Techniques to customize a media processing system

• US 9,769,534 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Booth, Cory J., Bell, Genevieve, Andersen, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, LI WU
• Application Number:
  US13/819,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20130290233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/20 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/635 Overlay text, e.g. embedded captions in a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• 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 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 : Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 : Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 : Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 : Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 : Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 : Management of client data or end-user data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 : involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• 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 21/4755 : 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 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 : Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 : Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 : specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 : Television signal processing therefor

Abstract

Techniques to customize a media processing system are described. A media processing system is described capable of integrating a large set of heterogeneous electronic devices into a single integrated system with enhanced navigation capabilities and automated configuration services. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a logic device, at least a portion of which is in hardware;

a preference module operative on the logic device to;

identify a user of a media processing device,

monitor activity of the user when using multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device,

determine implicit viewing preferences of the user from the monitored activity, the implicit viewing preferences to represent user preferences not explicitly defined by the user,

store the implicit viewing preferences in a user profile for the user, and

determine personalized content for the user based on the user profile; and

a custom channel module to;

present an alert to the user during presentation of a second program, the alert to be presented responsive to a first program of the personalized content becoming available, and

record the first program responsive to receiving a rejection of the first program.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising an identification module operative on the logic device to automatically identify the user of the media processing device through viewing pattern recognition of the user from viewing information associated with the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising an identification module operative on the logic device to automatically identify the user of the media processing device through device recognition of the user from device information captured by a communications component.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising an identification module operative on the logic device to automatically identify the user of the media processing device through biometric recognition of the user from biometric information captured by one or more biometric sensors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising an identification module operative on the logic device to automatically identify the user of the media processing device through visual recognition of the user from video information captured in one or more video frames of one or more digital video cameras.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising an identification module operative on the logic device to automatically identify the user of the media processing device through audio recognition of the user from audio information captured by one or more microphones.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising a monitoring module operative on the logic device to monitor online activity of the user associated with using the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device, and collect media source information representing one or more media sources selected by the user over a defined time period from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising a monitoring module operative on the logic device to monitor online activity of the user associated with programs provided by the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device, and collect program information representing one or more programs selected by the user over a defined time period from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising a monitoring module operative on the logic device to monitor online activity of the user associated with programming channels provided by the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device, and collect programming channel information representing one or more programming channels selected by the user over a defined time period from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising a monitoring module operative on the logic device to monitor online activity of the user associated with web browsing when using the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device, and collect web browsing information representing web sites selected by the user over a defined time period from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising a monitoring module operative on the logic device to monitor online activity of the user associated with recommendations made using multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device, and collect recommendation information representing recommendations made by the user and published to a web site selected from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising a monitoring module operative on the logic device to monitor online activity of a related user associated with the user, and collect related user information representing media sources selected by the related user, programs for a media source selected by the related user, programming channels for a media source selected by the related user, web sites selected by the related user, or recommendations made by the related user and published to a web site.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising a monitoring module operative on the logic device to monitor online activity of an unrelated user when using multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device, and collect unrelated user information representing recommendations made by the unrelated user and published to a web site.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module comprising a preference generating module operative to determine implicit viewing preferences of the user from one or more of media source information, program information, programming channel information, web browsing information, recommendation information, related user information, or unrelated user information.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, the preference module operative on the logic device to provide custom viewing recommendations to the user based on the implicit viewing preferences and explicit viewing preferences.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, the custom channel module to receive a response to the alert, the response comprising one of an acceptance of the first program and a rejection of the first program.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, the custom channel module to present the first program to the user responsive to receiving the acceptance of the first program.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, the custom channel module to record the second program responsive to receiving the acceptance of the first program.

16. A method, comprising:

identifying a user of a media processing device;

monitoring online activity of the user when using multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device;

determining implicit viewing preferences of the user from the monitored activity, the implicit viewing preferences to represent user preferences not explicitly defined by the user;

storing the implicit viewing preferences in a user profile for the user;

determining personalized content for the user based on the user profile;

presenting an alert to the user during presentation of a second program, the alert to be presented responsive to a first program of the personalized content becoming available; and

recording the first program responsive to receiving a rejection of the first program.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising identifying the user of the media processing device based on information associated with the user, the information comprising user credential information, viewing information, device information, biometric information, video information, or audio information.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising collecting media source information representing one or more media sources selected by the user over a defined time period from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising collecting program information representing one or more programs selected by the user over a defined time period from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising collecting programming channel information representing one or more programming channels selected by the user over a defined time period from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

21. The method of claim 16, comprising collecting web browsing information representing web sites selected by the user over a defined time period from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

22. The method of claim 16, comprising collecting recommendation information representing recommendations made by the user and published to a web site selected from the multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by the media processing device.

23. The method of claim 16, comprising:

monitoring online activity of a related user to the user; and

collecting related user information representing media sources selected by the related user, programs for a media source selected by the related user, programming channels for a media source selected by the related user, web sites selected by the related user, or recommendations made by the related user and published to a web site.

24. The method of claim 16, comprising:

monitoring online activity of an unrelated user; and

collecting unrelated user information representing recommendations made by the unrelated user and published to a web site.

25. The method of claim 16, comprising determining implicit viewing preferences of the user from one or more of media source information, program information, programming channel information, web browsing information, recommendation information, related user information, or unrelated user information.

26. The method of claim 16, comprising providing custom viewing recommendations for presentation by a custom interface view on a digital display using the implicit viewing preferences or explicit viewing preferences from the user profile of the user for the media processing device.

36. The method of claim 16, comprising receiving a response to the alert, the response comprising one of an acceptance of the first program and a rejection of the first program.

37. The method of claim 36, comprising presenting the first program to the user responsive to receiving the acceptance of the first program.

38. The method of claim 36, comprising recording the second program responsive to receiving the acceptance of the first program.

27. An article comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that when executed enable a system to:

monitor online activity of a user when using multiple heterogeneous media sources accessible by a media processing device;

determine implicit viewing preferences of the user from the monitored activity, the implicit viewing preferences to represent user preferences not explicitly defined by the user;

determine explicit viewing preferences of the user, the explicit viewing preferences to represent user preferences explicitly defined by the user;

store the implicit viewing preferences and the explicit viewing preferences in a user profile for the user;

determine personalized content for the user based on the user profile;

present an alert to the user during presentation of a second program, the alert to be presented responsive to a first program of the personalized content becoming available; and

record the first program responsive to receiving a rejection of the first program.

28. The article of claim 27, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to collect information from the monitored activity, the information comprising media source information, program information, programming channel information, web browsing information, or recommendation information.

29. The article of claim 27, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to:

monitor online activity of a related user to the user; and

collect related user information representing media sources selected by the related user, programs for a media source selected by the related user, programming channels for a media source selected by the related user, web sites selected by the related user, or recommendations made by the related user and published to a web site.

30. The article of claim 27, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to

monitor online activity of an unrelated user;

and

collect unrelated user information representing recommendations made by the unrelated user and published to a web site.

31. The article of claim 27, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to determine implicit viewing preferences of the user from one or more of media source information, program information, programming channel information, web browsing information, recommendation information, related user information, or unrelated user information.

32. The article of claim 27, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to:

retrieve the implicit viewing preferences and the explicit viewing preferences from the user profile of the user for the media processing device; and

generate a custom interface view using the implicit viewing preferences and the explicit viewing preferences for presentation by an electronic display.