Patent Application
20110035765
The present invention generally relates to media content, and more particularly relates to systems and methods for providing programming media content for users.
Most television viewers now receive their television signals through a content aggregator such as a cable or satellite television provider. For subscribers to a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service, for example, television programming is received via a broadcast that is sent via a satellite to an antenna that is generally located on the exterior of a home or other structure. Other customers receive television programming through a cable, wireless or other medium. Programming is typically received at a receiver such as a “set top box” (STB) that demodulates the received signals and that converts the demodulated content into a format that can be presented to the viewer on a television or other display.
The average television user is faced with hundreds, if not thousands of different choices for programming content on different channels today. The user typically selects programming content by traversing the same viewing path. The user typically identifies certain channels and certain lineups to obtain the user's selected programming content. However, such typical channel traversing of television channels this can be an inconvenience. In addition, a user may not find an optimal selection of programming content using such typical channel traversing.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved method for providing programming content for a user, for example that provides more convenience and/or a more optimal selection of programming content for the user. It is also desirable to provide an improved system for such providing of programming content for the user. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing a program to a user is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a first program to a user, identifying a characteristic of the first program, identifying a second program having the same characteristic as the first program, receiving an input from the user while the user is viewing the first program, and, upon receiving the input, providing the second program to the user.
In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, another method for providing a program to a user is provided. The method comprises the steps of identifying a characteristic of a plurality of programs watched by the user, identifying an additional program having the characteristic, receiving an input from the user while the user is watching one of the plurality of programs, and providing the additional program to the user substantially simultaneously upon receiving the input.
In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system for providing a program to a user is provided. The system comprises a display interface and a processor. The display interface is configured to provide programming to a user on a display. The user interface is configured to receive a request from the user while the user is watching a first program on the display. The processor is configured identify a characteristic of the first program, to identify a second program that is currently available having the characteristic, and to provide the second program for the user on the display in response to the request.
The system comprises an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive a request for programming content navigation from the user. The processor is coupled to perform the following steps when the request is received: identifying a characteristic of a first program watched by the user, identifying a second program having the characteristic, and providing the second program for the user.
Various other embodiments, aspects and other features are described in more detail below.
Exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and
The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.
The content providing system 100 providers programming content for one or more users. In so doing, the content providing system 100 improves programming navigation for the users and provides more convenient and optimal programming content selection for the users. It will be appreciated that the content providing system 100 can be used in connection with any number of users in different embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the content providing system 100 performs these functions in accordance with the steps of the process 200 of
In one preferred embodiment, the content providing system 100 is used in connection with one or more televisions 102 of the users. Specifically, in a preferred embodiment, programs displayed on the television 102 are monitored by the content providing system 100. In addition, also in a preferred embodiment, the programming content selected by the content providing system 100 is also provided on the television 102.
Also in one preferred embodiment, the content providing system 100 is used in connection with one or more television broadcast providers 104 that provide programming content to the television 102 and/or to the content providing system 100. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the content providing system 100 is also used in connection with one or more metadata and/or enhanced programming guide (EPG) providers 106 that provide metadata and/or other information pertaining to the providing programming content (for example, metadata and/or other information pertaining to the programming content provided by the television broadcast providers 104) to the television 102 and/or to the content providing system 100.
In other embodiments, the content providing system 100 is used in connection with programs that are provided on media other than a television 102. For example, in certain other embodiments, the content providing system 100 may monitor programs that are being watched by the user on other media, such as a computer, a video game console, a portable media device, and/or on or in connection with one or more other media devices. Also in certain of these other embodiments, the content providing system 100 may provide the selected programming content for the user on such other media, such as a computer, a video game console, a portable media device, and/or on or in connection with one or more other media devices. In addition, in certain of these other embodiments, the content providing system 100 may obtain programming content and/or metadata and/or other information pertaining thereto from one or more other sources that provide such programming content and/or metadata and/or other information pertaining thereto for such types of media devices.
In the depicted embodiment, the content providing system 100 includes a user interface 110, a receiver 111, and a computer system 112. The user interface 110 is configured to receive one or more requests for programming content navigation from the user. In one preferred embodiment, the user interface 110 comprises a remote control device. In another preferred embodiment, the user interface 110 comprises a touch screen control device. It will be appreciated that the user interface 110 may comprise a number of other different types of devices and/or systems.
In a preferred embodiment, the user interface 110 receives one or more requests as to whether the user wishes to have monitoring performed on the programs being watched by the user, for subsequent use in selecting programming content in the future. For example, in one such embodiment, the user may press a program monitoring off/on switch to indicate whether the user desires such programming monitoring to be conducted by the content providing system 100 for enhanced programming navigation. Also in a preferred embodiment, the user interface 110 also receives one or more additional requests for programming content selection when the user seeks assistance in programming content navigation. For example, in one such embodiment, the user may press a program select button when the user desires the content providing system 100 to select and provide programming content for the user.
The receiver 111 is configured to receive metadata or other information regarding a program that is currently being watched by the user. In a preferred embodiment, the metadata or other information pertains to one or more characteristics of the program, including one or more of the following: a title of the program, a genre of the program, and/or a subject matter of the program. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the receiver 111 also receives similar metadata or other information pertaining to any number of other different programming content under consideration for selection for being provided for the user during the programming content navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the metadata or other information regarding the program being watched by the user and/or the programming content under consideration are obtained from one or more metadata and/or enhanced programming guide providers 106. In certain embodiments, such metadata and/or other information may be obtained from one or more television broadcast providers 104 and/or from one or more other content providers 108 (such as Internet content providers, by way of example only). Also in a preferred embodiment, the program being watched by the user and other programming content may also be obtained using the receiver 111, for example from one or more television broadcast providers 104 and/or one or more other content providers 108 (such as Internet content providers, by way of example only).
The computer system 112 is coupled to the user interface 110, the receiver 111, and the television 102. The computer system 112 is configured to select and provide programming content for the user when requested to do so by the user via the user interface 110. The computer system 112 selects and provides various programs of the programming content based upon one or more characteristics of programs that are currently being watched and/or that have been watched by the user, preferably determined based on the metadata or other information obtained by the receiver 111 and/or as obtained via one or more other devices. In a preferred embodiment, the computer system 112 performs these functions by implementing various steps of the process 200 of
In the depicted embodiment, the computer system 112 includes a processor 114, a memory 116, a computer interface 118, a storage device 120, and a bus 122. The processor 114 performs the computation and control functions of the computer system 112 and the content providing system 100, and may comprise any type of processor or multiple processors, single integrated circuits such as a microprocessor, or any suitable number of integrated circuit devices and/or circuit boards working in cooperation to accomplish the functions of a processing unit. During operation, the processor 114 executes one or more programs 124 contained within the memory 116 and, as such, controls the general operation of the content providing system 100 and the computer system 112. In a preferred embodiment, the processor 114 is coupled to the user interface 110, the receiver 111, and the television 102. Also in a preferred embodiment, the processor 114 performs the above-referenced functions by implementing various steps of the process 200 of
The memory 116 can be any type of suitable memory. This would include the various types of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as SDRAM, the various types of static RAM (SRAM), and the various types of non-volatile memory (PROM, EPROM, and flash). The bus 122 serves to transmit programs, data, status and other information or signals between the various components of the computer system 112. In a preferred embodiment, the memory 116 stores the above-referenced program 124.
The computer interface 118 allows communication to the computer system 112, for example from a system driver and/or another computer system, and can be implemented using any suitable method and apparatus. It can include one or more network interfaces to communicate with other systems or components. The computer interface 118 may also include one or more network interfaces to communicate with technicians, one or more storage interfaces to connect to storage apparatuses, such as the storage device 120, and/or one or interfaces with and/or comprising all or a portion of the user interface 110. Also in a preferred embodiment, the computer interface 118 comprises a display interface configured to provide programming to a user on a display, such as the television 102, based upon instructions provided by the processor 114 and in accordance with one or more processes such as the process 200 of
The storage device 120 can be any suitable type of storage apparatus, including direct access storage devices such as hard disk drives, flash systems, floppy disk drives and optical disk drives. In one exemplary embodiment, the storage device 120 comprises a program product from which memory 116 can receive a program 124 that executes one or more embodiments of one or more processes of the present invention, such as the process 200 of
The bus 122 can be any suitable physical or logical means of connecting computer systems and components. This includes, but is not limited to, direct hard-wired connections, fiber optics, infrared and wireless bus technologies. During operation, the program 124 is stored in the memory 116 and executed by the processor 114.
It will be appreciated that while this exemplary embodiment is described in the context of a fully functioning computer system, those skilled in the art will recognize that the mechanisms of the present invention are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of computer-readable signal bearing media used to carry out the distribution. Examples of signal bearing media include: recordable media such as floppy disks (e.g. disk 128), hard drives, memory cards and optical disks, and transmission media such as digital and analog communication links. It will similarly be appreciated that the computer system 112 may also otherwise differ from the embodiment depicted in
As depicted in
Also in a preferred embodiment, the user input also comprises a request, if any, for enhanced programming content navigation, such as monitoring and tracking of programming content being watched by the user for subsequent use in selecting programming content for the user in the future. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the user may utilize the user interface 110 of
In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the user input also comprises user requests, if any, for the selection and providing of additional programming content for the user. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the user may utilize the user interface 110, such as by engaging a program select button of the user interface 110 of
The identity of the user is determined based on the user input (step 204). Specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the processor 114 of the content providing system 100 of
A determination is then made as to whether the user has provided a request for enhanced program navigation (step 206). In a preferred embodiment, this determination comprises a determination as to whether the user has engaged an on/off switch or provided some other indication that the user desires the content providing system 100 of
If it is determined in step 206 that the user has not provided a request for enhanced program navigation, then the process returns to step 202, and additional user input is received. Steps 202-206 then repeat until there is a determination in an iteration of step 206 that the user has provided a request for enhanced program navigation.
Once a determination is made in an iteration of step 206 that the user has provided a request for enhanced program navigation, one or more characteristics are identified of a program being watched by the user (step 208). In a preferred embodiment, the program is provided on a display, such as the television 102 of
Also in a preferred embodiment, during step 208 the processor 114 of the content providing system 100 of
Information pertaining to the characteristics of the program identified in step 208 is stored for future use (step 210). In a preferred embodiment, this program information is stored in the memory 116 of the content providing system 100 of
A determination is then made as to whether an additional program is now being watched by the user (step 212). For example, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, when the user switches to a new channel on the television 102 of
If it is determined in step 212 that an additional program is now being watched by the user, then the process returns to step 208, the characteristics of the additional program are identified in step 208, and information pertaining thereto is stored in step 210. Steps 208-212 thus repeat in various iterations until a determination is made in an iteration of step 212 that no programs are being watched by the user, at which point the process (in one exemplary embodiment) skips to step 228 described further below.
A determination is also made as to whether the user has provided a request to select and provide programming content for the user (step 214). In a preferred embodiment, the request is received, and this determination is made, while the user is watching one of the above-referenced programs of steps 208 and 214. Also in a preferred embodiment, this determination comprises a determination as to whether the user has engaged a program select button on the user interface 110 of
If it is determined in step 214 that the user has not provided a request to select and provide programming content for the user, then the process returns to step 212. Steps 210-214 repeat in various iterations until a determination is made in an iteration of step 214 that the user has provided a request to select and provide programming content for the user.
Once a determination is made in an iteration of step 214 that the user has provided a request to select and provide programming content for the user (for example, once the user engages a program select button on the user interface 110 of
Possible new programs are then identified (step 218). In a preferred embodiment, the possible new programs are identified from a large pool of possible programs available to the content providing system 100 from the television broadcast providers 104 of
Weights are then applied to the program characteristics identified in step 216 above (step 220). In a preferred embodiment, during step 220, the processor 114 of the content providing system 100 of
The weights utilized in step 220 may vary in different embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, titles of the respective programs may be given relatively higher weight than other characteristics. As another example, in some other embodiments, genres of the respective programs may be given relatively higher weight than other characteristics. In yet other embodiments, various different characteristics may be given relatively higher weight as compared with other characteristics.
A new program is then selected based on the weighted values and the identified characteristics (step 222). In a preferred embodiment, the new program shares at least one identifying characteristic (such as a title, a genre, or a subject matter) with the program currently being watched by the user. In another embodiment, the new program shares at least one identifying characteristic (such as a title, a genre, or a subject matter) with another program that has recently been watched by the user. Also in a preferred embodiment, the new program is currently available while the user is watching the above-referenced program or additional programs of steps 208 and 212, so that the new program, if selected, can be provided for the user at least substantially simultaneously upon request to provide a nearly simultaneous channel surfing experience for the user.
In addition, in one preferred embodiment, the new program is selected in step 222 such that a set of characteristics or weighed values of the new program is as close as possible (based on a number of programs available for selection by the content providing system 100 of
The new program is then provided for the user (step 224). In a preferred embodiment, the processor 114 of
A determination is then made as to whether the user has provided a request to have an additional new program selected and provided (step 226). If a determination is made in step 226 that the user has provided a request to have an additional new program selected and provided (for example, if the user presses the program select button again on the user interface 110 of
Following step 226, a preference graph is constructed and/or updated for the user (step 228). The preference graph represents a history of programming content watched by the user. The preference graph can be utilized in subsequent iterations of the process 200 (such as in steps 216-220 thereof) in identifying and selecting new content for the user when requested by the user.
In a preferred embodiment, the preference graph is constructed during a first iteration of step 228 and is updated during subsequent iterations of step 228. Also in a preferred embodiment, the preference graph is constructed and updated by the processor 114 of the computer system 112 of the content providing system 100 of
In a preferred embodiment, the preference graph is constructed and cached over time each time that the user watches programming content on the television 102 of
In one preferred embodiment, every channel-up is represented as a “program-hop”. This “program hop” can be mapped to a remote control button, such as the above-referenced program select button of the user interface 110 of
For example, in one preferred embodiment, the new programs that are selected and provided for the user have at least one of the identifying characteristics in common with a first program that is being watched or has been watched by the user. By way of further example, on a first “hop” the process 200 may select a second, new program with a similar title to the first program (for example, belonging to a series to which the first program also belongs). Similarly, on a second “hop” the process 200 may select a third, new program with a similar subject matter as the first program. As another example, on a third “hop” the process 200 may select a fourth, new program with a similar genre as the first program, and so on. By way of a further example for illustrative purposes only, a first “hop” may be used to select a second, new program with a similar subject matter as the first program, a second “hop” may be used to select a third, new program also with a similar subject matter as the first program, and so on. The various “hops” may follow any number of different paths in selecting and providing programming content for the user, in accordance with various different embodiments and implementations thereof.
An internal data-mine is preferably built and used in connection with the preference graph of step 228 for further processing, and that reflects the user's preferences for television watching. Every node in the constructed graph preferably has some weight associated with it. This weight could be a function of the frequency of viewing or the TAG associated with it which got triggered or any other recommendation attribute associated with the content. The user could additionally TAG or let the system know that he liked this show and that the system can cache the appropriate TAGS against it for “hopping”.
This smart-jumping content can be used to hyper-jump television content rather than rudimentary channel-up and channel-down or surfing for that matter. The user can be provided with the viewing experience that the user truly wants by detecting the viewing preferences automatically, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for “channel surfacing” by the user. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the process 200 provides a solution that tracks (optionally if enabled by the user) the user's program viewing path.
As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
Accordingly, improved methods and systems are provided for providing programming content for users. The improved methods and systems provide for improved selection and providing of programming content for a user. The improved methods and systems provide enhanced program navigation for the user, for example by providing more convenience and/or a more optimal selection of programming content for the user.
It will be appreciated that the disclosed methods and systems may vary from those depicted in the Figures and described herein. For example, it will be appreciated that certain steps of the process 200 may vary from those depicted in
While the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing various embodiments of the invention, it should be appreciated that the particular embodiments described above are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. To the contrary, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described without departing from the scope of the invention.
