second sets of program listing data structures and the respective indications.

2. The video guidance system of claim 1, wherein each video file identifier comprises program title information associated with the respective video file.

3. The video guidance system of claim 1, wherein video files that are consistent with the first viewing history data structure comprise episodes of a series that the first user has previously viewed.

4. The video guidance system of claim 1, wherein the database is further configured to store a plurality of Internet links related to one or more of the plurality of video files, and wherein the control circuitry of the server is further configured to:

search the database for Internet links related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures; and

transmit, to the user equipment, the Internet links related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures.

5. The video guidance system of claim 1, wherein the database is further configured to store a plurality of software related to one or more of the plurality of video files, and wherein the control circuitry of the server is further configured to:

search the database for software related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures; and

transmit, to the user equipment, the software related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures.

6. The video guidance system of claim 1, wherein each viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures comprises video file identifiers for video files that a respective user has viewed for longer than a predefined time period.

7. A video guidance system for identifying unviewed video files, comprising:

a server, comprising;

a database configured to store;

a plurality of video files,

a plurality of program listing data structures, wherein each program listing data structure of the plurality of program listing data structures is associated with a respective video file of the plurality of video files, and wherein each program listing data structure comprises a respective video file identifier associated with the respective video file,

a plurality of viewing history data structures, wherein each viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures is associated with a respective user of a plurality of users and comprises video file identifiers of video files previously viewed by the respective user, and

a plurality of user profile data structures, wherein each user profile data structure of the plurality of user profile data structures is associated with a respective user of the plurality of users and comprises a preference level for at least one attribute; and

a first control circuitry configured to;

receive, from the user equipment, a request associated with a first user of the plurality of users, wherein the request is for a first video file, and wherein the request comprises a first video file identifier of the first video file;

search the database for the first video file associated with the first video file identifier received in the request;

transmit, to the user equipment, the first video file;

search the database for a first viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures, wherein the first viewing history data structure is associated with the first user;

update the first viewing history data structure to include the first video file identifier;

receive a request for program listings, wherein the request for program listings is associated with the first user;

search the database, using the first viewing history data structure, to identify a first set of program listing data structures for video files that are consistent with the first viewing history data structure, wherein the first set includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have been previously viewed by the first user and includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user;

search the database for a first user profile data structure of the plurality of user profile data structures, wherein the first user profile data structure is associated with the first user;

search the database, using the first user profile data structure, to identify a second set of program listing data structures for video files that are consistent with the first user profile data structure, wherein the second set includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have been previously viewed by the first user and includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user;

compare video file identifiers in the first and second sets of program listing data structures to video file identifiers in the first viewing history data structure;

based on the comparison, identify which video files in the first and second sets of program listing data structures have been previously viewed by the first user and which video files have not been previously viewed by the first user;

create an indication for each video file in the first and second sets of program listing data structures that have been identified to have been previously viewed by the first user, wherein the indication indicates that each respective video file has been previously viewed by the first user;

transmit, to the user equipment, a response to the request for program listings, comprising the first and second sets of program listing data structures and the respective indications; and

the user equipment comprising;

a user interface configured to receive input from a user; and

second control circuitry configured to;

transmit, to the server, the request associated with the first user for the first video file;

receive, from the server, the first video file;

transmit, to the server, the request for program listings;

receive, from the server, the response comprising the first and second sets of program listing data structures and the respective indications;

generate for display program listings for video files corresponding to the first and second sets of program listing data structures received in the response; and

generate for simultaneous display with the program listings for video files corresponding to the first and second sets of program listing data structures received in the response, based on the respective indications, visual indicators that visually distinguishing program listings for video files that have been previously viewed by the first user from program listings for video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user.

8. The video guidance system of claim 7, wherein each video file identifier comprises program title information associated with the respective video file.

9. The video guidance system of claim 7, wherein video files that are consistent with the first viewing history data structure comprise episodes of a series that the first user has previously viewed.

10. The video guidance system of claim 7, wherein the database is further configured to store a plurality of Internet links related to one or more of the plurality of video files, and wherein the first control circuitry of the server is further configured to:

search the database for Internet links related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures; and

transmit, to the user equipment, the Internet links related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures.

11. The video guidance system of claim 7, wherein the database is further configured to store a plurality of software related to one or more of the plurality of video files, and wherein the first control circuitry of the server is further configured to:

search the database for software related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures; and

transmit, to the user equipment, the software related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures.

12. The video guidance system of claim 7, wherein each viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures comprises video file identifiers for video files that a respective user has viewed for longer than a predefined time period.

13. The video guidance system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of program listing data structures comprises program listing data structures for video-on-demand video files.

14. The video guidance system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of program listing data structures comprises program listing data structures for scheduled broadcast video files.

15. The video guidance system of claim 7, wherein the request for program listings is transmitted by the user equipment to the server using Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

16. A method for using a video guidance system to identify unviewed video files, comprising:

storing in a database;

a plurality of video files, wherein each video file is associated with a respective video file identifier,

a plurality of program listing data structures, wherein each program listing data structure of the plurality of program listing data structures is associated with a respective video file of the plurality of video files, and wherein each program listing data structure comprises a respective video file identifier associated with the respective video file,

a plurality of viewing history data structures, wherein each viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures is associated with a respective user of a plurality of users and comprises video file identifiers of video files previously viewed by the respective user, and

a plurality of user profile data structures, wherein each user profile data structure of the plurality of user profile data structures is associated with a respective user of the plurality of users and comprises a preference level for at least one attribute; and

receiving, at a server from a user equipment, a request associated with a first user of the plurality of users, wherein the request is for a first video file, and wherein the request comprises a first video file identifier of the first video file;

searching the database for a first video file associated with the first video file identifier received in the request;

transmitting, from the server to the user equipment, the first video file;

searching the database for a first viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures, wherein the first viewing history data structure is associated with the first user;

updating the first viewing history data structure to include the first video file identifier;

receiving, at the server, a request for program listings, wherein the request for program listings is associated with the first user;

searching the database, using the first viewing history data structure, to identify a first set of program listing data structures for video files that are consistent with the first viewing history data structure, wherein the first set includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have been previously viewed by the first user and includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user;

searching the database for a first user profile data structure of the plurality of user profile data structures, wherein the first user profile data structure is associated with the first user;

searching the database, using the first user profile data structure, to identify a second set of program listing data structures for video files that are consistent with the first user profile data structure, wherein the second set includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have been previously viewed by the first user and includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user;

comparing video file identifiers in the first and second sets of program listing data structures to video file identifiers in the first viewing history data structure;

based on the comparison, identifying which video files in the first and second sets of program listings have been previously viewed by the first user and which video files have not been previously viewed by the first user;

creating an indication for each video file in the first and second sets of program listing data structures that have been identified to have been previously viewed by the first user, wherein the indication indicates that each respective video file has been previously viewed by the first user; and

transmitting, from the server to the user equipment, a response to the request for program listings, comprising the first and second sets of program listing data structures and the respective indications.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each video file identifier comprises program title information associated with the respective video file.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein video files that are consistent with the first viewing history data structure comprise episodes of a series that the first user has previously viewed.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing, in the database, a plurality of Internet links related to one or more of the plurality of video files;

searching the database for Internet links related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures; and

transmitting, from the server to the user equipment, the Internet links related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing, at the database, a plurality of software related to one or more of the plurality of video files;

searching the database for software related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures; and

transmitting, from the server to the user equipment, the software related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein each viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures comprises video file identifiers for video files that a respective user of the plurality of users has viewed for longer than a predefined time period.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of program listing data structures comprises program listing data structures for video-on-demand video files.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of program listing data structures comprises program listing data structures for scheduled broadcast video files.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the request for program listings is transmitted by the user equipment to the server using Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

25. A video guidance system for identifying unviewed video files, comprising:

means for storing in a database;

a plurality of video files, wherein each video file is associated with a respective video files identifier,

a plurality of program listing data structures, wherein each program listing data structure of the plurality of program listing data structures is associated with a respective video file of the plurality of video files, and wherein each program listing data structure comprises a respective video file identifier associated with the respective video file,

a plurality of viewing history data structures, wherein each viewing history data structure is associated with a respective user of a plurality of users and comprises video file identifiers of video files previously viewed by the respective user, and

a plurality of user profile data structures, wherein each user profile data structure is associated with a respective user of the plurality of users and comprises a preference level for at least one attribute; and

means for receiving, at a server from a user equipment, a request associated with a first user of the plurality of users, wherein the request is for a first video file, and wherein the request comprises a first video file identifier of the first video file;

means for searching the database for a first video file associated with the first video file identifier received in the request;

means for transmitting, from the server to the user equipment, the first video file;

means for searching the database for a first viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures, wherein the first viewing history data structure is associated with the first user;

means for updating the first viewing history data structure to include the first video file identifier;

means for receiving, at the server, a request for program listings, wherein the request for program listings is associated with the first user;

means for searching the database, using the first viewing history data structure, to identify a first set of program listing data structures for video files that are consistent with the first viewing history data structure, wherein the first set includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have been previously viewed by the first user and includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user;

means for searching the database for a first user profile data structure of the plurality of user profile data structures, wherein the first user profile data structure is associated with the first user;

means for searching the database, using the first user profile data structure, to identify a second set of program listing data structures for video files that are consistent with the first user profile data structure, wherein the second set includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have been previously viewed by the first user and includes program listing data structures associated with video files that have not been previously viewed by the first user; and

means for comparing video file identifiers in the first and second sets of program listing data structures to video file identifiers in the first viewing history data structure;

means for identifying, based on the comparison, which video files in the first and second sets of program listings have been previously viewed by the first user and which video files have not been previously viewed by the first user;

means for creating an indication for each video file in the first and second sets of program listing data structures that have been identified to have been previously viewed by the first user, wherein the indication indicates that each respective video file has been previously viewed by the first user; and

means for transmitting, from the server to the user equipment, a response to the request for program listing, comprising the first and second sets of program listing data structures and the respective indications.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein each viewing history data structure of the plurality of viewing history data structures comprises video file identifiers for video files that a respective user has viewed for longer than a predefined time period.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein each video file identifier comprises program title information associated with the respective video file.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein video files that are consistent with the first viewing history data structure comprise episodes of a series that the first user has previously viewed.

29. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for storing, at the database, a plurality of Internet links related to one or more of the plurality of video files;

means for searching the database for Internet links related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures; and

means for transmitting, from the server to the user equipment, the Internet links related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures.

30. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for storing, at the database, a plurality of software related to one or more of the plurality of video files;

means for searching the database for software related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures; and

means for transmitting, from the server to the user equipment, the software related to the first and second sets of program listing data structures.