Patent Application
20080244655
Channel surfing has become a normal activity as viewers attempt to find programming content that suits their tastes. Oftentimes, content providers such as television stations will provide a content line-up that includes a variety of content to suit everyone's tastes. In addition, this content may be placed in time slots that specifically target certain demographics. Further, some content providers may attempt to market new content by scheduling the new content strategically (e.g., between two popular programs). However, this content placement decisioning process is typically based on highly generalized data regarding when viewers are watching television or accessing content and their characteristics (age, gender, occupation). As such, content providers might not be maximizing their viewership (and their marketing potential for new content) by scheduling content based on general demographic evaluations. Since advertising and marketing (e.g., in the form of commercials) are often tied to certain programming content, the ability of advertisers to maximize their results may suffer from similar deficiencies.
In view of the foregoing, methods and systems for content selection and scheduling based on viewer feedback are needed.
Aspects of content selection and scheduling based on viewer feedback provide a system and method for viewers to enter their recommendations and/or comments regarding a program through a user device. For example, viewers may enter their comments through an electronic program guide feature on their viewing device. The feedback may be collected at a recommendation service associated with a content provider and the feedback data may be subsequently analyzed. The analysis of the feedback data may provide information regarding the demographic that is submitting positive recommendations. For example, the analysis may produce information relating to the strength of a particular viewer's recommendations and/or peer groups with which the recommending viewer's are associated. Each of these factors may play a role in a content provider's decision in what content to schedule and how to schedule that content. In addition, a content provider may also use the information to determine which viewers to target in marketing particular programming content. Further, this information may be used by advertisers and other companies to determine which channels and/or programs would be the best match for certain advertisements.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention.
In the following description of various illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Computer executable instructions and data used by processor 128 and other components within mobile terminal 112 may be stored in a computer readable memory 134. The memory may be implemented with any combination of read only memory modules or random access memory modules, optionally including both volatile and nonvolatile memory. Software 140 may be stored within memory 134 and/or storage to provide instructions to processor 128 for enabling mobile terminal 112 to perform various functions. Alternatively, some or all of mobile device 112 computer executable instructions may be embodied in hardware or firmware (not shown).
Mobile terminal 112 may be configured to receive, decode and process digital radio or television broadcast transmissions that are based, for example, on the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) standards, through a specific DVB receiver 141. The mobile device may also be provided with other types of receivers for digital broadcast transmissions, such as MediaFLO, DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting), ISDB (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting), HDTV (High-definition television), DAM (Digital Audio Broadcasting), DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), etc. Additionally, mobile terminal 112 may also be configured to receive, decode and process transmissions through FM/AM Radio receiver 142, WLAN transceiver 143, and wireless telecommunications transceiver 144. Transceivers 143 and 144 may, alternatively, be separated into individual transmitter and receiver components (not shown). In one example, transceiver 144 may include a broadcast receiver (not shown) and a backward channel receiver (not shown) for communicating over the broadcast channel and the backward channel, respectively. In one aspect of the invention, mobile terminal 112 may receive Radio Data System (RDS) messages. Other transmission and reception systems may also be used including Bluetooth, WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) i.e. IEEE 802.16 standard, and/or UWB (Ultra-wideband) transceivers. In one or more instances, signals may be transmitted to and received from another mobile terminal (not shown). For example, audio, video and other signals may be transmitted between two terminals using various transmissions protocols such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), third generation mobile system technology (3G), Bluetooth and/or Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). Such networks may be used to access or support local networks or remote networks such as the Internet.
Content provider 215 may include media companies, content stores that have licensed particular content for distribution and/or individuals who may produce their own work. In one example, content provider 215 may provide movies to server 210 for distribution to a subscribing device like device 205a over a broadcast network. Content provider 215 may provide programming over a single programming channel or multiple channels. For example, content provider 215 may provide different genres of programming in each of the multiple channels. In addition to content provider 215, content distributed to devices 205a and 205b may also be received from advertisers 220. Advertisers 220 may produce commercials or other types of advertisements for broadcasting during the broadcast of other content such as television programs or movies. In one or more configurations, commercials may already be apart of content provided by content provider 215.
As described, network 200 may further include other service providers 225. Other service providers 225 may provide various services for server 210. In one example, an electronic program guide (EPG) service provider included in providers 225 may aid server 210 in the generation of EPGs and in communicating the EPG to other services in server 210. Other services and content may include electronic service guide (ESG) and interactive program guide (IPG). In another example, service providers 225 may process on-demand requests received by server 210 from subscribing devices 205a and 205b. In still another example, a recommendation service of service providers 225 may be configured to process recommendation information received from devices 205a and 205b. Recommendations may relate to preferred content items, preferred content channels, preferred types of services and the like. Accordingly, a recommendation service may collect, maintain and evaluate such information to modify and improve content offerings and as a vehicle to improve marketing (as is discussed in further detail below).
Network 200 may facilitate communications between devices 205, server 210, content provider 215, advertisers 220 and service providers 225 using a variety of protocols. For example, devices 205 may interact with server 210 using DVB-H broadcast protocol while server 210 may communicate with advertisers 220, service providers 225 and content provider 215 using Internet protocol (IP). For example, DVB-H broadcast networks may include multiple channels for transmissions to and from devices 205a and 205b. EPGs and programming content may be broadcast to devices 205a and 205b over a first channel while data such as feedback or content requests may be transmitted back to server 210 over a second channel, i.e. a back or backward channel. Devices 205a and 205b may include a backward channel receiver for communicating over the backward channel. The channels may differ in bandwidth based on the amount of information transmitted to a device versus the amount of information transmitted from the device. Accordingly, in one or more instances, a downstream channel (channel for broadcasting information to subscribing devices 205a and 205b) may have greater bandwidth than a backward channel (for receiving information from devices 205a and 205b).
According to one or more aspects, a backward channel in broadcast network 200 may be used to receive feedback from subscribers relating to their likes and dislikes of programming content. In one or more configurations, the backward channel may a separate channel from the broadcast channel. A recommendation service, e.g., of service providers 225, may be used to collect the feedback, analyze trends and determine what programming content is most desirable to certain demographics of peer groups. Peer groups, as used herein, refers generally to a group of subscribers having a common characteristic or attribute. A peer group may be defined as all subscribers that are employed in the financial industry or, alternatively or additionally, as those subscribers that own a pet, or users that have subscribed or signed up for the same service. The peer groups may identify members based on member identifiers or identifiers associated with the devices of the members. The raw data and the processed information may be valuable for a content provider to determine a channel or content lineup to maximize viewership. Since content providers often generate revenue from advertising, maximizing viewership may also aid in maximizing revenue. In addition, the raw data and/or the processed information may help a content provider market new programming to maximize the potential for viewers to watch the new programming.
Further, advertisers and marketers may also use such information to identify programs with which to associate advertisements. For example, tracking viewer behavior and preferences may allow advertisers to better target their audience. In one example, an advertiser may request advertisements to be aired or otherwise broadcast during a specific program that has been identified as highly desirable by a particular peer group. In another example, an advertiser may request that advertisements be placed during a program that has been positively recommended by a viewer who's opinion is particularly strong (e.g., many other viewers follow his or her opinion).
Referring again to
In one or more arrangements, a recommendation might only be distributed to the devices of other viewers in a peer group common to the viewer or the user device providing the recommendation. Peer groups may be predefined or may be determined based on common characteristics or interests between viewers or user devices. In one example, a peer group may be defined for a group of self-identified friends. In another example, a peer group may be defined for all viewers or user devices having one or more common features (i.e. metadata), such as living in a certain location and/or within the same age range. In yet another example, a peer group may be defined for the players of an on-line multiplayer game, that is, for people who share the same interest for a game but who do not necessarily know each other in real-life. By limiting the distribution of recommendations, a recommendation service may guard viewers against unsolicited or unwanted recommendations in which they might not be interested. According to one or more aspects, a viewer making a recommendation may designate the peer group(s) and/or particular viewers to which he or she wishes to send the recommendation. A recommendation service may gather further information about a viewer's peer group based on the other viewers to which the viewer send the recommendation.
Alternatively or additionally, recommendations might only be distributed if a threshold number or amount of positive recommendations are received. Thus, if over 50% of the recommendations are negative, the recommendations might not be distributed to other viewers. On the other hand, if over 50% of the recommendations are positive, the recommendation may be distributed. In one or more arrangements, recommendations might only be distributed if a threshold number of recommendations are received, regardless of whether they are positive or negative.
Upon receiving or making a recommendation, a viewer may access and view the recommendation through an EPG, or some other interactive menu 500, or some separate view/window (not shown).
If the number of recommendations associated with the program meets or exceeds the threshold, the advertiser or recommendation service may identify the viewers who made the positive recommendations in step 610. The viewers may be identified using an identifier stored in association with each recommendation. The identifier may be a viewer or user identifier or may be a user device identifier. In step 615, information regarding the peer groups and/or viewers to which the recommendations were sent may be evaluated. Such information may be important if a particular content provider is targeted for a particular demographic. For example, a channel or content provider targeted for 18-25 year olds might not be concerned with the viewing trends and preferences of 35-50 year olds.
In addition, information regarding the strength of a viewer's recommendation may be analyzed in step 620. As discussed, the strength of a viewer's recommendation may be determined based on a number or percentage of other viewers who have historically followed the viewer's recommendation. The recommendation strength of viewers may be used to determine whether relying on a particular viewer's recommendation is likely to yield higher viewership among other viewers in the viewer's peer group. In one or more configurations, the characteristics of other viewers who have followed the viewer's recommendation may also be analyzed (e.g., compare the attributes of those viewers who followed the recommendations versus the attributes of those who did not). In step 625, a decision may be made as to whether to place the program in a content or program lineup based on the aforementioned factors. For example, if the recommendation strength of the viewers who provided positive recommendations is low, a content provider might not add or may remove the program from a content lineup. In contrast, if the recommendation strength is high, the content provider may decide to add or keep the program in the content lineup in step 630.
The above described methods may also be used to aid an advertiser in identifying programs in which to advertise. The recommendation information and analyses may be valuable data that may be sold or licensed to advertisers for their own use. For example, an advertiser may evaluate the peer groups to which a program is positively recommended to determine whether to place an advertisement in the program. If the advertisement is targeted for viewers living on the west coast, the advertiser might not want to go to the expense of advertising to an east coast peer group.
Based on the strength of recommendation analysis, a content provider may select a second group of viewers having a threshold strength of recommendation in step 720. The threshold may be an absolute value (20 people in the last week followed a viewer's recommendation) or may be a percentage (e.g., 50% followed a viewer's recommendation). The threshold may be determined based on the expense involved with marketing the content and the likelihood the marketed content will reach a widespread audience. In one or more arrangements, the second group of viewers may include less than all of the first group of viewers. Alternatively, the second group may include all of the first group of viewers. In step 725, the content provider may transmit the content to be marketed to the selected second group of viewers. The content to be marketed, as discussed, may include a commercial, new programming content, a service announcement and the like.
In one or more configurations, a content provider and/or recommendation service may further consider a viewer's peer group in determining whether to target the viewer and his or her peer group. If, for example, the viewer's peer group does not match the demographic for which the content to be marketed is intended, the content provider might not select the viewer for marketing the content. In another example, if a viewer's peer group is less than a threshold size, a content provider may determine that the expense is too great given the potential viewership.
Additionally, the methods and features recited herein may further be implemented through any number of computer readable mediums that are able to store computer readable instructions. Examples of computer readable media that may be used include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic storage and the like.
While illustrative systems and methods as described herein embodying various aspects of the present invention are shown, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, each of the elements of the aforementioned embodiments may be utilized alone or in combination or subcombination with elements of the other embodiments. It will also be appreciated and understood that modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.
