Patent Application
20070186231
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to the provision of television services over a television network.
2. Background
Television services provided over a television network, such as an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, cable network or satellite network, include various content such as content over multiple channels, Video-on-Demand (VoD), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), data from the Internet, etc., to customers over a broadband connection. The broadband connection typically terminates at a Set Top Box (STB) located at a customer premise. The STB may be coupled to a television set as well as to additional devices, such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). A DVR is a device that records video to a digital storage medium, such as a hard disk, in digital form, thereby enabling a viewer to record a show at a given time to be played back at another time, pause live TV shows, and skip advertising, among other things. In addition to the multiple content available, IPTV provides various features to a customer's viewing experience, such as an ability to purchase items through a television set, an integration of television viewing and Internet usage, interactive games, etc.
The STB typically operates a set of features which affect the viewer experience. Some typical features include parental control settings that enable a customer (also referred herein as “supervisor”) to restrict the content that may be viewed at a customer location. Often, a customer may have several STBs each controlling a separate television. Each STB typically has a separate identifier and may be controlled by a separate personal identifier number (PIN).
Current television systems typically deliver hundreds of channels to STBs, and viewers typically navigate through many channels or groups of channels to select a channel to view. Also, such systems do not provide adequate capability to create and control personalized lists of channels or content for the master and sub-accounts. Thus, there is a need to provide an improved system and method that addresses at least some of the abovementioned problems.
For detailed understanding of the present disclosure, references should be made to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals, wherein:
In view of the above, the present disclosure through one or more of its various aspects and/or embodiments is presented to provide one or more advantages, such as those noted below.
The present disclosure provides a system, method and computer programs for the provision of content over a telecommunication network. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a computer-readable medium that contains a computer program that has instructions to provide a first list of channels; instructions to create a second list from the first list in response to input from a customer device; and instructions to switch between display of the first and second lists in response to an input. The computer program may include instructions to block one or more channels on the first list. In one aspect, the computer program includes instructions that automatically block a channel from viewing from the second list if that channel is blocked on the first list. In another aspect, the computer program includes instructions to alter channels in the second list and block selected channels in the first and second lists in response to input from a remote device over a communication network.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method that provides a set of channels for viewing on a television set; enables a customer to create a favorite list from the set of channels; and enables the customer to switch between the set of channels and the favorite list.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a network that includes a backbone that transmits a set of channels to a customer premise device for display on a television set. A computer program that enables the customer to create a subset of channels from the set of channels and to switch between the set of channels and subsets of channels. The computer program further may include instructions that block selected channels in the set of channels and automatically block such selected channels on the subset of channels. In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a device for use with a television set that includes a computer program that has instructions to receive a set of channels from a communications network and to display such channels; instructions to receive input to create a second set of channels from the first set or list of channels; and instructions to switch between the two sets of channels in response to an input. The device further may include a remote control device that has a switch or an input mechanism for providing the input to the device for changing between the two sets of channels. In another aspect, the device may include programs that enable creating of multiple lists of channels and allow switching among the multiple channels. The program may further include instructions to block one or more channels on one list instructions that automatically block such channels on one or more selected lists of channels.
The backbone 110 is further shown coupled to a number of content providers over the Internet 140. For example, the backbone 110 is shown coupled to an Internet service provider (such as “Yahoo”) 150 via routers 152 and 154, and link 153; and a financial content provider 156 that may provide a financial service, such as customer investment portfolio information and/or enable a customer to order products and services from one or more vendors utilizing the STB 130, via routers 158 and 160, and link 159. Similarly, the backbone 110 may be coupled to or have access to any other partner content provider (generally designated by number 145), such as an interactive gaming service that enables a customer to play games against other players via a television, and a gaming service that enables a customer to bet online and settle accounts.
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The backbone 110 is further shown coupled to a wireless network 164, such as a cellular network for cellular communication via a router 162. The wireless network 164 may be accessed by various remote devices enabled for wireless communication, such as cell phone 168 and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) 166. The Internet 140 is further coupled to an exemplary network of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 172 that may provide Internet service to a remote device, such as computer 174, which may be connected to the ISP 172 via router 170. A customer using these exemplary remote devices may access settings stored at database 184 and initialize or otherwise change settings. For example, a customer may initialize settings for an STB, such as setting up an account for parental controls, or make changes to settings, such as changing parental control settings. In another example, the customer may remotely program a STB, such as to record a program or to order a program from the VoD server 116. The system 180 also includes one or more computer programs 184 that are executed by the server 182 to perform the methods and functions described herein. The computer program may be distributed and reside in any suitable computer readable media accessible to the server.
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One aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium that affects settings related to the type of content viewable at a CPE device, such as a television set and content purchasable via an interaction between a viewer and the television via a controlling device, such as a STB. Settings may be applied towards content viewable at a CPE device, such as television programming from a network, VoD and pay-per-view (PPV) programming from a network, as well as the abovementioned content as stored at a DVR. In another aspect, the computer-readable medium may provide a program to block purchases that may be made via the STB, such as a book purchase. In another aspect, the settings, including parental controls, may be applied using variety of criteria to affect content. For example, a parental controls setting may be set to block video content according to the program (such as ‘CSI’), to block a channel (such as HBO), to block a type of content (such as programs that contain sexual content), etc. Any suitable ratings system available in the industry, such as MPAA ratings, V-chip ratings, game ratings, etc., may be used. Changes in settings may be made to individual viewer accounts, or to groups of viewer accounts. Also, a change may be made universally to all viewer accounts. The settings may also be set to unlock parental controls for all viewers for a period of time.
In another aspect, a monetary limit on items purchased via the television may be enforced over a time period, such as on weekly basis, a monthly basis, etc. In one example, purchases made within that time period may be made without entering a PIN number. However, once the purchase limit is reached, the viewer must enter a PIN number for approval of the purchase. Settings may be temporarily altered for a specifiable period of time without having to make changes to the current settings. For example, if parents are gone for a weekend they may increase the restriction level of parental controls for that period of time. Also, settings may be modified on behalf of the customer through a suitable notification method, such as a Customer Service Request (CSR) or through an Interactive Voice Recorder (IVR).
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium providing a ‘Favorites’ list that includes a list of channels that may be selected by a viewer from a main programming guide displaying most or all of the provided channels. The Favorites list generally includes those channels most frequently visited by a viewer and may be limited to a pre-determined maximum number of channels (i.e., 20 channels). Channels may include several content, such as programming, VoD, Internet, purchasing, and other channels. Multiple ‘Favorites’ lists may be provided to a STB or to a database at the network to address multiple viewers at common or separate TV sets. Additionally, a single ‘Favorites’ list may change in form between two TV sets with different parental control settings. In one aspect, the viewer may push a button on a remote control device to toggle between the main guide and the ‘Favorites’ list. If a channel is blocked from the main guide using parental control settings, the main guide may display all of the network channels except the blocked channels. Alternatively, the main guide may display all channels and change some aspect of the appearance of the name of the blocked channel to indicate the blocked status. For example, the name of the blocked channel may appear using a different shading or by using italics, etc. Any number of ways of altering the appearance may be used. In another aspect, restrictions made to the main programming guide transfer to a ‘Favorites’ listing, such that a channel blocked at the main programming guide is absent from the Favorites list. In another aspect, the backbone may provide the channel guide and the ‘Favorites’ list to any device such as a remote computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, etc. Such provision may be via a web portal sent by the application provider 150. The customer may access the portal utilizing a logon and providing the PIN number or another identifier recognized by the backbone 110 or the provider 150. The customer may then change the ‘Favorites’ list or lists and also block or unblock a channel via the remote device.
In the present disclosure, the settings of the STB are integrated into database 184 and may be accessed through a suitable portal, such as the Yahoo! portal. A viewer using a remote device, such as computer 174, may access the setting at the database via the remote device and make any desired changes. Once changes have been made, those changes may be communicated from the database to the STB. For example, a viewer is out shopping remembers that he would like to record a show on his DVR that is due to begin before he returns home. The viewer uses his cell phone (114 of
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The computer system 800 may include a processor 802 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), a main memory 804 and a static memory 806, which communicate with each other via a bus 808. The computer system 800 may further include a video display unit 810 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 800 may include an input device 812 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 814 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 816, a signal generation device 818 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device 820.
The disk drive unit 816 may include a machine-readable medium 822 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 824) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated in herein above. The instructions 824 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 804, the static memory 806, and/or within the processor 802 during execution thereof by the computer system 800. The main memory 804 and the processor 802 also may constitute machine-readable media. Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.
The present invention contemplates a machine readable medium containing instructions 824, or that which receives and executes instructions 824 from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network environment 826 can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network 826 using the instructions 824. The instructions 824 may further be transmitted or received over a network 826 via the network interface device 820.
While the machine-readable medium 822 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; and carrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions in a transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the invention is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored.
Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the invention is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.
The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
