Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080201743 | Method For Facilitating the Watching of Tv Programs, Dvd Films and the Like, Meant For Deaf People and People With Hearing Damage - The method is for facilitating the watching of films, TV programs and the like, meant for deaf people and people with hearing impairment. The method allows a transparent or translucent shadow-graph to be produced on the screen. | 08-21-2008 |
20080201744 | Method and System For Managing Recorded Content Channels - Disclosed is a system and method for managing program contents according to the preferences of the user and then presented in an assigned channel specified by the user. The system executes the following steps: receiving at least one program content; assigning the program content to an unused channel or one of the pre-assigned channels containing similar programs in response to a user input; and displaying the program content using the unused channel selected by the user while viewing other television programs being watched. | 08-21-2008 |
20080209474 | Method And Apparatus For Managing Tv Channel Lists - Disclosed are a system and method for generating a favorite list from a plurality of broadcast/Internet contents according to the preferences of the user. A plurality of incoming television and Internet contents is examined to identify a particular program liked by a viewer according to a past viewing history, then a general list containing at least one television content and at least one Internet content and a favorite list containing a list of program contents liked by the viewer based on the past viewing history are generated. The favorite list is saved in a memory so that it is not deleted during an automatic channel installation. | 08-28-2008 |
20080216122 | System and method for selection of content source upon device power-on - A system and method for determining which program to display from multiple content sources at a power-on event of a content display device at a certain location is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving metadata containing content information about multiple programming available from multiple content sources on an integrated network. The content information can be analyzed so as to determine if any of the programming satisfies rules pertaining to programming appropriate for the location of the display device within a home. The content information can be analyzed in advance such that when a power-on command is received at the content display device, a program that has been determined to satisfy the rules is displayed on the display device. | 09-04-2008 |
20080222680 | Electronic program guide provision apparatus, electronic program guide provision method and program thereof - An electronic program guide provision system includes a preference model creating unit configured to create a preference model of a viewer in which a causal relationship between a cause of viewing and a viewing effect is written based on an electronic program guide and viewing history information of the viewer, and a recommended program list creating unit configured to create a recommended program list by using the preference model created by the preference model creating unit. | 09-11-2008 |
20080222681 | Method for Recording Multiple Program in Digital Broadcasting Receiver - The invention relates to a method for recording multiple programs in a digital broadcasting receiver. The digital broadcasting receive, when receiving a record command for multiple programs in the broadcast signal currently incoming, confirms and stores PID's of each of the programs corresponding to the record command. Thereafter, the digital broadcasting receiver searches the broadcast data for the PID's so as to store broadcast data by matching PID values. According to the present invention, the method for recording multiple programs is advantageous in that a broadcasting receiver may be implemented so as to simultaneously record multiple programs. | 09-11-2008 |
20080229359 | SMART INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE - Systems, methods, and applications for controlling an interactive program guide (IPG) to be displayed on a display screen are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, among others, an application is stored in memory and is configured to control an IPG. The application comprises logic configured to maintain a data structure. The data structure includes a first category corresponding to a plurality of media services and a second category corresponding to a first value representing the number of times that a tuner system tunes to each one of the media services. The application also comprises logic configured to detect when the tuner system tunes to a particular media service channel. In addition, the application comprises logic configured to increment the first value related to the particular media service channel in response to detecting the tuner system tuning to the particular media service channel. | 09-18-2008 |
20080229360 | Content Recommendation Device - Preferences of a user are analyzed with respect to each of a plurality of pieces of content. already viewed by the user, and a piece viewing motivation information that is a combination of attribute entities of the piece of content is generated. A primary viewing motivation-portion and a secondary viewing motivation portion are determined in the generated pieces of viewing, motivation information, and pieces of viewing motivation information having a common primary viewing motivation portion are grouped together. Content having the determined primary viewing motivation portion and secondary viewing motivation portion is selected from content not yet viewed by the user, and content information about the selected content is presented to the user in correspondence with the primary viewing motivation portion and secondary viewing motivation portion. | 09-18-2008 |
20080229361 | Initial Arrangement of Interactive Program Guide - A method and system for a programmable television services client device that enables a user to navigate to an individual television service and is coupled to a programmable television services server device is provided. The client device comprises a memory for storing data. The client device also includes an interactive program guide contained in the memory that displays program information received from the headend server device. The memory of the client device stores configuration information for a plurality of initial guide arrangements. One of the initial guide arrangements is denoted in the configuration information by either the subscriber or the system operator at the headend as the selected guide for implementation at any given time. The client device also includes a processor that is responsive to the interactive program guide and the configuration information and causes the client device to display program information according to the selected initial guide arrangement. | 09-18-2008 |
20080235732 | Apparatus and Method for Dynamically Managing User's Favorite Channels - An apparatus and method for dynamically managing a user's favorite channels are provided. The apparatus includes a user input unit receiving a channel change input from the user, a channel list storage unit storing an entire channel list comprising channels receivable using a tuner and channel preference information regarding the user's preference degrees for channels, a control unit calculating a preference degree for a channel selected in response to the channel change input received by the user input unit and analyzing a pattern of channel change inputs, and an output unit providing content of the selected channel according to calculation and analysis results of the control unit. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235733 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSONAL CONTENT ACCESS - A method and system for integrated personal content access have been disclosed. The system includes a gateway which is able to communicate across devices, coordinating media content distribution among the devices and users. The gateway can seamlessly switch or copy content streams from one device to another, even if the devices use different formats or protocols. Tags for adding embellishments to content on the fly for viewing by the user or by others. Tokens for indicating the identity and source of content, along with a location within the content, can also be used when sharing content or when switching content viewing between devices. Additionally, a network of gateways is possible, where content may be shared between devices connected to different gateways. | 09-25-2008 |
20080235734 | Optimally Selecting Tv Programs for Recording and Viewing | 09-25-2008 |
20080244655 | VIRAL MARKETING OF BROADCAST CONTENT - Viral marketing may be used in the delivery of broadcast content over networks such as DVB-H networks. By tracking and monitoring viewer recommendations and viewer responses to recommendations, content providers may target viewers and/or peer groups for marketing various types of content. Content may include advertisements, television programs, service announcements and the like. Feedback from viewers may be received on a user device through a backward or upstream channel. The viewers may be provided with a recommendation interface. In one or more configurations, the interface may be integrated into an electronic programming guide. | 10-02-2008 |
20080244656 | Information processing apparatus and method, and program - In the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for recommending contents. The information processing apparatus may include recommendation information generating means for generating recommendation information for presenting a recommended content to be recommended to a user to the user, and when presenting the recommendation information to the user, changing a form of presentation of at least a part of the recommendation information. | 10-02-2008 |
20080250455 | PROGRAM INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, BROADCAST RECEIVING APPARATUS, PROGRAM INFORMATION RETRIEVAL APPARATUS, PROGRAM INFORMATION RETRIEVAL METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - A program information retrieval system in which a broadcast receiving terminal and a resolver server are connected through a communication network includes a local storing unit that stores a program information, a taste-information acquiring unit that acquires taste information of a user, a program-information requesting unit that requests the resolver server to provide program information, and a program-information receiving unit that receives the program information transmitted from the resolver server. The resolver server includes a master storing unit that stores the program information, a program-information-request receiving unit that receives a request for program information based on the taste information from the broadcast receiving terminal, a program-information extracting unit that extracts program information matching the taste information from the master storing unit using the identifier, and a transmitting unit that transmits the program information extracted from the master storing unit to the broadcast receiving terminal. | 10-09-2008 |
20080256579 | Assisted User Control in Recommenders - A method and arrangement for modifying settings of a television program recommender ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080263598 | Optimally Selecting Tv Programs | 10-23-2008 |
20080271079 | Extended Description to Support Targeting Scheme, and Tv Anytime Service and System Employing the Same - The present research relates to description supporting a targeting scheme, more particularly, to an extended description structure supporting a targeting scheme and a TV-Anytime service providing method and system employing the same based on Moving Picture Experts Group 21 (MPEG-21) Usage Environment Description (UED) tools. The TV-Anytime service providing system employing the extended description structure includes a service providing apparatus for generating package metadata including user information and usage environment information; and a user device for acquiring the package metadata including user information and usage environment information from the service providing apparatus through diverse access networks. | 10-30-2008 |
20080276279 | Interactive Media Display Across Devices - A computer-implemented method includes identifying a computer-based portable program module, automatically altering code in the portable program module to permit display of the module on a television-based display so that the displayed module has a substantially similar appearance on the television-based display as on a computer display, and providing the altered code for execution on a processor connected to a television-based display. | 11-06-2008 |
20080288982 | Method and Apparatus for Generating a Recommendation for at Least One Content Item - A recommender engine ( | 11-20-2008 |
20080288983 | System and Method for Providing Sequential Video and Interactive Content - A system and method of providing sequential video and contextual based content to an end user viewing video content in a video player on an end user computing device is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises storing a plurality of videos in a memory, storing a plurality of advertisements in a memory, receiving a plurality of requests from a plurality of different clients and wherein each request includes information identifying a first video and each of the plurality of clients initiates its request from one of a plurality of web pages and wherein the plurality of web pages form part of a plurality of different web sites. In addition, the plurality of web pages may include program code configured to cause a video to be presented in the video player. The method further comprises for each received request, selecting a plurality of videos based on information of the first video; and selecting a plurality of advertisements, wherein at least one of the plurality of advertisements is selected based on information of the first video and at least one of the plurality of advertisements is selected based on information of a selected video. In addition, the method may comprise for each received request, transmitting the plurality of videos to the requesting client for sequential presentation by the client; and transmitting the plurality of advertisements to the requesting client and wherein at least some of the plurality of advertisements are configured to be presented concurrently with a received video. | 11-20-2008 |
20080295132 | Program Recommendation Apparatus, Method and Program Used In the Program
Recommendation Apparatus | 11-27-2008 |
20080295133 | Method and System for Generating a Recommendation for at Least One Further Content Item | 11-27-2008 |
20080313675 | CHANNEL LINEUP REORGANIZATION BASED ON METADATA - A user interface representing a channel lineup reorganization based on metadata may be described. An apparatus may comprise a user interface module to display at least one shorter list of relevant channels from a channel lineup. The at least one shorter list of relevant channels is determined by user input and metadata associated with content available via channels in the channel lineup. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 12-18-2008 |
20080320517 | System and method for creating and using a smart channel tuner list - Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user's pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user's identifying and use information. Specifically, disclosed are systems and/or methods for creating a smart channel tuner list, including determining an identity of a user interacting with a content presentation system, collecting channel switching information from the first channel to each of a plurality of second channels from the user's interaction with the content presentation system, determining a value for each of the plural second channels as a function of the channel switching information, and creating a smart channel tuner list as a function of the determined value. | 12-25-2008 |
20080320518 | System and method for a passively-adaptive preferred channel list - Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user's pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user's identifying and use information. Specifically, systems and/or methods for creating a preferred channel list, including determining an identity of a user interacting with a content presentation system, collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user's interaction with the content presentation system, storing the channel use information, determining a value for each of the plural channels as a function of the channel use information, and creating a preferred channel list for the plural channels as a function of the determined value. | 12-25-2008 |
20080320519 | System and method for networking data collection devices for content presentation systems - Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user's pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user's identifying and use information. Specifically, disclosed are systems and/or methods for sharing user information where a first data collection device is connected to a second data collection device, determining an identity of a user, collecting channel use information at the first data collection device, determining a value for each of plural channels as a function of the channel use information, and creating a preferred channel list at the first data collection device for the plural channels as a function of the determined value. | 12-25-2008 |
20080320520 | System and method for biometric identification using portable interface device for content presentation system - Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user's pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user's identifying and use information. Specifically, the systems and/or methods may be user to identify a viewer of a content presentation system having a portable device with an actuator, operating the actuator by the viewer, obtaining biometric information via the actuator, and providing the biometric information to a content provider. The systems and/or methods may further include determining at the content provider an identification of the viewer based on the biometric information. | 12-25-2008 |
20080320521 | System and method for creating and using a smart electronic programming guide - Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user's pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user's identifying and use information. Specifically, disclosed are systems and/or methods for creating a smart electronic programming guide, including determining an identity of a user interacting with a content presentation system, collecting channel use information for each of a plurality of channels from the user's interaction with the content presentation system, storing the channel use information, determining a value for each of the plural channels as a function of the channel use information, and creating a smart electronic programming guide for the plural channels as a function of the determined value. | 12-25-2008 |
20080320522 | Systems and Methods for Automated Media Programming (AMP) - Automated media programming (AMP) systems and methods are provided. The systems and methods allow independent users to summit, edit, rate, and watch video content (preferably, although not necessarily, from other users) over a broadcast media channel or network. In one embodiment, among others, the AMP system a topic generator means for determining one or more topics that will be used for identifying one or more videos to be broadcast; an upload means for receiving uploads of one or more user videos relating to the determined topics; a prescreening means for allowing users to view the uploaded user videos; a rating means for rating the uploaded user videos, their respective producers, or both; a pre-production means for scheduling the uploaded videos for transmission based upon the ratings; and a broadcast means for enabling broadcast of the videos. In preferred embodiments, the AMP system is controlled by independent users, and the settings, procedures for operation, and procedures for evaluations of the AMP system are user controllable. | 12-25-2008 |
20090007180 | METHOD FOR TUNING TO PREFERRED CHANNEL AND VIDEO RECEIVING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A preferred channel tuning method and a video receiving apparatus using the same are provided. According to the preferred channel tuning method of the video receiving apparatus, a channel through which a broadcast signal containing information identical to information regarding a preferred channel is received is tuned as a preferred channel, based on the information regarding the preferred channel rather than the number of the preferred channel. The information regarding the preferred channel includes program specific information contained in the broadcast signal received through the preferred channel. Accordingly, even when the number of the preferred channel changes due to a change in the channel numbers, a preset preferred channel can be automatically tuned without resetting the preferred channel. | 01-01-2009 |
20090031354 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING CONTENT TO A USER DEVICE THROUGH ALLOCATED ASSETS OF A SATELLITE NETWORK AND A BROADBAND NETWORK - A communication system | 01-29-2009 |
20090037958 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO PROVIDE A PERSONALIZED CHANNEL - A method and apparatus for automatically delivering data files (e.g. television and movies) via a personalized channel to a user, that are based on a user's profile and viewing habits, are provided. A client receives meta-data broadcasts from a server system that includes descriptions of a plurality of data files currently being broadcasted or to be broadcast by the server system. In response to a content rating table that is based on a user's profile and viewing habits, a data file is automatically selected. The selected data file is displayed on a personalized channel on a display device to the user. The selected data file can be, for example, a currently broadcasting data file or a data file stored in a cache memory of the client. Thus, the user only needs to tune to his or her personalized channel to view personalized content. | 02-05-2009 |
20090044224 | DYNAMIC CHANNEL SWITCHING - Apparatus and method for channel switching in a handheld digital television terminal with reduced power consumption. Embodiments of the invention reduce channel switching latency caused by time-slicing and decoding delays. A method includes providing media content derived from a selected programming channel to a handheld digital television user. A variety of occurrences indicative of an increased likelihood that the user may select another channel are detected. The occurrences include program content boundaries, changes in program content, and user initiated channel switches. After an occurrence indicative of an increased likelihood that the user may select another channel is detected, multiple program channels are decoded for a time interval to facilitate program switching. | 02-12-2009 |
20090044225 | METHOD OF BUILDING UP GROUP PROFILE FOR CUSTOMIZING EPG VIEWING AND METHOD OF USING THE GROUP PROFILE - The method of building group profiles for customizing EPG viewing includes the steps of: automatically establishing background information of viewers by means of personal profiles of the viewers; and automatically establishing preference information of the viewers by means of personal profiles or browsing records of the viewers. | 02-12-2009 |
20090044226 | Interactive Television Program Guide System Having Multiple Devices Within A Household - An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. The operation of applications such as web browser applications, home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated. | 02-12-2009 |
20090044227 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus includes a program information display controller configured to display recommendation information which relates to a recorded program, which is obtained in advance, and which is introduced in the program, and configured to display, when the recommendation information is searchable by web searching, a notification describing that the recommendation information is searchable by the web searching along with the recommendation information, and a search display controller configured to determine at least one search site in accordance with a type of the recommendation information when a user selects the searchable recommendation information and display a search dialog including the determined at least one search site as at least one candidate. | 02-12-2009 |
20090049478 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE GENERATION OF REPLACEMENT TITLES FOR CONTENT ITEMS - The present invention is directed towards systems, methods and computer program products for generating substitute titles for a content item in response to a user submitted title for the content item. The method of the present invention comprises receiving a user generated title and generating a plurality of candidate substitute titles. A first quality score is calculated for the user generated title and a plurality of second quality scores are generated for the plurality of candidate substitute titles. The user generated title for the content item is replaced with at least one of said plurality of candidate substitute titles on the basis of the quality scores. | 02-19-2009 |
20090049479 | USER INTERFACES TO PRESENT SHARED MEDIA - User interfaces to present shared media are described. An example includes a user interface for use with a media presentation system including a main page and a plurality of pages operatively linked to the main page; one or more interactive sections to present information associated with one or more media files, wherein the user interface integrates control over one or more presentations of media files of various formats from one or more media storage devices, and wherein the one or more media storage devices are peripheral devices in relation to the media presentation system. | 02-19-2009 |
20090049480 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDES - A method and system for generating electronic program guides is provided. The method comprises: sharing Electronic Program Guides (EPG) data among at least one terminal and at least two service providers (SPs) interconnected over network; searching the shared EPG data; and generating EPG for the terminal according to the searched EPG data and the customization information provided by the terminal. The system comprises at least two SPs and at least one terminal interconnected over network, where at least two SPs of the at least two SPs are provided with a middleware, and EPG data is shared among SPs or between SPs and terminals through the middleware, and at least one terminal of the at least one terminal is provided with a middleware. In embodiments of the present invention, an individualized EPG is generated according to requirements of a terminal by sharing EPG data and summarizing EPG data from a plurality of SPs. | 02-19-2009 |
20090055870 | Digital Broadcast Receiving Apparatus - A digital broadcast receiving apparatus that utilizes an unused tuner effectively to shorten channel selection time is disclosed. The apparatus is equipped with plural tuners that receive digital broadcast waves; a TS processing unit capable of processing at least two TSes demodulated by the tuner; a service information acquiring unit that extracts service information from the TS processing unit; a data contents acquiring unit that caches data contents; an audio and visual output control unit capable of processing plural audio and visual data simultaneously or alternately by switching; and a channel selection control unit that predicts a channel that the user is likely to select next time and preliminarily performs predicted channel selection process using a tuner currently not selected. | 02-26-2009 |
20090064227 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR GENERATING A PERSONALIZED VISUALIZATION OF BROADCASTING STATIONS - An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for creating a personalized visualization of broadcasting stations that enables a user to quickly identify broadcasting stations that are in line with his or her tastes or preferences. Broadcasting stations may be plotted at specific locations within a personalized visualization based on the categories in which media objects broadcast by those broadcasting stations fall. This location may be continuously updated as the broadcasting stations continue to broadcast additional media objects falling within different categories. A user may similarly be plotted, and continuously updated, within the personalized visualization based on the categories in which media objects reproduced by the user fall. By viewing the personalized visualization, the user may be able to identify which of the broadcasting stations monitored are broadcasting media objects that are most in line with the media objects he or she has been reproducing. | 03-05-2009 |
20090064228 | Method for Defining Virtual Channels in Interactive Program Guide and User Interface Thereof - The method for defining virtual channels in an interactive program guide includes the steps of: defining a virtual channel number and/or channel name; searching programs in the EPG which satisfy a search criterion; inserting the searched programs into the defined virtual channel; and resolving schedule conflicts with the searched programs. | 03-05-2009 |
20090064229 | Recommendation from stochastic analysis - Recommendations from stochastic analysis is described. In embodiment(s), a media content distributor can receive a request for movie recommendations from a viewer via a television client device. The content distributor can then provide various movie selection choices where each choice includes two movies having disparate identifying criteria. The identifying criteria can include any combination of a category of a movie, an attribute of the movie, or an aspect of the movie. The content distributor can receive viewer selections of one movie from each of the movie selection choices and then generate the movie recommendations for the viewer. The movie recommendation can be generated by stochastic analysis of the identifying criteria associated with the viewer selected movies from each of the movie selection choices. | 03-05-2009 |
20090070816 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUGGESTING TELEVISION PROGRAMS TO A USER - The invention relates to a method for suggesting television programs to a user, the method comprising: maintaining a set of preferred features of television programs, suggesting those television programs to the user for which at least one preferred feature is applicable, updating of the set of preferred features by input of the user whenever the user makes a choice from the presented television programs, presenting the preferred features which are applicable for the chosen television program whenever a program is chosen, accepting at least one preferred feature selected by the user, and updating the set of features with the help of the feature selected by the user. By selecting the feature regarded as most relevant for the user, the system obtains more information from the user, so that the learning process can be executed within a shorter time so that the user may dispose over a usefully limited selection in an earlier stage. The invention also relates to an apparatus for executing the method according to the invention. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070817 | Program guide system with preference profiles - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may inform a program guide of the user's interests. Information on the user's interests may be stored in a preference profile. There may be more than one preference profile, each for a different user. Each preference profile contains a number of preference attributes (program titles, genres, viewing times, channels, broadcast characteristics, etc.). A preference level (e.g., strong or weak like, strong or weak dislike, illegal, mandatory, don't care, etc.) that is indicative of the user's level of interest is associated with each preference attribute. Preference profiles may be used to restrict the programs that are listed in various program listings display screens and may be used to limit the channels to which the program guide allows the user to tune. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070818 | BROADCAST RECEIVING APPARATUS AND METHOD CAPABLE OF SETTING FAVORITE PROGRAMS - A broadcast receiving apparatus and method for setting favorite programs are provided. The broadcast receiving apparatus may list a broadcast program currently displayed on a screen in a favorite program table or may delete the broadcast program from the favorite program table using a predetermined key. Therefore, a broadcast program provided at a time slot which a user desires to view may be listed in or deleted from a favorite program table. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070819 | METHOD FOR SCHEDULING CONTENT ITEMS AND TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH AIDED CONTENT SELECTION - In a system for scheduling content items accessible to a receiver having a processor ( | 03-12-2009 |
20090077589 | TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH AIDED USER PROGRAM SEARCHING - A system having an adaptive browse feature and an adaptive flip feature is provided. The adaptative browse and flip features may be selected to receive program viewing suggestions. The system may provide a suggestion by displaying an adaptive browse region or adaptative flip region including a program suggestion. The system identifies programs to suggest based on a user=s viewing activity. The system uses different algorithms that are user-selectable and user-adjustable to identify program suggestions. The system may query a program guide database to build a list of programs having attributes similar to the attributes of the current program or the last viewed program. The system may use an adaptive learning algorithm such as a neural network. The neural network may be trained by the program guide by monitoring user-viewing activity. | 03-19-2009 |
20090083798 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PROGRAM GUIDE SERVICE - A method of providing program guide services in a broadcasting system coupled to at least one broadcasting terminal through a network includes: generating a video source for a program guide by processing a video signal for plural broadcasting programs; encoding the video source using a predetermined algorithm; and transmitting the encoded video source to the broadcasting terminal. The broadcasting terminal outputs the program guide including at least one of sub-videos included in the video source on the basis of audience rating/ranking. | 03-26-2009 |
20090089839 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROCESSING PROGRAMMING WISH LIST DATA - Systems and methods to process program wish list data are provided. A system includes a media receiver adapted to receive media content from a media distribution system and a recording module responsive to the media receiver. The system also includes a program guide module to receive a published program guide identifying media content available to be distributed via the media distribution system. The system further includes a wish list module to generate wish list data including identifying information associated with at least one program. The at least one program is not listed in the published program guide when the wish list data is generated. The system also includes a reporting module to report information related to the wish list data to a remote network element. | 04-02-2009 |
20090100469 | Recommendations from Social Networks - Recommendations from social networks is described. In embodiment(s), communications data that is representative of communications between users of client devices can be collected. The communications data can then be evaluated to associate the users that communicate with each other, and a social network can be created that includes the associated users. Media content data that is representative of media content utilized by the associated users in the social network can be complied. A media content recommendation for a user can then be generated based on the compiled media content data for the associated users in the social network. | 04-16-2009 |
20090100470 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE - For enabling the user to acquire the desired information in a short period of time with a simple operation, an information processing device comprises: an extraction module that extracts at least one set of presenting information to be presented to a user from within a plurality of information groups; a control module that displays the plural pieces of presenting information extracted per information group by the extraction module on one display screen; and a display unit capable of displaying the display screen. | 04-16-2009 |
20090106796 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDNG SUBSCRIPTION DATA - Methods and systems for providing subscription data are described. Subscription data may be received from a subscription data source. The video content may be provided for presentation. A determination may be made of whether the subscription data is contextually relevant to the video content. The subscription data may be provided for presentation in accordance with the determination and the providing of the video content. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106797 | APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED CHANNEL CONTENT - A device for identifying preferred television programming, or other multi-media, content and providing the identified content on a personalized channel. An identifier identifies the preferred content through monitoring of the viewing habits of a viewer. Manual input of information is also permitted to identify, or edit, the preferred content and its viewing schedule. Once the preferred content is identified, the content is provided on a personalized channel. And when the viewer selects to view the personalized channel, the preferred content, preferred by the user is viewed by viewing the single, personalized channel. | 04-23-2009 |
20090106798 | CHARACTER STRING RECEIVING DEVICE, CHARACTER STRING TRANSFERRING DEVICE, CHARACTER STRING TRANSMITTING/RECEIVING SYSTEM, CONTENT RECEIVING TERMINAL-SPECIFIC SYSTEM LSI, NAME LIST SHARING SYSTEM, NAME LIST SHARING METHOD, AND CONTENT RECOMMENDING METHOD - A character string receiving device includes a reception unit for receiving character string data indicating a character string via unidirectional communication, and a character string processing unit for processing the character string data received by the reception unit. | 04-23-2009 |
20090113480 | NON-MEDIA-CENTRIC PACKAGING OF CONTENT - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can establish a tailored and/or personalized content channel based various aspects of a social network. The content channel can be interfaced with one or more devices, and can be configured to serve content based upon a content schedule. The content schedule can be programmed based upon selections or recommendations of a member of a user's social network. The architecture can further maintain presence information associated with a member of the social network, such as indicia of the member's current behavior or activity. | 04-30-2009 |
20090113481 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING PRESENCE BASED SERVICES - Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing presence-based services are disclosed. A method includes collecting information relating to devices at a subscriber entity. The information includes one or more of: device characteristics, an identity of a user of a first device, and type of content or services currently active on the first device. The identity is determined through authentication. The method also includes transferring content or services currently exhibited on the first device to a second device upon determining the user is no longer active on the first device and is active and authenticated on the second device. The content or services is transferred in a format corresponding to the type of content or services and device characteristics of the second device. | 04-30-2009 |
20090113482 | PROGRAM GUIDE PROVIDING SYSTEM, PROGRAM GUIDE PROVIDING APPARATUS, PROGRAM GUIDE PROVIDING METHOD, AND PROGRAM GUIDE PROVIDING PROGRAM - Disclosed herein is a program guide providing system including: a terminal; a content providing server including a service providing section for providing programs and a related service to the terminal in response to a request from the terminal; a SIP proxy server; a program guide providing server including a communication history acquisition section for acquiring a communication history between the content providing server and the terminal, a communication history storage section, an audience situation calculation section for calculating an audience situation concerning each of the programs based on the communication history, a program guide generation section for generating a program guide in which each program is assigned an indicator based on the audience situation, and a program guide providing section for providing the program guide to the terminal; and an NGN to which the terminal, the content providing server, the SIP proxy server, and the program guide providing server are connected. | 04-30-2009 |
20090125944 | NOVEL DIGITAL BROADCASTING VIEWING METHOD USING MY CHANNEL AND SYSTEM THEREOF - The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting viewing method. The method in accordance with the present invention is characterized in that a user can watch preference programs by selection of a particular virtual channel. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of (a) assigning at least one channel that is not allocated to broadcast regular programs by broadcasting stations as my channel, (b) bookmarking a program that a user wants to watch to the my channel based on a program guide information, and (c) in response to selection of the my channel by the user, displaying the bookmarked program on television screen of the user. Two or more channels may be assigned as my channel. Compared with the conventional method that allows only one channel to be reserved for the same time, the present invention makes it possible to reserve as many channels as the number of My Channels for the same time. By changing between the My Channels, the user can enjoy his/her preference programs without the complicated channel search. Since channel changing to the preference programs is carried out only by the user's My Channel selection, the interruption caused by automatic channel change in the conventional reservation system can be avoided. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125945 | Broadcast receiver, broadcast data transmitting method and broadcast data receiving method - A broadcast receiver, broadcast data transmitting method and broadcast data receiving method are disclosed, by which information on a service provided by a service provider can be provided, by which a preview can be provided, and by which a time taken for a channel switching can be reduced. The present invention includes transmitting service provider discovery information including information on a service provider, transmitting service discovery information including information on a service provided to the service provider, and transmitting a stream for the service to a connected receiver. | 05-14-2009 |
20090133069 | Maintaining a user profile based on dynamic data - The present invention allows users to interact with people, who have interacted with other people, and obtain media files and recommendations from those having common interests, thereby creating interactive media communities and spawning electronic social networks based on media and other types of electronic entertainment. | 05-21-2009 |
20090133070 | Enabling a friend to remotely modify user data - The present invention allows users to interact with people, who have interacted with other people, and obtain media files and recommendations from those having common interests, thereby creating interactive media communities and spawning electronic social networks based on media and other types of electronic entertainment. | 05-21-2009 |
20090133071 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION SHARING SYSTEM - There is provided an information processing apparatus communicable with a plurality of content viewing devices via a network, including a viewing information receiving unit for receiving viewing information of a user in the past, present, and future from each of the content viewing devices, a user viewing content management unit for managing a user viewing content DB based on the viewing information received from each of the content viewing devices and a program guide, the user viewing content DB associating, in a form of program guide, past, present, and future contents represented in the program guide and identification information of users who have viewed the past content, those who are viewing the present content, and those who will view the future content, and a viewing information transmitting unit for transmitting the extracted viewing information of another user to the requesting content viewing device. | 05-21-2009 |
20090150935 | Method and Network Device for Assisting a User in Selecting Content - The invention relates to a method and a network device for assisting a user in selecting content. This is done by entering a user group comprising users having a common interest, requesting an indication of content of interest from at least a part of said user group, receiving an indication of content of interest from at least a part of said user group, generating a list of most popular content based on said indication of content of interest received from at least a part of said user group, and assisting the user in selecting said content by presenting said list to said user. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150936 | IP-based integrated customized broadcast service system and method - An Internet protocol (IP)-based integrated customized broadcast service system and method are provided. The IP-based integrated customized broadcast service system includes: a subscriber schedule table providing server generating a subscriber schedule table matching with a time when a user desires to be provided with a broadcast program or IP-based content; and a broadcast server transmitting the broadcast program to the user who desires to be provided with the broadcast program or converting the IP-based content to a broadcast service format that can be watched by the user and transmitting the converted IP-based content to the user who desires to be provided with the IP-based content according to the subscriber schedule table. Accordingly, video on demand (VoD) content, user created content (UCC), and proteur created content (PCC) can be used for broadcasting, so that a variety of broadcast programs can be configured. | 06-11-2009 |
20090150937 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REMOTE SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 06-11-2009 |
20090158340 | INDICATING PROGRAM POPULARITY - Data is transmitted from content processing devices to a server, the data relating to a number of times that each of one or more media programs have been accessed within a given time period. The data is aggregated to obtain an aggregate number of times that each of the one or more media programs has been accessed within the given time period. An indication of popularity for each of the one or more media programs may be determined from the data. | 06-18-2009 |
20090158341 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE GENERATION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Various embodiments determine electronic program guide information based on user viewing habits. One embodiment provides an electronic program guide generator that receives usage information that includes indications of a plurality of viewed channels, determines one or more channels of the plurality of viewed channels based on the received usage information, and provides indications of the determined one or more channels. | 06-18-2009 |
20090158342 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING CONTENT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS - An apparatus for generating content program recommendations comprises a meta-data processor ( | 06-18-2009 |
20090158343 | RECORDING DEVICE OF BROADCASTING PROGRAM - A recording device comprising, information receiving unit receiving guide information of a program, operation receiving unit receiving information about a user's utilizing operation, recommendation level calculating unit obtaining a user's utilizing tendency based on a history of received information on the user's utilizing operation, and calculating a suitability level, as a program recommendation level, of the program guide information to the utilizing tendency, reserving unit automatically reserving recording of the program in accordance with the recommendation level, reservation management unit giving permission or non-permission of the reservation at predetermined timing, and recording unit recording the program based on the permitted reservation. | 06-18-2009 |
20090158344 | CONTENT EXCHANGE SYSTEM - The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for providing more content choices to a user ( | 06-18-2009 |
20090165053 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO AND CONTROL OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT INFORMATION ACROSS MULTIMEDIA PROCESSING DEVICES - A method and system for accessing and controlling multimedia content information, including end user profile information and EPG application information associated with the content, provided to and/or stored on a home multimedia processing device via a host or visiting multimedia processing device. Access by the host or visiting multimedia processing device can be controlled using a suitable control device, such as an end user mobile communication device associated with the host multimedia processing device. The control device is configured to make use of an end user profile application and an electronic program guide (EPG) application that allow authorized end users to enable the host multimedia processing device to be essentially an access client for the home multimedia processing device. Thus, an end user can access content associated with their home multimedia processing device using a host multimedia processing device located at a neighbor's house or other host location. | 06-25-2009 |
20090165054 | PROGRAMS OF INTEREST PRESENTATION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Various embodiments present information about programs of interest. Some embodiments provide electronic program guides based on previously viewed programs. In some cases, an electronic program guide generator (“EPGG”) generates an electronic program guide for a designated time period, the electronic program guide including information about one or more scheduled programs, based on the one or more scheduled programs each having at least one attribute that matches an attribute of a program that was previously viewed at a time of day corresponding to the designated time period. The generated electronic program guide may then be presented on a presentation device. Another embodiment provides information about one or more programs that are related to a designated program of interest. | 06-25-2009 |
20090172737 | DISPLAY PROCESSING APPARATUS, DISPLAY PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND DISPLAY PROCESSING METHOD - A display processing apparatus is disclosed. The display processing apparatus includes: a unit configured to receive a content list from a content server; a content storage portion configured to store a content; a contract information storage portion configured to store contract information; a viewing history information storage portion configured to store viewing history information; a unit configured to create a recommended content list from the content list based on the contract information and the viewing history information, the recommended content list being one of a list of contents capable of being viewed and a list of contents capable of being stored in the content storage portion; a screen capable of displaying the recommended content list; and a unit configured to display the recommended content list in a predetermined area other than a center area of the screen, the recommended content list being smaller than the screen. | 07-02-2009 |
20090172738 | Television system | 07-02-2009 |
20090178081 | Enhanced electronic program guides - A method and system for rating programs, the method including, receiving a sample of viewing logs from a plurality of set top boxes (STBs), determining, from the sample of viewing logs, at least groups of viewers sharing similar interests, and groups of programs sharing similar audience, computing time dynamics of rating distribution for the groups of viewers and the groups of programs, and incorporating at least one of the following into broadcast metadata the time dynamics of rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each of the groups of programs, rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each of the groups of programs marginalized by time, rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each program marginalized by time, relative sizes of each group of viewers, and a mapping of each program to groups of programs, thereby making the broadcast metadata available to the plurality of STBs for use in computing ratings. Related systems and methods are described. | 07-09-2009 |
20090187943 | PERSONALIZED MEDIA CHANNEL - A multimedia processing device (MPD) includes a relevance engine that is adapted to track a user's viewing preferences over time and to automatically determine which of the programs available in a given time slot is most probably preferred by that user. The relevance engine can then create a sequential play list, with each entry in the list corresponding to the program the user most likely wants to watch at that time. The user can thus be provided with a personalized multimedia channel (PMC) with the play list providing the program for each time slot. The user may be enabled to “tune” to the PMC like any other channel. When the user “tunes” to the PMC, the MPD will take the appropriate action to display the program selected by the PMC. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187944 | System and Method of Providing Recommendations Related to a Service System - A method of providing recommendations related to a service is disclosed and includes receiving data from a device associated with a service subscriber, the data identifying an individual. The method also includes creating a personalization profile associated with the service subscriber. The personalization profile is populated with information included in a profile of the identified individual. The method further includes providing at least one recommendation based on the personalization profile of the service subscriber. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187945 | CUSTOMIZED ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE - A customizable electronic programming guide (CEPG) is hosted on a residential gateway. The CEPG includes user-defined folders that may be populated with other folders (i.e., sub-folders), program identifiers, or both. Electronic programming guide data arrive at the residential gateway in a standard form and are reformatted by the residential gateway for display according to the user-defined folders and sub-folders. In some embodiments, the CEPG is accessible by multiple set-top boxes that are communicatively coupled to the residential gateway. For ease of configuration, the residential gateway may provide access to a locally-hosted configuration web page. | 07-23-2009 |
20090187946 | FAST CHANNEL SWITCHING FOR ENCRYPTED MEDIAFLO MOBILE MULTIMEDIA MULTICAST SYSTEM - Enhancing a stream layer transmission for a MediaFLO™ mobile multimedia multicast system comprising a transmitter and a receiver. Code word (CW) computations are performed on a current channel being accessed by the receiver. A favorite channel that a user is statistically mostly likely to switch to on the receiver at any particular time is anticipated. The Overhead Information Symbols (OIS) for each favorite channel is periodically monitored. The receiver remains in a sleep mode while data bursts are received from non-favorite channels, and then wakes up during data bursts of the favorite channel. The same CW computations are performed on the favorite channel as were being performed on the current channel. A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is performed once the CW computations are performed upon selecting the favorite channel. | 07-23-2009 |
20090199242 | System and Method for Distributing Video Content via a Packet Based Network - A method, product, and system for facilitating the searching of video content from a plurality of different websites is provided. In one embodiment the method includes storing a plurality of videos in a memory, and storing video guide data for a video guide that comprises executable program code that is executable to provide a search input and a content area for displaying descriptive data of a search result. The method further comprises supplying the executable program code to a plurality of clients, receiving a plurality of requests for video guide data originating from the plurality of clients and wherein the plurality of requests are initiated from different web pages of a plurality of different websites. The method further includes, for each request for video guide data, transmitting video guide data to a client originating the request, receiving a plurality of search requests from the plurality of different clients initiated from a video guide; for each search request, performing a search of the plurality of videos based on the search request, and for each search request, transmitting search results to the client originating the search request for display by the video guide. The video guide data may comprise information for configuring the appearance of a variable display element of the video guide, and the method may further include for each request for video guide data identifying the video guide data to be transmitted. | 08-06-2009 |
20090199243 | Recommended Program Retrieval Device, and Recommended Program Retrieval Method - According to one embodiment, a recommended program retrieval method includes receiving a broadcast signal and demodulating the broadcast signal to output a program signal, storing program data used for creating an electronic program guide, displaying content for which a display manner is specified by a markup language configured with a plurality of tags on a display device, extracting a word from the content displayed on the display device, executing priority calculation processing for providing priority to the extracted word in accordance with a tag that designates a display manner of the word and appearance frequencies of the word, executing recommended program retrieval processing for retrieving a program including the extracted word from the program data, and executing recommendation degree calculation processing for providing a degree of recommendation to the retrieved program in accordance with priority provided to the extracted word included in the retrieved program. | 08-06-2009 |
20090204993 | System and Method of Applying User Profiles at a Set-Top Box Device - A method of applying user profiles at a set-top box device includes receiving data associated with each of a plurality of user profiles at the set-top box device, the plurality of user profiles including a default profile and a supplemental profile. The method also includes automatically applying the supplemental profile to at least one set-top box action after a start time associated with the supplemental profile occurs. Further, the method includes automatically applying the default profile to the at least one set-top box action after an end time associated with the supplemental profile occurs. | 08-13-2009 |
20090210907 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECOMMENDING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - A system and method are disclosed for providing recommendations of multimedia programs broadcast over a provider network using contact lists. For IPTV broadcast programs, recommendations by users may be for pay-per-view or on-demand programs. Upon ordering a multimedia program, a user may select from a contact list one or more other users for receiving a recommendation. Users receiving recommendations may configure a receiving filter to block or allow recommendations based on the identity of the sending user, a time period, the number or type of multimedia programs recommended, or other criteria. | 08-20-2009 |
20090217324 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CUSTOMIZING PRESENTATION OF TELEVISION CONTENT TO A SPECIFIC VIEWER AND LOCATION - A method, system and program product for customizing presentation of television content to a specific viewer. The method includes obtaining an Internet Protocol address for a set-top box provided for an interactive television system viewed by a viewer for establishing a physical location of the television system, authenticating, using a voice recognition system installed on the set-top box provided, an identity of the viewer within a viewing area of the interactive television system, recording television viewing habits of the viewer, selecting a customized television content based on the viewer identity authenticated and the viewing habits recorded for the viewer and delivering the customized television content selected to the viewer, based on the viewer's physical location. In an embodiment, the customized television content includes at least one of: television programming, video programming or advertisements, and in an embodiment, the interactive television system is an Internet Protocol based television system. | 08-27-2009 |
20090249401 | Facilitating interactive functionality for a community of mind in association with delivery of televised content - A method for providing interactive functionality in conjunction with delivery of televised content has a plurality of operations. An operation is performed for receiving a request from a television service subscriber. The request communicates a desire of the television service subscriber for being provided interactive subscriber functionality in conjunction with the subscriber viewing televised content. An operation is performed for associating the subscriber with a community of other subscribers in response to receiving the request. Such associating is performed dependent upon the televised content and profile information of the subscriber and the televised content is accessible by all of the other subscribers. In response to performing such associating, an operation is performed for offering interactive functionality to the subscriber. The interactive functionality corresponds to the televised content and is selected from available interactive functionality dependent upon the televised content. | 10-01-2009 |
20090260037 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRAINED SELECTION OF FAVORITE CHANNELS - An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type. | 10-15-2009 |
20090265742 | REMOTE ACCESS TO PERSONAL VIDEO PROFILE - A system for providing a user-specific list of programs for online viewing based on a user profile stored in a DVR of a user, said system comprising: (a) a preference server linked to a wide area network and in communication with said DVR and at least one content server having a library of programs available for online delivery to a remote device; and (b) a User Menu hosted by said preference server and particular to said user, said User Menu providing said user-specific list of programs based on said user profile stored in said DVR. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271826 | Method of recommending broadcasting contents and recommending apparatus therefor - A method for recommending broadcasting contents, is performed by a multimedia contents reproducing device of a first user. The method includes the operations of logging a broadcasting contents viewing behaviour pattern of the first user and generating a first user profile; transmitting the generated first user profile to an external server by using a network; receiving a recommendation result about one or more recommended broadcasting contents from the server, wherein a preference degree correlation between the first user profile and a second user profile of at least a second user registered in an account of the first user is reflected in the recommendation result; classifying the one or more recommended broadcasting contents in the received recommendation result into broadcasting timetable categories; and displaying on a screen a recommendation result about the classified one or more recommended broadcasting contents. | 10-29-2009 |
20090288118 | Methods and Apparatus to Generate Relevance Rankings for Use by a Program Selector of a Media Presentation System - Example methods and apparatus to generate relevance rankings for use by a program selector of a media presentation system are disclosed. An example method comprises tabulating a plurality of occurrence counts for respective ones of a plurality of terms of a program guide, each of the occurrence counts indicating a corresponding number of times each of the terms appears in the program guide, computing a plurality of relevance ranking scores for respective ones of a plurality of programs listed in the program guide based on the plurality of occurrence counts, selecting a list of programs from the program guide based on the relevance ranking scores, and outputting the list of programs. | 11-19-2009 |
20090307726 | Systems and methods for recommending age-range appropriate episodes of program content - Electronic program guide (EPG) data is parsed to identify and categorize age-range appropriate programming content and organize the identified content into kids recommended categories of programming content. In this implementation, information corresponding to the EPG data is organized into at least one custom category based on age specific criteria to generate a kids-recommended program guide (KRPG). The information organized in the category(s) includes corresponding program data descriptions. The program data descriptions are linked to source content data feeds and/or corresponding information in the EPG. The KRPG is in a data format for distribution to any number of client devices to facilitate selection of age-range appropriate program data. | 12-10-2009 |
20090328104 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS FOR PERSONALIZED CHANNEL SERVICES - Methods, systems, and computer program products for personalized media service. A programming preferences questionnaire is submitted to a user, and selections to the programming preferences questionnaire input by the user are received. Expected satisfaction values to available programs are assigned in accordance with selections input by the user, and programs in accordance with the assigned expected satisfaction values of the programs are selected. A combination of selected programs is provided to the user. | 12-31-2009 |
20090328105 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RANKING ASSETS RELATIVE TO A GROUP OF VIEWERS - Systems and methods are provided for ranking assets relative to a group of viewers. A group is formed by a user by selecting a number of different viewer preference profiles or automatically by the system as a function of analyzing similarities among viewer preference profiles. Individual preference values are computed for each viewer in the group relative to an asset. A group preference value is then computed by performing a function on the individual preference values. A display is generated that represents the individual preference values and the group preference value relative to an asset. Based on the information provided in the display, the asset most relevant to the group may be selected. | 12-31-2009 |
20090328106 | Video content control system with automatic content selection - For selection of entertainment of the most personal interest to a user, a video content control system processes records of video programs against user data. A program record contains data pertinent to user preferences and an impartial rating of program quality or significance determined with no regard to preferences of individual users. The processing is defined by decision tables. For a particular combination of user data and program data pertinent to user preferences, a decision table specifies a value of change to be applied to the impartial rating to produce a personal rating as an increased, decreased or unchanged impartial rating. The system selects videos with the highest personal ratings, i.e. videos that are impartially the best and compliant with user preferences. | 12-31-2009 |
20090328107 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY RECORDING CONTENT, AND RECORDING MEDIUM AND PROGRAM THEREOF - An apparatus automatically recommends content. A preference operation history managing unit generates history information of an operation relating to a preference for a content according to a plurality of operations relating to a preference for the content and explanation information relating to the content and using preference value parameters for each kind of these operations. A preference information managing unit generates and renews preference information including preference values in which a given preference value is based on a combination of a given keyword and a preference value for that keyword. A content recommending unit calculates a preference degree for the content according to the preference information and the explanation information with respect to the content and recommends at least a portion of the content according to the preference degree. | 12-31-2009 |
20100005492 | CONTENT VIEWING SYSTEM - The present invention provides a content viewing system constructed so that even when a user uses different content viewing systems, the user's preference information stored on a storage device is used and updated. | 01-07-2010 |
20100017823 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CREATING A SEQUENCE OF CONTENT ITEMS - The method of creating a sequence of content items of the invention comprises determining similar content items (P | 01-21-2010 |
20100017824 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box having a controller to establish a user profile, retrieve from a media communication system media content schedules according to the user profile, determine a consumption status for each of the retrieved media content schedules, generate an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising the retrieved media content schedules, each media content schedule depicting its corresponding consumption status, and present the EPG at a media presentation device upon request. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-21-2010 |
20100050210 | Build to Order Configuration for Integrated Mobile Television Applications in Mobile Computing Platforms - A process for using a build to order model to enable factory installation and user setup configuration of integrated mobile television devices for pre-selected mobile TV services. The process pre-configures a receiver (such as a DVB-H type receiver) to quickly tune to the desired DVB-H band/channel and to provide pre-selected application and service information to the customer. Such a process assists a customer to utilize more readily their new integrated mobile television device. In certain embodiments, the process focuses on the DVB-H standard. | 02-25-2010 |
20100050211 | METHOD FOR CONTENT PRESENTATION - A system and method of personalizing organization of a product set is described, the method including establishing a first matrix populated by ratings associated with a first plurality of v viewers in a content distribution system and a second plurality of p products each of which is a content item, the first matrix having dimensions v and p, each entry in the first matrix including either an empty entry or a rating indicating viewer interest in a content item, bi-clustering the first matrix, thereby producing a second matrix, the second matrix including a matrix of ratings including a grouping of the viewers according to similarity of products chosen by the viewers and a grouping of the products according to similarity of viewers who viewed the products, associating viewers into groups of viewers based on the viewer grouping in the second matrix, selecting refinement parameters of products, the refinement parameters including a sub-set of a set of metadata parameters associated with the products, for each group of viewers, ranking the refinement parameters with respect to mutual information between a refinement parameter value and a product choice within each group of viewers, presenting to an individual viewer a set of the refinement parameters, the refinement parameters ordered within the set by a rank corresponding to the viewer group the individual viewer is associated with, and interactively performing the following, at least once, in response to the viewer choice of the refinement parameters selecting a sub-set of products from the product set, the sub-set of products including products with metadata matching the refinement parameters selected by the individual viewer, and presenting the individual viewer the selected sub-set of products and a set including the refinement parameters not including the refinement parameters already selected by the individual viewer. Related methods and apparatus are also described. | 02-25-2010 |
20100050212 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING TELEVISION PROGRAM AND TELEVISION USING THE SAME - A method for displaying a television program and a television using the same are provided. In the method, a user's identity is identified first. Then, a television program in a predetermined channel is provided according to the user's identity. | 02-25-2010 |
20100064320 | Integrating data on program popularity into an on-screen program guide - A subscriber to a digital cable or satellite TV service generally has available to them an on-screen program guide. The program guide lists programming (e.g., TV shows) that are available to the subscriber for a certain upcoming time period, typically two weeks. The programming guide may sort the listings by channel and time, areas of interest, age appropriateness and/or MPAA or TV rating, free or additional cost, etc. In the embodiments of the present invention, the programming guide includes an ability to make a selection to see which TV shows are currently (or typically) most watched. In one embodiment, this information is presented as a simple “top 10” list by displaying the actual number of television sets having a set top box with an integrated internet protocol (IP) channel that are tuned to that program. In other embodiments, other web-based services (e.g., Nielsen Ratings) are accessed to determine the popularity of television shows. Results may be provided audibly and/or graphically on a subscriber's television display. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064321 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE BASED ON REALLY SIMPLE SYNDICATION FEED - An RSS (really simple syndication) feed based EPG (electronic program guide) processing system includes: a plurality of user devices; a plurality of television program servers for providing EPG information of television channels via the Internet; and an EPG processing server for receiving a user's demand from a user device and for providing to the user device user-specific EPG information according to the user's demand. In the EPG processing system, a plurality of first RSS feeds, for interoperating with the television program servers via the Internet, are registered to the EPG processing server. The EPG processing server obtains and stores the EPG information of each television channel by using each of the first RSS feeds, generates the user-specific EPG information corresponding to the user's demand by searching for the stored EPG information according to the user's demand, and provides the user-specific EPG information to the user device. | 03-11-2010 |
20100071003 | CONTENT PERSONALIZATION - A method for dynamic real-time content personalization and display, including collecting data about at least one viewer in the vicinity of a content presentation device, identifying the at least one viewer from the collected data, locating content associated with the identified at least one viewer, and automatically presenting the located content. A system is also presented and claimed. | 03-18-2010 |
20100071004 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE CHANNEL RECALL ON A TELEVISION RECEIVER - The various embodiments described herein provide methods and apparatus for providing multiple channel recall on a television receiver. A television receiver stores multiple previously viewed channels for selective recall by a user. The previously viewed channels are each associated with a viewing duration of the channel. The previously viewed channels are sorted such that a user may access the channels in an order determined based on the viewing duration of each channel. | 03-18-2010 |
20100071005 | PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION APPARATUS - A program recommendation apparatus includes a scene attribute extraction unit ( | 03-18-2010 |
20100083318 | DETERMINING USER-TO-USER SIMLARITIES IN AN ONLINE MEDIA ENVIRONMENT - The determination of similarities between users in an online entertainment environment is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises a method of operating an entertainment server, wherein the method includes receiving user information that comprises user demographic information and user media selection information from each user of a plurality of users. For a current user, a plurality of similarity values are determined that each quantifies a similarity of the current user to another user based upon similarities between the user information of the current user and the user information of the other user. Then, the method comprises determining a list of other users to present to the current user based upon the similarity values determined, and sending the list of other users to the current user. | 04-01-2010 |
20100088727 | COMPUTATIONAL RECOMMENDATION ENGINE - A computational recommendation engine is described. In embodiment(s), identifiers of ranked programs can be distributed to television client devices, and then a viewing vector from each of the television client devices can be received where the viewing vectors indicate which of the ranked programs have been displayed for viewing at different ones of the television client devices. A client devices group can be created that includes a subset of the television client devices based on the viewing vectors that are received from respective ones of the television client devices. A ranked program can be determined that has not been displayed for viewing by some of the television client devices in the client devices group, and a recommendation of the ranked program can be communicated to the television client devices in the client devices group that have not had the ranked program displayed for viewing. | 04-08-2010 |
20100095328 | TECHNIQUE FOR CONTROLLING THE DOWNLOAD OF AN ELECTRONIC SERVICE GUIDE - A technique for controlling a download of an electronic service guide (ESG) for media content distribution services to a user device is proposed. First, a user behaviour related to the user device is monitored. Second, a ranking of fragments of the electronic service guide to be downloaded interactively onto the user device is determined, based on the monitoring. The download of one or more of the fragments to the user device is then initiated based on the ranking. This technique is particularly useful when a transmission capacity available for downloading fragments of the ESG is limited. | 04-15-2010 |
20100100907 | PRESENTATION OF AN ADAPTIVE AVATAR - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile of a user, present the user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect one or more responses of the user during a communication exchange between the avatar and the user, establish a communication session with a language translation system responsive to identifying from the one or more responses a need to engage in language translations, transmit to the language translation system content in a language format other than a language understood by the user, receive from the language translation system a translation of the content in the language understood by the user, and present the user an adaptation of the avatar that presents the translated content in the user's language. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-22-2010 |
20100107196 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided an apparatus including an EPG acquiring unit configured to acquire EPG data, a selecting unit configured to select a target program, which is a target specifying which broadcast pattern of a plurality of broadcast patterns of the broadcasting program classified by a predetermined criteria; a broadcast pattern specifying unit configured to specify a broadcast pattern of the target program using EPG data of a reference date, which is a broadcasting day of the target program, past EPG data, and future EPG data; and a preference information generation unit configured to generate preference information subjected to weighting corresponding to the broadcast pattern of the broadcasting program based on viewing history information representing a viewing history of the broadcasting program and the broadcast pattern specified by the broadcast pattern specifying unit. | 04-29-2010 |
20100122296 | TELEVISION TUNING ON START-UP - A method includes requesting most-watched program information from a subscription television service and identifying the most-watched program for a current time slot. The method further includes receiving a channel identification for the most-watched program for the current time slot, automatically tuning to the most-watched program based on the channel identification, and displaying the most-watched program. The most-watched program may be tuned at the start of a set-top box initialization sequence to give perception of a fast start time. | 05-13-2010 |
20100122297 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER LIKES MODELING - Modeling user likes and dislikes is an important aspect of target marketing. Typically, a user performs several activities related to a particular domain, and the outcomes of these activities indicate the extent of liking/disliking that resulted on account of these activities. Further, many of these activities are performed on a routine basis. The problem of user likes modeling is to analyze these various activities performed by the user and the solution is to arrive at a likes/dislikes model of the user. Such a likes/dislikes model helps in, for example, ad targeting in the context of TV viewing and cross-selling in the case of mobile services. | 05-13-2010 |
20100131983 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A MODULAR MEDIA GUIDANCE DASHBOARD APPLICATION - Systems and methods for a modular media guidance dashboard application are provided that present a customizable interactive user interface across multiple media platforms through which personalized media content listings may be delivered. In particular, the modular media guidance dashboard application categorizes listings for media content into a number of different modules that are in turn grouped under a number of different tabs within the dashboard application. The type and layout of the modules and the tabs may be configured by the users as well as by the application. Module content personalization is also permitted and may be automatically customized and updated based on learned user viewing preferences. Furthermore, the format of the dashboard application is adaptable to a variety of devices and platforms for supporting multi-platform access. | 05-27-2010 |
20100138867 | AUDIOVISUAL USER INTERFACE BASED ON LEARNED USER PREFERENCES - A method and apparatus for providing an audiovisual user interface based on learned user preferences is described. In one implementation, the method involves collecting a set of user preferences for a user; providing a metadata stream associated with an audiovisual input; comparing elements within the metadata stream with the set of user preferences to form a comparison; and outputting a message to the user if the comparison indicates that the metadata stream matches one or more elements of the set of user preferences. The message may be output either acoustically or visually, and may relate to the audiovisual input, which may be audio, video, or both audio and video. The audiovisual input may be blocked based on a restricted message, and may be accessed upon a successful password query. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138868 | CROSS-CHANNEL INTERSTITIAL PROGRAM PROMOTION - According to the invention, a method for generating a personalized menu promoting other video programs available from a video content delivery system is disclosed. The video content delivery system provides a plurality of channels of video content simultaneously. In one step, it is determined that a triggering event has occurred with a video content delivery conduit. First information about one or more users is gathered. The one or more users are associated with an account with the video content delivery system. Alternative video programs are determined and personalized for the one or more users based, at least in part, upon the first information. The context for the triggering event is analyzed to produce second information. A configuration of the personalized menu is determined based, at least in part, upon the second information. The personalized menu is formulated for presentment to the one or more users. The personalized menu comprises links to the alternative video programs | 06-03-2010 |
20100146551 | Data Storage Management and Scheduling System - A data storage management and scheduling system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of television and Web page program material on a client system storage medium. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's scheduled program recordings. The programs include television broadcast programs and Universal Resource Locators (URLs). A program is recorded if at all times between when the recording would be initiated and when it expires, sufficient space is available to hold it. All scheduling conflicts are resolved as early as possible. | 06-10-2010 |
20100154003 | PROVIDING REPORT OF POPULAR CHANNELS AT PRESENT TIME - Users are provided real time reports of the most popular multimedia programs or channels. Users may select an information channel provided by a multimedia content distribution network that provides the report. User criteria may determine the organization of the report and the selection of elements for the report. For example, the top ten most popular multimedia programs or channels in a particular genre may be displayed in the report. | 06-17-2010 |
20100162317 | USER CLASSIFIABLE SET-TOP BOX - One embodiment may take the form of an apparatus for providing separate user classifications and interfaces to multiple users of a set-top box of the television system. Each user classification may be configurable to provide different interfaces, menus and available features to the users of the set-top box. Further, each user classification may include several sub-classifications to further personalize the set-top box to the various users of the system. Also, each user classification may also monitor the habits and usage of each class and store such information for use by the set-top box to suggest settings of the set-top box that the user may be interested in, such as a favorite channel list. | 06-24-2010 |
20100169927 | PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM, PROGRAM VIEW TERMINAL, PROGRAM VIEW PROGRAM, PROGRAM VIEW METHOD, PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION SERVER, PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION PROGRAM, AND PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION METHOD - An object of the invention is to eliminate a program having a high general preference, and recommend a program customized to a preference of a specific user. A reserved information receiver ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100169928 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus is provided which includes: a first managing part for managing first data about preferences of a user; a second managing part for managing second data about information; a retrieving part for retrieving the second data about the information used by the user; and an updating part for updating the first data by use of the second data retrieved by the retrieving part. If the second data are found to exist within the first data, then the updating part updates the first data using the second data; if the second data are not found to exist within the first data, then the updating part adds the second data to the first data. | 07-01-2010 |
20100186041 | Recommending Video Programs - A system and method for recommending video programs to a user comprising determining a first video program that is of interest to a user and then determining a second video program to recommend to the user, the second video program being determined from a recommendation database assembled by analyzing access logs from one or more search engines or online video content providers. | 07-22-2010 |
20100199310 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR RECOMMENDING MEDIA CONTENT - A method of recommending media content is presented. In the method, a first media content receiver receives from a first user an indication of recommended media content and an identity of a second user. The indication and an identity of the first user are transmitted to a second media content receiver associated with the second user. The indication, the identity of the first user, and available commands associated with the recommended media content are presented via the second media content receiver to the second user. The second media content receiver receives a selection of one of the available commands from the second user. The recommended media content is processed at the second media content receiver according to the selected command. | 08-05-2010 |
20100199311 | META CHANNEL CACHING AND INSTANT VIEWING RELATED TECHNOLOGY - Caching related technology, in which a time needed to begin rendering network-based video content without caching a decoded version of the content is determined and, the determined time to begin rendering the network-based video content is compared to a threshold time. When the determined time to begin rendering the network-based video content exceeds the threshold time, an initial portion of the network-based video content is pre-transcoded to a faster video codec format, and the pre-transcoded initial portion of the network-based video content is stored in electronic storage associated with a media system of a user. | 08-05-2010 |
20100199312 | META CHANNEL BASED MEDIA SYSTEM CONTROL TECHNOLGY - Meta-channels identify content entries and indicate an order with which to experience the content entries. The meta-channels may include a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests. A selection of a meta-channel is received and the selection of the meta-channel is mapped to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel. A media system is controlled to render content based on a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel. | 08-05-2010 |
20100199313 | METHOD OF PROVIDING IPTV SERVICE INFORMATION, HYBRID IPTV AND RECORDING MEDIUM THEREOF - Provided are a method of providing personalized Internet protocol television (IPTV) service information that is based on user information, a hybrid IPTV for executing the method, and a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method. The method includes transmitting user information to an IPTV service server via an Internet protocol network, receiving personalized IPTV service information that is based on the user information from the IPTV service server, and displaying the personalized IPTV service information. | 08-05-2010 |
20100199314 | METHODS EMPLOYING STORED PREFERENCE DATA TO IDENTIFY VIDEO OF INTEREST TO A CONSUMER - The picture information of video can be used in various ways to identify the video or its topical subject matter. This enables numerous novel arrangements in which particular video of interest to a particular consumer can be discerned. Preference data for the consumer, by which video of interest is identified, can be shared with third parties, e.g., in exchange for a fee. A variety of other embodiments and features are also detailed. | 08-05-2010 |
20100205636 | Personalized Multimedia Content Driven By User Preferences - One embodiment may take the form of an apparatus for providing personalized multimedia content to a user of a television system based on the user's preferences. In one implementation, a television receiver of a television system may monitor the habits and usage of the users of the system. The information gathered concerning the usage of the system may be stored in a database and accessed by the television receiver to provide multimedia options to a user that may be of interest to the user. These options may be presented to the user through any number of on-screen guides accessible by the user on the television system. In other implementations, the multimedia options based on the user's preferences may be automatically presented to the user as part of a favorite channels list at least partially constructed by the user. | 08-12-2010 |
20100218214 | INTELLIGENT REMOTE CONTROL - A disclosed remote control, suitable for use with a set top box or other form of multimedia handling device, includes a processor, a user input device, and a display. The user input device and the display are communicatively coupled to the processor. A communication adapter is configured to place the processor in bi-directional communication with the multimedia handling device. The remote control further includes a storage medium that may include a unique identifier of the user and a user profile indicative of the user's channel preferences and viewing permissions. The storage medium may further include software instructions to synchronize the user profile with a corresponding user profile on the multimedia handling device, receive input from the user via the user input device, the input including commands from the user to manipulate the multimedia handling device, and display output on the display screen in response to the user's commands. | 08-26-2010 |
20100223645 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANNEL SURFING THROUGH MULTIPLE SOURCES BASED ON USER-DEFINABLE PREFERENCES - A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user. | 09-02-2010 |
20100223646 | Method and User Interface for Accessing Groups of Media Assets - Improved systems and methods to navigate, browse, search and/or playback digital media assets (e.g., media items) hosted on a media server are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention pertains to a user interface arrangement, such as a hierarchical menu system, that facilitates navigation, browsing and playing of media items remotely stored on a media server. The user interface arrangement enables user scrolling or browsing with respect to a list or set of information pertaining to media items, where the list or set can be expanded to include information for additional media items that are subsequently acquired. The user interface arrangement can also present and permit navigation of categorized media items. The user interface arrangement can be presented on a display device associated with a client device. In one embodiment, the display device can be a television and the client device can be an electronic apparatus that can couple to the media server via a network. | 09-02-2010 |
20100251304 | PERSONAL MEDIA CHANNEL APPARATUS AND METHODS - Network content delivery apparatus and methods based on content compiled from various sources and particularly selected for a given user. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable television network, and the content sources include DVR, broadcast, nPVR, and VOD. The user-targeted content is assembled into a playlist, and displayed as a continuous stream on a virtual channel particular to that user. User interfaces accessible through the virtual channel present various functional options, including the selection or exploration of content having similarity or prescribed relationships to other content, and the ability to order purchasable content. An improved electronic program guide is also disclosed which allows a user to start over, record, view, receive information on, “catch up”, and rate content. Apparatus for remote access and configuration of the playlist and virtual channel functions, as well as a business rules “engine” implementing operational or business goals, are also disclosed. | 09-30-2010 |
20100251305 | RECOMMENDATION ENGINE APPARATUS AND METHODS - Recommendation engine apparatus and associated methods provide content compiled from various sources and selected to match user preferences. In one embodiment, the recommendation apparatus comprises a headend entity; in another, it is co-located on a user's CPE. In one embodiment, the recommendation engine creates content records from content metadata for comparison to a user profile. The user profile is pre-programmed; however has the ability to dynamically shift toward a user's preferences as the user takes actions regarding content. Client applications are utilized to compile and present content; feedback mechanisms are utilized to enable “learning” from user activities to generate more precise recommendations as well as to “unlearn” stale preferences. Recommended content is displayed in the form of a playlist, or as a continuous stream on a virtual channel, or presented in an electronic program guide. A business rules “engine” useful in implementing operational or business goals is also disclosed. | 09-30-2010 |
20100275233 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING A USER CUSTOMIZABLE TELEVISION BROADCAST LIST - A system and method for displaying a user customizable television broadcast list includes a plurality of television broadcast programs identified based on one or more user selected parameters via a computer system. A database containing date and time broadcast information of the broadcast programs is accessed. The date and time broadcast information are automatically retrieved from the database. A list of only one or more of the identified broadcast programs to be broadcast on a particular day based on the date and time broadcast information is automatically generated and displayed on a website. The programs are identifiable by scanning one or more of the user's sources, such as a DVR, computer, video rental queue, third party website subscription and the like. The list as well as a watch status may be provided and viewable to other users designated by the user. | 10-28-2010 |
20100281506 | PROGRAM SHORTCUTS - Techniques are described that allow DVR users to create program shortcuts to different types of media content from content providers. A program shortcut comprises a reference to another media content. A user may generate a shortcut so that the user may easily find and return to media content without performing a new search. In addition, techniques may be used to automatically generate program shortcuts for a user based at least in part to user-indicated preferences or actions. Shortcuts may be generated to media content that is related to a preferred genre or media type specified by a user. Shortcuts may also be generated to content that is determined to be similar to content that is often viewed or recorded by the user. | 11-04-2010 |
20100287589 | REAL-TIME GROUP DRIVEN AUTOMATED MEDIA CONTENT SELECTION - Mechanisms are provided for automatically selecting media content for presentation on a device such as a mobile device. An application and content provider compiles real-time most watched program information by determining viewing patterns associated with various individuals and groups. Channels and video clips requested most frequently are automatically displayed to a user. In some examples, the most popular programming associated with a particular group of friends, a particular user location, an interest set, or a demographic profile is automatically displayed to a user. In another example, the content with the largest rate of increase in viewership is automatically displayed to the user. | 11-11-2010 |
20100293578 | METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING CONTENTS INFORMATION, RECOMMENDING CONTENTS, AND PROVIDING RELIABILITY FOR RECOMMENDED CONTENTS, AND MULTIMEDIA DEVICE USING THE SAME - A method for transmitting contents information, a method for recommending contents, a method for providing reliability for recommend contents information, and a multi-media device using the same are provided. In the method for transmitting contents information, received contents information is renewed based on contents information input from a user, and the renewed contents information is transmitted to another device. The method also provides an accumulation of contents information from a plurality of users to improve the reliability of the received contents information. In addition, as users send and receive contents information directly from each other without going through a server, a Social Network Service may be provided. | 11-18-2010 |
20100319031 | HOT VIDEO PREDICTION SYSTEM BASED ON USER INTERESTS SOCIAL NETWORK - A hot video prediction system is provided. A video comments database stores video comments submitted by a plurality of users. A user social network constructor establishes a user social network according to the video comments. When new comments of a new video are received, a hot video predictor uses the user social network to determine a similar theme between the new video and hot videos that have been hot for a period of time, and predicts whether the new video will become popular accordingly. A social network adaptor checks the prediction, and modifies the user social network accordingly. | 12-16-2010 |
20100319032 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH COMBINATION CATEGORY SEARCH - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest. | 12-16-2010 |
20110004906 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRAINED SELECTION OF FAVORITE CHANNELS - An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type. | 01-06-2011 |
20110023063 | Inserting Personalized Information into Digital Content - products, for inserting personalized information into digital content. A request for digital video content is received by a computing device. The request includes authentication data associated with a user of a client device. Personalized data to be inserted into the requested video content is generated by the computing device. The personalized data and the requested video content are combined by the computing device. The combining includes replacing one or more frames of the requested video content with the personalized data to generate personalized video content. | 01-27-2011 |
20110041153 | CONTENT MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS - A system, method and apparatus for content management and delivery, and in particular a means for providing specifically targeted advertising to a recipient through the use of advertisement optimisation, via the use of advertisement deletion and insertion based on the recipient's behavioural characteristics. | 02-17-2011 |
20110047576 | INTUITIVE ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE DISPLAY - A method and system for generating an electronic program guide includes a receiving unit | 02-24-2011 |
20110061074 | System and Method for Biometric Identification Using Portable Interface Device for content Presentation System - Systems and/or methods are disclosed herein to identify a user interacting with a content presentation system, adaptively learn, in a passive manner, a user's pattern of accessing content over time, and globally store the user's identifying and use information. Specifically, the systems and/or methods may be user to identify a viewer of a content presentation system having a portable device with an actuator, operating the actuator by the viewer, obtaining biometric information via the actuator, and providing the biometric information to a content provider. The systems and/or methods may further include determining at the content provider an identification of the viewer based on the biometric information. | 03-10-2011 |
20110061075 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - A method and apparatus are provided for updating thumbnail images in a thumbnail list. A plurality of thumbnail images may be generated based on television channels. A thumbnail list including a portion or all of the plurality of the generated thumbnail images may be provided for output to a display. The thumbnail list may be updated such that an image of at least one thumbnail image is changed. A frequency of change in the image of the at least one thumbnail image is greater than other thumbnail images in the thumbnail list during a prescribed time period. The updated thumbnail list may be provided for output to a display. | 03-10-2011 |
20110061076 | INTELLIGENT SYSTEM AND METHODS OF RECOMMENDING MEDIA CONTENT ITEMS BASED ON USER PREFERENCES - A system and method for making program recommendations to users of a network-based video recording system utilizes expressed preferences as inputs to collaborative filtering and Bayesian predictive algorithms to rate television programs using a graphical rating system. The predictive algorithms are adaptive, improving in accuracy as more programs are rated. | 03-10-2011 |
20110061077 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NEIGHBORHOOD OPTIMIZATION FOR CONTENT RECOMMENDATION - A cost function is stochastically optimized using, e.g., simulated annealing to render a neighborhood of entities based on which content recommendations can be provided to a user of a home entertainment system. The cost function represents a normalized sum of rating similarity scores from entities of the neighborhood that are related to content items viewed by the user. | 03-10-2011 |
20110067066 | Multifunction Multimedia Device - A method for interpreting messages, user-defined alert conditions, voice commands and performing an action in response is described. A method for annotating media content is described. A method for presenting additional content associated with media content identified based on a fingerprint is described. A method for identifying that an advertisement portion of media content is being played based on a fingerprint derived from the media content is described. A method of one media device recording particular media content automatically in response to another media device recording the particular media content is described. A method of concurrently playing media content on multiple devices is described. A method of publishing information associated with recording of media content is described. A method of deriving fingerprints by media devices that meet an idleness criteria is described. A method of loading, modifying, and displaying a high definition frame from a frame buffer is described. A method of recording or playing media content identified based on fingerprints is described. | 03-17-2011 |
20110088063 | System and Method for Television Programming Data Management - A system, method, and service of managing data comprises establishing a computerized user profile guideline corresponding to selected television programming interests of a user; instructing a processor to manage data based on the computerized user profile guideline, wherein the data is received from a television programming broadcaster; and managing access to specified television programming when the computerized user profile guideline corresponding to the selected television programming interests of the user is satisfied. The process of managing access may comprise alerting the user with information pertaining to the specified television programming. | 04-14-2011 |
20110093898 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH USER DESIGNATED FAVORITE THEMES - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may inform a program guide of the user's interests. The interactive program guide system displays a list of available programming themes. The user may select a programming theme from the available programming themes and designate a level of interest in that theme. The user may designate, e.g., a high level of interest, i.e., a “favorite,” or a low level of interest in the theme. The programming guide will modify a list of themes according to the selected theme and level of user interest. The user is thus able to view the themes list and quickly identify programs of interest by the location of the selected theme in the themes list, or by a distinctive display of the selected theme. | 04-21-2011 |
20110099582 | Systems and Methods to Perform Actions Upon Content Items Associated with Multiple Series Subscriptions - Methods and systems are disclosed that include receiving an instruction to compare at least one criterion to content items associated with multiple series subscriptions. A method includes issuing an instruction to selectively perform an action upon those content items that match the at least one criterion. | 04-28-2011 |
20110099583 | DIGITAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROCESSING DATA IN DIGITAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM - A digital broadcasting system and a method for processing data in the same are disclosed. A method for controlling a digital television (DTV) located in one independent space among a plurality of independent spaces physically separated from one another is disclosed. The method includes receiving guest information recorded in a storage area of a compact wireless device and a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key value of the AP card, receiving the WEP key value corresponding to the AP card of the DTV from a management server, comparing the WEP key value received from the compact wireless device with the WEP key value received from the management server, generating at least one recommendation service information dependent on the guest information, if the two WEP key values are identical to each other, and displaying the generated recommendation service information. | 04-28-2011 |
20110107374 | MEDIA CONTENT WATCH LIST SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Exemplary media content watch list systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a media content watch list subsystem maintaining media content watch list data representing a plurality of media content instances available for experiencing by a user, receiving a request for a media content watch list from a media content access device associated with the user, generating the media content watch list based on the media content watch list data and the request, and transmitting data representative of the media content watch list to the media content access device for presentation to the user. The maintaining of the media content watch list data includes updating the media content watch list data based on at least one predetermined non-watch-list-specific operation performed by the media content access device associated with the user. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 05-05-2011 |
20110107375 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING A PROGRAM GUIDE FOR NEAR VIDEO ON DEMAND SYSTEMS - In accordance with aspects of the present principles, a program guide display for a near video on demand system can be provided. The NVOD system can transmit and/or receive a plurality of duplicate, temporally offset video streams on separate channels to enable viewing of video content at practically any time from its beginning. According to one aspect of the present principles, a channel carrying a program having a start time that coincides with a current time can be selected for display in the program guide while suppressing other NVOD channels carrying duplicate content with offset start times. | 05-05-2011 |
20110119712 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING CONTENTS INFORMATION - A method for displaying contents information is provided. In the method, information on each of a plurality of contents may be displayed, and an image for a favorite group registered with the contents may be displayed in correspondence with the displayed contents information. The favorite group image may be displayed as one of a plurality of images. Further, one of the images may indicate that the contents are registered in two or more favorite groups. | 05-19-2011 |
20110119713 | DISPLAY APPARATUS, CLIENT TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is a display apparatus which includes a communication unit which communicates with a plurality of client terminals; a receiver which receives a broadcasting signal; a signal processor which processes the broadcasting signal received by the receiver; a display unit which displays thereon an image corresponding to the broadcasting signal processed by the signal processor; a storage unit which stores therein a viewing history relating to the plurality of client terminals; and a controller which controls the communication unit to transmit to the client terminal Remote User Interface (RUI) information corresponding to the connected client terminal based on a viewing history relating to the connected client terminal. | 05-19-2011 |
20110126236 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING MEDIA SEGMENTS - An approach is provided for presenting media segments. A media segment manager receives an input, from a device, for specifying a plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments corresponds to one or more media streams and is associated with a respective duration of time. The media segment manager then causes, at least in part, presentation of the plurality of segments in a predetermined order based on the input and the respective durations of time. | 05-26-2011 |
20110126237 | EDITING MENU FOR A NETWORK TELEVISION - A network TV includes a network interface, a user interface, and a controller. The network interface establishes a connection with at least one content provider server through a network. The user interface receives an input signal selecting an icon for display. The controller controls output of the selected icon for display along with an image corresponding to the selected icon. The selected icon corresponds to the content provider and is displayed with one or more other icons that correspond to additional content providers, and the image is based on information received through the network interface from the content provider. Further, a main menu on the display includes a background image and/or icons that display various types of information. The displayed background image and/or icons may be changed or customized. | 05-26-2011 |
20110126238 | Program information distribution apparatus, program information distribution method, program and program information distribution system - There is provided a program information distribution system including a character information receiving unit receiving desired character information as a predetermined transmitting destination from a program receiving apparatus having a character information transmitting unit transmitting the desired character information regarding a program desired to be received, a program information receiving unit receiving scheduled program information as a predetermined transmitting destination from a program distributing apparatus having a program information transmitting unit transmitting the scheduled program information regarding a program scheduled to be distributed in a certain time slot, a matching processing unit determining whether the scheduled program information includes the desired character information by comparison between the desired character information and the scheduled program information, and a program information transferring unit transferring the scheduled program information including the desired character information to the program receiving apparatus if determined that the scheduled program information includes the desired character information. | 05-26-2011 |
20110131608 | RECEIVING APPARATUS AND RECEIVING METHOD, BROADCASTING APPARATUS AND BROADCASTING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESING METHOD, BIDIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND BIDIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND PROVIDING MEDIUM - When the user of a receiving apparatus presses a notice button provided for a remote controller to indicate the preference concerning the person or thing appearing on the screen of the program being viewed, the corresponding signal is transmitted to the receiving section of a set-top box. A view-log storage section stores an input operation command (including the signal indicating that the notice button has been pressed) together with the receiving time thereof as a view log. A view-information generating section reads the view log, generates a view-information packet, and outputs it to a bidirectional communication section. The bidirectional communication section transmits the view-information packet input from the view-information generating section to a broadcasting apparatus through a bidirectional communication network. | 06-02-2011 |
20110131609 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM GUIDE WITHIN A VIDEO-ON-DEMAND SERVICE DEPENDING ON THE USER'S MOOD - The invention pertains to a method for establishing a program guide within a video-on-demand service depending on the user's mode, said method comprising the creating of match profiles between videos accessible on-demand and mood parameter values; asking the user to define his or her mood by selecting mood parameters and by assigning values for the selected parameters; using the created profiles to select a list of videos ( | 06-02-2011 |
20110138423 | Content Recommendations - Content recommendations may be provided. First, in response to a received input and concurrent with a shrunken programming content, a media guide may be displayed. The media guide may comprise a first card, a second card, and a third card. The first card may comprise a plurality of recommendation types. The second card may comprise a plurality of subcategories corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of recommendation types. The third card may comprise a plurality of content program names corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of subcategories. The plurality of content program names may be in an order. Next, in response to a selection of a one of the plurality of content program names, an action card maybe displayed. Then a selected one of the plurality of actions may be executed. | 06-09-2011 |
20110145865 | PERSONAL CHANNEL PREFERENCES FOR MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMS - A method and system for enabling Internet-protocol television (IPTV) users to maintain personal channel lists is configured to receive user input via an access network. The access network may comprise portions of an IPTV network, a public network, an Internet network, and/or a wireless network. A request from an IPTV user may be received for accessing/creating a personal channel list specific to the IPTV user. Input from the IPTV user may further be received to add IPTV channel identifiers to the personal channel list. IPTV user input may then be received to perform operations for maintaining the personal channel list. The IPTV user may optionally specify a security element for restricting access to the personal channel list. | 06-16-2011 |
20110154399 | CONTENT RECOMMENDATION ENGINE - A method may include determining a program currently being displayed for a user to watch and selecting a program to recommend to the user based on the program currently being displayed by the user and based on an availability of the program to recommend. The method may include displaying an indication of the recommended program to the user. | 06-23-2011 |
20110154400 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AGGREGATING USER DATA AND TARGETING CONTENT - Systems and methods for aggregating user data and targeting content to users are described. User data is collected through quizzes and users are associated with a particular fictional or nonfictional character profile based on the user-submitted information. The user data associated with each character profile is aggregated to identify and recommend content for the user, such as television shows, news feed, web pages, promotions, advertisements, and the like. The invention can be used in connection with fan sites or other topic-specific sites that are associated with the character of the character profile. | 06-23-2011 |
20110167454 | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Provided is an information processing apparatus including: a broadcast signal processing portion to receive and reproduce a program of a channel chosen by a user; a storage portion to store preference information of the user and to store, as a user viewing history, information of channels viewed by the user; a user preference learning portion to learn the user preference information based on information about the reproduced program, and to record information of the channel of the reproduced program in a viewing history list; a feature information generating portion to select, as first channels, channels among the channels on the air based on the viewing history list, and to generate feature information of a program of the selected first channels; and a recommended program determining portion to determine a recommended program based on the feature information of the program of the channels and on the user preference information. | 07-07-2011 |
20110173661 | INTERACTIVE SYSTEM - An interactive system including a display device and a universal remoter is provided. An interactive application program is embedded into the display device, and the universal remoter is used for manipulating the display device. When the interactive application program is activated by a user through the universal remoter, the display device displays an interactive patterned interface so as to guide the user to set the universal remoter for learning the behaviors of a remoter corresponding to at least one peripheral equipment which is or is not linked with the display device. | 07-14-2011 |
20110173662 | Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Provided is an information processing apparatus including: a broadcast signal processing portion to receive and reproduce a broadcast program; a viewer information obtaining portion to obtain the number of users viewing the reproduced broadcast program as a viewer number; a feature information obtaining portion to obtain feature information of broadcast programs on the air; a user preference information storage portion to store user preference information in which preferences of users are integrated; a user preference information generating portion to perform learning of the user preference information, which is stored in the user preference information storage portion, based at least on the feature information about the reproduced broadcast program and on the viewer number; and a recommended program determining portion to determine a recommended program among the broadcast programs on the air based on the user preference information. | 07-14-2011 |
20110173663 | PROGRAM GUIDE AND APPARATUS | 07-14-2011 |
20110173664 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRAINED SELECTION OF FAVORITE CHANNELS - An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type. | 07-14-2011 |
20110173665 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PERSONALIZED BROADCASTING SERVICE BASED ON SUBSCRIBER TERMINAL - A subscriber terminal-based personalized broadcast service system and method are provided. The subscriber terminal-based personalized broadcast service method includes receiving broadcast program schedule information from a broadcast head-end and receiving content schedule information from at least one content server; creating a personalized channel schedule in which a plurality of broadcast programs and a plurality of contents are arranged according to time with reference to the broadcast program schedule information and the content schedule information; and receiving a broadcast program or a content requested with reference to the personalized channel schedule from the broadcast head-end or the content server. Therefore, it is possible for a subscriber to view various broadcast programs and contents at any desired time. In addition, it is possible for a service provider to reduce the cost for the establishment and maintenance of a server and prevent the quality of broadcast services from deteriorating due to server traffic or load. | 07-14-2011 |
20110185387 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTEXTUALLY LINKING TELEVISION PROGRAM INFORMATION - The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV. | 07-28-2011 |
20110191805 | GUIDE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A system and method for displaying a simplified electronic program schedule guide on a user's television monitor is provided. In one embodiment, the program schedule guide is abbreviated to include only the programs currently available for viewing on a subset of the available channels. In another embodiment, the program guide screen visually distinguishes between programs for the convenience of the viewer. | 08-04-2011 |
20110191806 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH COMBINATION CATEGORY SEARCH - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest. | 08-04-2011 |
20110202961 | CONTENT REPRODUCTION APPARATUS, MOBILE APPLIANCE, AND ABNORMALITY DETECTION METHOD - There is provided a content reproduction apparatus including a content reproduction unit for reproducing content, a habit detection unit for detecting a reproduction habit regarding content that uses the content reproduction unit, and an abnormality determination unit for determining there is an abnormality, in a case a reproduction action estimated from the reproduction habit detected by the habit detection unit is not carried out. | 08-18-2011 |
20110214146 | DEVICE FOR RECEIVING BROADCASTING PROGRAM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING FAVORITE CHANNEL - A device for receiving a broadcasting program and a method for displaying a favorite channel may be disclosed. A method for displaying a favorite channel in a device for receiving a broadcasting program includes presetting a favorite program viewing standard time; identifying whether a key signal is inputted by a user, displaying a broadcasting program received from a selected channel; detecting a viewing time of the program based on the inputted key signal; comparing the detected program viewing time with the preset viewing standard time; and registering the broadcasting program with a favorite program list based on the result of the comparison. | 09-01-2011 |
20110214147 | Method for determining content for a personal channel - Creating a listing of suggested content and programming for a virtual channel is performed by generating rankings of previously viewed or accessed content. The method determines whether such content is either cyclical in nature as being related to a series or if such content is broadcasted less frequently. Once such rankings are determined, the listings of suggested (other) content will have a number of entries per time segment which represent the highest ranked suggested per time segment | 09-01-2011 |
20110214148 | Interactive Media Display Across Devices - A computer-implemented method includes identifying a computer-based portable program module, automatically altering code in the portable program module to permit display of the module on a television-based display so that the displayed module has a substantially similar appearance on the television-based display as on a computer display, and providing the altered code for execution on a processor connected to a television-based display. | 09-01-2011 |
20110239253 | CUSTOMIZABLE USER INTERACTION WITH INTERNET-DELIVERED TELEVISION PROGRAMMING - An Internet-delivered television system facilitates enhanced viewer experiences by incorporating user-defined composite channels that include custom viewing schedules and content from multiple content sources. Additionally, customizable user interface elements for content delivered via a network may be provided to a user and may be arranged in an order according to a user-defined channel lineup customized according to any one or more of: user preference, time of day/day of week, user profile information, user viewing statistics, user community viewing statistics, sponsor or content provider preferences, user identity, parental control preferences, or other user-defined criteria, and/or are organized according to a user-defined channel numbering scheme. In some embodiments, the custom viewing schedule may be created by and/or managed by one or more users. | 09-29-2011 |
20110247038 | INTELLIGENT VIDEO PLAYLISTS - A computing device identifies an active user profile, from multiple user profiles, associated with the device and retrieves from an index of stored DVR content, titles for the stored DVR content that are associated with the user profile. The computing device ranks the titles associated with the user profile and generates a list of the titles based on the ranking. The computing device then provides, via a display device and based on the order of the list of the indicators, recommended titles of DVR content for a user to view. | 10-06-2011 |
20110258664 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR FAVORITE PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS - An apparatus for favorite program recommendations is provided. In the apparatus: a user interface module receives a channel indication signal indicating a TV channel; a tuner module receives a digital TV signal comprising current program information corresponding to the TV channel and program guide information; a processing unit analyzes at least one program keyword from the current program information to determine a current program type corresponding to a current program, and accumulates a favor weighting value of the current program type in a program weightings record which keeps a plurality of favor weighting values respectively corresponding to a plurality of program types. The processing unit also selects from the program guide information at least one recommended program according to at least one of the program types with the corresponding favor weighting value over a first predetermined threshold in the program weightings record, and generates a recommendation list. | 10-20-2011 |
20110265123 | Method and System for Presenting Customized Content on a Television In Conjunction with Regular Programming - A method and system for presenting content selectable by the viewer on a television screen simultaneously with standard television programming. The system includes a video/audio system such as television, a programming provider such as a television network, a local or remote programming deliverer such as a cable company, a content provider, a local or remote content deliverer, a programming/content integrator that combines the content with the programming for presentation on the television screen, and a viewer settings input. Programming and content can be combined in various ways, including shrinking and/or relocating the programming and using the resulting blank area for content, overlaying content on programming, or presenting content in a inset. Preset viewer setting are stored in an account accessible via the Internet, and may be overridden in real time by a remote control. The remote control is also used to access menus for configuring and/or interacting with the content. | 10-27-2011 |
20110265124 | Enhanced electronic program guides - A method and system for rating programs, the method including, receiving a sample of viewing logs from a plurality of set top boxes (STBs), determining, from the sample of viewing logs, at least groups of viewers sharing similar interests, and groups of programs sharing similar audience, computing time dynamics of rating distribution for the groups of viewers and the groups of programs, and incorporating at least one of the following into broadcast metadata: the time dynamics of rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each of the groups of programs, rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each of the groups of programs marginalized by time, rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each program marginalized by time, relative sizes of each group of viewers, and a mapping of each program to groups of programs, thereby making the broadcast metadata available to the plurality of STBs for use in computing ratings. Related systems and methods are described. | 10-27-2011 |
20110289533 | CACHING DATA IN A CONTENT SYSTEM - A computer-implemented system and method for caching data in a content system. Embodiments include: gathering affinity information related to a particular user's affinity for particular types of content; receiving a data object related to a particular item of content from at least one source of a plurality of content sources via a data network; assigning, by use of a processor, a weight to the data object based on the affinity information; and flushing the data object from a content/content information cache based on the weight assigned to the data object. | 11-24-2011 |
20110302610 | UTILIZING AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE (EPG) FOR CUSTOMIZED CONTENT SERVICE IN A GATEWAY - A broadband gateway, which that enables communication with a plurality of devices, handles at least one physical layer connection to at least one corresponding network access service provider. The broadband gateway may identify EPG information from service providers. The identified EPG information may be adapted to device attributes such as display resolution, and/or user profiles to generate user-specific EPG information for the corresponding devices. The generated user-specific EPG information may be dynamically configured in response to updates in the identified EPG information, the device attributes and/or the user profiles. The configured user-specific EPG information may be communicated to the corresponding devices, either upon the requests from the devices or by initiation of the broadband gateway, for content selection and/or content scheduling. Advertising content, selected based on analysis of the user behavior and/or the user feedbacks, may be communicated in the user-specific EPG information to the devices to support behavioral marketing. | 12-08-2011 |
20110302611 | Scripted Interactivity for Non-Real-Time Services - A method consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a triggered declarative object (TDO) at a digital television receiver device, the TDO including a scripted executable routine; the scripted executable routine having a script that defines a user interface (UI) for manipulation of non-real-time (NRT) content; initiating the operation of the TDO; and the digital television receiver, executing scripted operations to present the user with the user interface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 12-08-2011 |
20110314502 | METHOD OF PROVIDING USER-TAILORED ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE AT HOSPITALITY LOCATION AND HOSPITALITY MEDIA SYSTEM THEREOF - A hospitality media system includes a plurality of entertainment devices installed at a hospitality location and a content selector. The content selector is configured to retrieve a plurality of user profiles corresponding to current users of the hospitality location, and automatically adjust content made available on each of the entertainment devices at the hospitality location according to information stored in the user profiles. | 12-22-2011 |
20110321098 | System and Method for Automatic Identification of Key Phrases during a Multimedia Broadcast - An Internet Protocol television system includes a user profile agent, a keyword detection agent, and an information search agent. The user profile agent is in communication with a multimedia device, and generates a user profile based on information received from the multimedia device. The keyword detection agent is in communication with the user profile agent, and searches text associated with a multimedia video stream transmitted to the multimedia device for keywords associated with the user profile. The information search agent is in communication with the keyword detection agent, and connects to an information source associated with the keywords detected by the keyword detection agent, and provides additional information associated with the keywords to the multimedia device. | 12-29-2011 |
20120005709 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDES - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to provide a media processor with a description of available channels, receive from the media processor a request for EPG data and a selection of channels from the available channels where the selection of channels is based on a user's input at the media processor in response to a presentation of the description of the available channels at a display device operably connected to the media processor, and provide to the media processor the requested EPG data representing programming for the selection of channels without programming for remaining channels from the available channels that were not selected, where the media processor presents an EPG based on the provided EPG data, and where a portion of the EPG data is obtained by the controller from a first service provider network that is different from a second service provider network in which the server operates. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-05-2012 |
20120011546 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING A PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to present a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, and cause the single presentation device to present a user interface for one of the plurality of unassociated media programs responsive to detecting a request for the user interface. Each of the plurality of unassociated media programs can be viewable only with a viewing apparatus. The viewing apparatus can be configured for viewing one of the unassociated media programs at a time. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated. | 01-12-2012 |
20120030711 | METHOD OR SYSTEM TO PREDICT MEDIA CONTENT PREFERENCES - Briefly, embodiments of a method or system of predicting media content preferences are disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
20120047533 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS IN AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE - An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user. | 02-23-2012 |
20120060190 | METHOD FOR ZAPPING CONTENTS AND DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SAME - A content zapping method for accessing multimedia contents rapidly and easily by accessing the multimedia contents on a browser basis, includes receiving a screen change command for at least one broadcast channel or at least one content; and changing a screen to a browser which provides the at least one broadcast channel or the at least one content corresponding to the received screen change command, in an order of a pre-stored list. | 03-08-2012 |
20120060191 | ON-SCREEN PROGRAM GUIDE WITH INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING RECOMMENDATIONS - A subscriber to a video service generally has available to them an on-screen program guide. The program guide lists programming (e.g., TV shows) that are available to the subscriber for a certain upcoming time period. The programming guide may sort the listings by channel and time, areas of interest, age appropriateness and/or MPAA or TV rating, free or additional cost, etc. In an embodiment, the programming guide includes an ability to make a selection to see which TV shows are recommended by reviewers. Such reviewers may be individuals or panels or institutions to which some credibility may be attached—a trusted source. After selecting a reviewer, the subscriber is made aware of the programs recommended by the selected reviewer. | 03-08-2012 |
20120084817 | RECOMMENDING BROADCAST TRANSMISSIONS OF INTEREST TO A VIEWER - Systems and methods identify broadcast transmissions of interest to a user by comparing a user's interest profile to characteristics, such as topic phrases, associated with available broadcast transmissions. The method comprises receiving from a viewing station via a communication network an interest profile associated with a user. The interest profile includes data representing a plurality of topics of interest to the user that relate to broadcast transmissions. After receiving the interest profile, a text-based search is performed to identify available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile, and a list of one or more of the available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile are transmitted to the viewing station so that one or more of the available broadcast transmissions can be selected from the list and presented via the viewing station. | 04-05-2012 |
20120084818 | Intelligent System and Methods of Recommending Media Content Items Based on User Preferences - A system and method for making program recommendations to users of a network-based video recording system utilizes expressed preferences as inputs to collaborative filtering and Bayesian predictive algorithms to rate television programs using a graphical rating system. The predictive algorithms are adaptive, improving in accuracy as more programs are rated. | 04-05-2012 |
20120090007 | PERSONALIZED TELEVISION GUIDE - A system is configured to: receive identification information from a client device; identify a corresponding profile based on the identification information, where the corresponding profile is one of user profiles, device profiles, or generic profiles; generate a personalized television guide based on the corresponding profile, and transmit the personalized television guide to the client device. | 04-12-2012 |
20120102528 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOW DIRECTORY - A system and method for displaying an electronic guide based on selected program genre. The method of displaying an electronic guide includes: identifying a favorite program. The genre of the favorite program is obtained and the favorite program is assigned to an appropriate list and the list is stored into a memory device. In response to the user selecting the list, the next time the favorite program can be viewed by the user and a channel on which the favorite program is available are displayed in a guide fashion. In response to the user selecting the favorite program displayed in the list, a viewing device is tuned to the channel on which the favorite program can be viewed. Favorite programs can be manually selected or automatically selected according to user behavior, e.g., viewing habits. | 04-26-2012 |
20120110621 | Social Aspects of Media Guides - A computer-implemented method, including receiving, at a computing device, a request from a user to display descriptors of media programming content for a time period; identifying people associated with the user employing information stored in a computer database, and identifying time-associated media programs electronically scheduled on behalf of the identified people; and providing for display, to the user, the descriptions of the identified people and of the time-associated media programs. | 05-03-2012 |
20120174159 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A PERSONALIZED CONTENT CHANNEL - An approach is provided for selecting personalized content presented via a set-top box. Viewing data related to content experienced by a user is retrieved. Broadcast content is selected based on the viewing data from a plurality of programs that are designated to broadcast to a plurality of set-top boxes. A personalized programming channel is presented for the user using the selected broadcast content over a particular one of the set-top boxes associated with the user. | 07-05-2012 |
20120210361 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An information processing device includes: extraction means for extracting, from program information, a category feature word being a keyword representing a category feature; identification means for identifying a channel by category based on the category feature word extracted from the program information for a program to be broadcast on the channel; and display control means for exercising control over the channel to be displayed after category classification. | 08-16-2012 |
20120216228 | PROGRAM GUIDE INCLUDING ONLINE CHANNELS - A method includes providing a programming guide including listings associated with a number of channels provided by a television service provider. The method may also include receiving, from a user, input corresponding to a request to add a listing in the programming guide associated with an online content provider, and providing a user interface requesting that the user add information associated with the online content provider. The method may further include receiving, via the user interface, an identifier associated with the online content provider, storing the identifier in a memory, and modifying the programming guide to include a listing associated with the online content provider. | 08-23-2012 |
20120266193 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE DEVICES WITHIN A HOUSEHOLD - An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. The operation of applications such as web browser applications, home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated. | 10-18-2012 |
20120331505 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING PROGRAM INFORMATION AND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS THEREOF - A method and apparatus for displaying information are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes obtaining, by an image display apparatus, viewing history information on a plurality of programs or channels based on a previous viewing of the plurality of programs or channels; generating priority information for the programs or channels based on the obtained viewing history information; and visually indicating, on a display unit of the apparatus, a plurality items corresponding respectively to the plurality of programs or channels to be distinct from each other according to the generated priority information. | 12-27-2012 |
20120331506 | USER INTERFACE AND CONTENT INTEGRATION - In one embodiment, a method of controlling a user interface can include: displaying a plurality of objects on a display screen, where each of the plurality of objects represents media content; accepting, by a computing device, a signal indicating user selection of an object from the plurality of objects; determining personal relevancy data associated with the selected object, where the personal relevancy data is determined by using a recommendation engine and at least in part by accessing content from a social network; playing the media content represented by the selected object, where the media content is displayed in a background on the display screen; and displaying the personal relevancy data in a foreground on the display screen. | 12-27-2012 |
20130007808 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH PREFERENCE PROFILES - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may inform a program guide of the user's interests. Information on the user's interests may be stored in a preference profile. There may be more than one preference profile, each for a different user. Each preference profile contains a number of preference attributes (program titles, genres, viewing times, channels, broadcast characteristics, etc.). A preference level (e.g., strong or weak like, strong or weak dislike, illegal, mandatory, don't care, etc.) that is indicative of the user's level of interest is associated with each preference attribute. Preference profiles may be used to restrict the programs that are listed in various program listings display screens and may be used to limit the channels to which the program guide allows the user to tune. | 01-03-2013 |
20130014166 | Method And Systems For Providing Information About Programs Available For Viewing - A user interface is presented on a monitor of a media device for providing information about available programs. The user interface includes an array having three columns (channel, current show, and next show) with commonly aligned rows. Each row of the channel column includes an indicator. Each row of the current show column includes a title naming a program currently available on a channel of the media device corresponding to the indicator in a commonly aligned row of the channel column. Each row of the next show column includes a title naming a show available after the current program on the same channel. The currently available program may be displayed on the monitor in response to a viewer selected row, indicator, and/or title in the array. | 01-10-2013 |
20130014167 | BROADCAST RECEIVING DEVICE AND PROGRAM SELECTING METHOD - A tuner receives broadcast data on specified channels. A channel search unit controls the tuner to search for available channels, and creates a channel map representing the available channels and a selection order thereof. A channel order setting unit changes setting about enabling/disabling of the selection and/or the selection order of the channels in the channel map. An operation input unit accepts a channel selecting operation of a user. When the user performs an operation for channel forward selection or channel reverse selection through the operation input unit, a channel switching unit changes the selection of the channel according to the channel map and causes the tuner to receive the broadcast data on the selected channel. | 01-10-2013 |
20130047186 | Method to Enable Proper Representation of Scaled 3D Video - A custom interface depth may be provided. A content stream, such as a three-dimensional television signal, comprising a plurality of video planes may be displayed. In response to receiving a request to adjust a depth of at least one of the video planes, the display depth of the requested video plane may be adjusted relative to at least one other video plane. The depth of a video plane containing a scaled version of the three-dimensional television signal may be adjusted relative to a video plane displaying an electronic program guide. | 02-21-2013 |
20130067518 | RECOMMENDING BROADCAST TRANSMISSIONS OF INTEREST TO A VIEWER - Systems and methods identify broadcast transmissions of interest to a user by comparing a user's interest profile to characteristics, such as topic phrases, associated with available broadcast transmissions. The method comprises receiving from a viewing station via a communication network an interest profile associated with a user. The interest profile includes data representing a plurality of topics of interest to the user that relate to broadcast transmissions. After receiving the interest profile, a text-based search is performed to identify available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile, and a list of one or more of the available broadcast transmissions that match at least one topic of interest included in the interest profile are transmitted to the viewing station so that one or more of the available broadcast transmissions can be selected from the list and presented via the viewing station. | 03-14-2013 |
20130074126 | SYSTEM FOR PRESENTING MEDIA PROGRAMMING GUIDES - A system for presenting media programming guides is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media receiver having a controller element to generate a Media Program Guide (MPG) that groups media programs according to a redundancy of media programs and a viewing history of a subscriber of the media receiver. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-21-2013 |
20130081084 | Recommended Media Content Based Channel Surfing Methods and Systems - An exemplary method includes a media content presentation system dynamically maintaining a list of recommended media content programs for a user and available by way of a media content access device during a media content presentation session, detecting a channel surfing command provided by the user during the media content presentation session, and directing, in response to the channel surfing command, the media content access device to switch to a channel presenting a recommended media content program included in the list of recommended media content programs. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 03-28-2013 |
20130081085 | PERSONALIZED TV LISTING USER INTERFACE - Systems, methods, and media for personalized television listing user interfaces for set top boxes, computers, tablets, mobile phones and other devices. Exemplary methods may include generating a program guide that includes a channel listing, wherein a plurality of channels in the channel listing include broadcast content. Channels in the channel listing are ranked according to preference data for an end user relative to the broadcast content. | 03-28-2013 |
20130086613 | SEARCH AND DISPLAY TECHNIQUES FOR AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE - Various arrangements for organizing search results within an electronic programming guide of a television programming device are presented. A search string may be received by a television programming device from an end-user. A set of television programming information stored by a storage device local to the television programming device may be searched using the search string. Each search result, as presented to an end-user, may be accented by a color defined to convey a relationship between the search string and the search result. | 04-04-2013 |
20130091523 | PERSONALIZED MEDIA CHANNEL - A multimedia processing device (MPD) includes a relevance engine that is adapted to track a user's viewing preferences over time and to automatically determine which of the programs available in a given time slot is most probably preferred by that user. The relevance engine can then create a sequential play list, with each entry in the list corresponding to the program the user most likely wants to watch at that time. The user can thus be provided with a personalized multimedia channel (PMC) with the play list providing the program for each time slot. The user may be enabled to “tune” to the PMC like any other channel. When the user “tunes” to the PMC, the MPD will take the appropriate action to display the program selected by the PMC. | 04-11-2013 |
20130097640 | INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES - Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information. | 04-18-2013 |
20130125172 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION RELATED TO BROADCAST VIEWING - An electronic device and a method for providing view information are disclosed. A controller controls a request for broadcast rank to a relay server. A network interface receives a display page transmitted as a response to the request for broadcast rank. A display displays the received display page. The display page includes at least one feed associated with a real-time broadcast program and one of the at least one feed includes the number of users who view an associated real-time broadcast program. | 05-16-2013 |
20130133005 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION SHARING SYSTEM - There is provided an information processing apparatus communicable with a plurality of content viewing devices via a network, including a viewing information receiving unit for receiving viewing information of a user in the past, present, and future from each of the content viewing devices, a user viewing content management unit for managing a user viewing content DB based on the viewing information received from each of the content viewing devices and a program guide, the user viewing content DB associating, in a form of program guide, past, present, and future contents represented in the program guide and identification information of users who have viewed the past content, those who are viewing the present content, and those who will view the future content, and a viewing information transmitting unit for transmitting the extracted viewing information of another user to the requesting content viewing device. | 05-23-2013 |
20130145399 | PERSONAL TELEVISION CHANNEL - A “personal television channel” is created for a user by a television head-end server. The personal channel has its own playlist that can include, in addition to service offerings from a television-delivery service, content stored locally by the user, media sent to the user from third parties (e.g., an electronic magazine publisher), and messages from other users. The user selects the personal channel just as he would select any other television channel. He then sees a playlist for the personal channel (which may be integrated into a general electronic program guide (“EPG”) supplied by the television provider). The user selects and plays content from the playlist just as he would interact with a traditional EPG. The user can specify local content to be included in his personal channel. He can also send content to another user to be included in the playlist of the recipient's personal channel. | 06-06-2013 |
20130185754 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH COMBINATION CATEGORY SEARCH - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple Categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest. | 07-18-2013 |
20130198781 | META CHANNEL BASED MEDIA SYSTEM CONTROL TECHNOLOGY - Meta-channels identify content entries and indicate an order with which to experience the content entries. The meta-channels may include a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests. A selection of a meta-channel is received and the selection of the meta-channel is mapped to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel. A media system is controlled to render content based on a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel. | 08-01-2013 |
20130227611 | Method and system for tracking network use - An interactive media delivery system enables interactive media programming to a multimedia device and also tracks a subscriber's use of the multimedia device. For example, the device tracks events, such as a change in programming, a change in channel selection, and/or the subscriber's interaction with a particular interactive services application. Each event may be stored as an event record in a database, and one or more of the event records may be merged with content data to form event timelines of programming or other activity to the multimedia device over a selected time period. Further, timelines may be analyzed to generate ratings and other information about programming and may also be correlated with demographics data for marketing analysis. | 08-29-2013 |
20130227612 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORGANIZING A MEDIA PROGRAM GUIDE ACCORDING TO POPULARITY - Elements of a media program guide are organized in order of a popularity ranking The popularity rating may be assigned by assigning values to preference terms, analyzing associations of the preference terms to data related to media programs and assigning the popularity ranking of the media programs based on the associations. Associations of the preference terms to the data may be extracted from social media communications or based on numbers of viewers. | 08-29-2013 |
20130247105 | SMART SUBSCRIBE BUTTON ON WATCH - A smart subscribe button on watch is presented. In response to a user request for a watch page, a channel associated with the watch page requested by a user is identified. Subscription information of the user is obtained. A determination is made of whether the user is subscribed to the channel associated with the watch page based on the subscription information of the user. If the user is subscribed to the channel, the watch page is modified to reflect the user subscription to the channel associated with the watch page, wherein the modified watch page is to be presented to the user in response to the user request. | 09-19-2013 |
20130247106 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE - An indication of user interest of a program of a particular television channel may be identified based on user interaction with a programming guide that displays first content. A selectable icon positioned in association with a descriptor that identifies the particular television channel may be generated in response to identifying the indication of user interest and for display within the programming guide. An interactive pane that identifies at least one particular program that is stored within an omnibus channel file containing a plurality of programs broadcast consecutively on the particular television channel over a predefined period of time may be generated in response to user selection of the selectable icon for display within the programming guide. | 09-19-2013 |
20130254810 | VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS, VIDEO PROCESSING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME, AND INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD IN VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS - There are provided a video processing apparatus, a video processing system, and an information providing method in the video processing apparatus. The video processing apparatus includes: a communication part performing communication with a service providing server providing broadcasting services; a video processing part performing video processing with respect to the broadcasting services; an output part outputting information on the broadcasting services; and a controller controlling the communication part, the output part and the video processing part to transmit user information and viewing information with respect to the video processing apparatus to the service providing server, to receive recommendation information based on the user information and the viewing information from the service providing server, and to output the received recommendation information, respectively. | 09-26-2013 |
20130254811 | INTELLIGENT SYSTEM AND METHODS OF RECOMMENDING MEDIA CONTENT ITEMS BASED ON USER PREFERENCES - A system and method for making program recommendations to users of a network-based video recording system utilizes expressed preferences as inputs to collaborative filtering and Bayesian predictive algorithms to rate television programs using a graphical rating system. The predictive algorithms are adaptive, improving in accuracy as more programs are rated. | 09-26-2013 |
20130291018 | CONNECTED MULTI-SCREEN DIGITAL PROGRAM GUIDE - Techniques and mechanisms are described herein for presenting a connected multi-screen digital program guide. According to various embodiments, a personalized content guide may be transmitted to a first client machine. The first client machine may be associated with a content management account. The personalized content guide may include a plurality of media content channels created based on media content viewing history information associated with the content management account. Each of the media content channels including a respective plurality of media content items available for presentation in association with the content management account. A message indicating a selection of one of the media content items may be received from the first client machine. An instruction for presenting the selected media content item may be transmitted to the second client machine. | 10-31-2013 |
20130305290 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RANKING ASSETS RELATIVE TO A GROUP OF VIEWERS - Systems and methods are provided for ranking assets relative to a group of viewers. A group is formed by a user by selecting a number of different viewer preference profiles or automatically by the system as a function of analyzing similarities among viewer preference profiles. Individual preference values are computed for each viewer in the group relative to an asset. A group preference value is then computed by performing a function on the individual preference values. A display is generated that represents the individual preference values and the group preference value relative to an asset. Based on the information provided in the display, the asset most relevant to the group may be selected. | 11-14-2013 |
20130326558 | METHOD FOR PERSONALIZED VIRTUAL CHANNEL MANAGEMENT AND NETWORK-BASED MULTIMEDIA REPRODUCTION SYSTEM WITH VIRTUAL CHANNELS - A method for personalized virtual channel management includes: determining whether a received command is associated with virtual channel switching, wherein a network-based multimedia reproduction system is in mode of a first channel zone of a personalized channel zone; if yes, checking whether a channel value corresponding to the command exists in the first channel zone; if yes, executing an application corresponding to the channel value in the first channel zone to retrieve digital contents and display the digital contents on a screen of the network-based multimedia reproduction system; determining a desired channel zone if the command is associated with switching of the personalized channel zone; checking whether at least one log-in command matches log-in information of the desired channel zone; if yes, switching the network-based multimedia reproduction system to a mode of the desired channel zone in the personalized channel zone. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326559 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE FOR INDICATING AVAILABILITY OF PAST PROGRAMS - A system and method for providing an electronic program guide for television or radio programs includes presenting listing of present or future programs on-screen, presenting listings of past programs on-screen and indicating whether the past program is available again at a future time. Also, a system and method for handling information controllable from an electronic program guide for television or radio programs comprises receiving information in a user's system, storing the received information in the user's system, displaying access to the stored information by means of a user interface and enabling the user to select one of a plurality of management options for controlling the operation of the stored information through the user interface. | 12-05-2013 |
20130332962 | ELECTRONICALLY COMMUNICATING MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS RESPONSIVE TO PREFERENCES FOR AN ELECTRONIC TERMINAL - An electronic terminal is disclosed that includes a communication interface, a user interface device, and a processor circuit. The communication interface communicates through a network with a media server. The processor circuit detects occurrence of a defined event, generate a request for media recommendations containing a terminal identifier for the electronic terminal responsive to the defined event, and communicates the request for media recommendations to the media server. The processor circuit also receives media recommendations from the media server responsive to the request for media recommendations, and communicates the media recommendations through the user interface device Related media servers and methods of providing media from a media server to an electronic terminal are disclosed. | 12-12-2013 |
20130347039 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR MEDIA CONTENT SELECTION - Methods and systems are described herein for providing improved selection of media content through the use of a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface may allow a user to quickly and easily balance multiple interests and make an appropriate selection from available content through the use of movable objects within a polygonal perimeter. | 12-26-2013 |
20140020026 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING A CONTENT CATALOGUE - The present invention related to the domain of audio/video content distribution, where a catalogue of available content is made available to end users. An aim of the invention is to ensure that the catalogue has a high quality in that a search within the catalogue will have a high probability of yielding a result. The invention provides a method and a system for creating useful links between elements in the catalogue whenever it is deemed that such links be useful. The links between the elements are created either by adding new content to the catalogue or new metadata which can be associated with the new content and existing content in the catalogue. | 01-16-2014 |
20140033256 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH PERSONALIZED SELECTION OF BROADCAST CONTENT USING AFFINITIES DATA AND USER PREFERENCES - Apparatuses and methods are provided to inform a user of a broadcast stream, which has multiple, concurrently received channels of program content, about recommendations of a subset of the content currently playing across the available channels or to be played within a selected future time period. The subset of content is selected based on user preferences and system data (e.g., program topic and channel affinities among the broadcast content and channels) to recommend a more diverse subset of content than would be discovered if only user preferences were employed to make the selection of recommended content. | 01-30-2014 |
20140047479 | LOCATION-BASED PROGRAM LISTING - Disclosed are methods that aid users, especially users temporarily staying in locations remote from home, in finding and accessing media content. A program listing tailored for the user's current location, and showing only services actually available at that location, is created and presented to the user. In some embodiments, the user interacts with the listing to access available media content items. If the user has expressed specific location-based preferences, then those preferences can be taken into account when creating the listing. If a service subscribed to by the user is not available at this remote location, then an alternate provider will be searched for, and, if found, the user's favorite shows can be added to the created program listing. | 02-13-2014 |
20140053202 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING PROGRAMMING ON A TELEVISION - A method, system, and executable instructions are provided that receive from a network accessible content provider, electronic program guide (“EPG”) information, the EPG information comprising, for each program, airtime, program name, program channel, and program description, to maintain, in the local computer readable medium, a set of favorite channels and programs, to receive from a remote control of a user, a request for channels and programs marked as favorites, to display, on the television screen, a listing of the set of favorite channels and programs, the listing comprising EPG information, to receive, from the at least one of an infrared and radio frequency module, a selected channel or program from the listing, and to change to the selected channel. | 02-20-2014 |
20140053203 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING DATA IN AN INTELLIGENT TELEVISION - An intelligent television can store and retrieve data about various functions of the television or associated with user behavior. The stored data streamlines the processes of providing electronic programming guide information, providing search results, providing statistics about content, providing channel information, etc. The unique set of data services in the intelligent television receive, store, manage, and retrieve the data for various of the applications or components. | 02-20-2014 |
20140053204 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING DATA IN AN INTELLIGENT TELEVISION - An intelligent television can store and retrieve data about various functions of the television or associated with user behavior. The stored data streamlines the processes of providing electronic programming guide information, providing search results, providing statistics about content, providing channel information, etc. The unique set of data services in the intelligent television receive, store, manage, and retrieve the data for various of the applications or components. | 02-20-2014 |
20140059614 | EPG DATA INTERFACE - A display for an Intelligent television (TV) includes a live TV display and an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) display. The EPG display is positioned at a side of the live TV display and includes a favorite channel portion showing EPG information for a plurality of favorite tagged channels and a favorite show portion showing EPG information for a plurality of favorite tagged shows. An EPG display application generates the EPG display portion and retrieves the EPG information for the plurality of favorite tagged channels and the plurality of favorite tagged shows through an EPG subservice. The EPG subservice retrieves channels and shows tagged as favorite through a tag subservice. A second application sets and clears favorite tags for channels and shows through the tag subservice. | 02-27-2014 |
20140068677 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING CONTENT CHANNELS - A system and method for generating and providing content channels are provided. A system and method may obtain a plurality of content items from a plurality of sources, generate a program, include the content items in the program and provide the program to a user computing device. A system and method may include plurality of programs in a channel and provide the channel to a user. Providing a channel may include continuous content delivery. | 03-06-2014 |
20140075480 | Method and Apparatus for Channel Surfing Through Multiple Sources Based on User-Definable Preferences - A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user. | 03-13-2014 |
20140075481 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND MANAGING CUSTOM MEDIA CHANNELS - A system and method for creating and managing custom media channels within an Interactive Digital Program Guide (IDPG) of a device having a set-top box function associated with a cable or satellite television network. In general, a user interacts with the set-top box function to define a custom media channel. The custom media channel may be defined by a channel name and user preferences. Once the custom media channel is defined, an Internet search is performed based on the user preferences in order to identify media presentations for the custom media channel. Thereafter, when a user selects the custom media channel via the IDPG, the media presentations are played in a substantially continuous stream in either a predetermined or random sequence. | 03-13-2014 |
20140082671 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SMART SELECTION OF TV CHANNELS - A method for smart selection of TV channels is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: receiving a first user command, obtaining the current time, and determining a preset time period based on the current time, and prompting a first list of recommended channels corresponding to the preset time period; the first list of recommended channels is determined by the following steps: obtaining the accumulated broadcasting duration of each channel by accumulating the historical broadcasting duration of each channel during the preset time period; ranking the channels according to their accumulated broadcasting duration, the channel with longer broadcasting duration being ranked in front of the channel with shorter broadcasting duration, based on which the first list of recommended channels is determined. A corresponding device is further provided. The device includes an acquisition module and a prompting module. | 03-20-2014 |
20140089981 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING SHORTCUTS IN FREE SPACES OF A PROGRAM GUIDE - Systems and methods for presenting shortcuts in free spaces of a program guide are provided. Shortcut buttons may be placed in certain program information cells in the program guide. In some embodiments, these placements may be determined by making automatic determinations using characteristics or data associated with the program information cells. In one example, a subset of the program information cells that are bounded by an end time not displayed in the time bar of the first screen of the program guide are automatically determined. Shortcut button may be placed within these program information cells that, when selected, cause the media guidance application to automatically advance or translate the rendering of the program grid to a portion of the guide that contains listings for the channel associated with the program information cells after they end (e.g., finish broadcast or are available on demand). | 03-27-2014 |
20140089982 | INFORMATION PROCESSOR, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - Disclosed is a content-view supporting system to recommend to a user a clear result of searched contents, based on a group of similar users' favorite programs, through a user-basis collaborative filtering process. The system selects similar users whose program view history is similar to that of a recommended user, maps the program view history in a collaborative filtering matrix registers, in the collaborative filtering matrix, a virtual user whose program view history includes a group of hit programs obtained based on a search condition served for realizing a predetermined search topic. The system also counts the numbers of reservations or views achieved by each user according to program content based on the program view history, in the collaborative filtering matrix, which counted numbers are set as matching numbers, and outputs a search result representing a recommendation list of the contents arrayed in the descending order of matching number. | 03-27-2014 |
20140096161 | Meta Channel Based Media System Control Technology - Meta-channels identify content entries and indicate an order with which to experience the content entries. The meta-channels may include a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests. A selection of a meta-channel is received and the selection of the meta-channel is mapped to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel. A media system is controlled to render content based on a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel. | 04-03-2014 |
20140109142 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTENT PRESENTATION IN A TANDEM USER INTERFACE - A system for accurately modeling of buyer/purchaser psychology and ranking of content objects within a channel for user initiated browsing and presentation contains a neuropsychological modeling engine, a ranking application, and a behavior modeler which communicate with each other and a presentation system over communication networks. The neuropsychological modeling engine utilizes metafiles associated with content objects, a purchaser/viewer model and a channel model to derive a value ψ representing an individual's mood and a value m representing an individual's motivational strength to select a content object. If the value ψ is within an acceptable predetermined range, the value m is used to determine a ranking for the content object relative to other content objects associated with the channel model. Also disclosed are a system and technique for simultaneously presenting multiple, s content object data streams on the user interface in a manner which encourages multidimensional browsing using traditional navigation commands. | 04-17-2014 |
20140109143 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTENT SURFING - Systems and methods for improving or suggesting alternatives to content surfing are provided. When it is detected that a user wishes to surf, a pipeline tuning sequence is implemented where by storing one or more frames of a first content selection to the user equipment and acquiring a subsequent content selection while concurrently displaying the previously stored one or more frames. Content suggestions, program listing grids, media guidance application and tuning hints, advertisements, digital audio, and live video may also be presented to user while content surfing. In some embodiments, content surf landing channels may be anticipated based on user history, user profiles, or any other suitable information. In some embodiments, thumbnails of the user's recently tuned, or paused on, content are displayed to the user while content surfing. In multiple tuner systems, more than one thumbnail may be displayed in full motion video. | 04-17-2014 |
20140115633 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING VIDEO ON DEMAND IN AN INTELLIGENT TELEVISION - An intelligent television can provide various interfaces for providing video-on-demand (VOD). The user interfaces include unique visual representations and organizations that allow the user to utilize the intelligent television more easily and more effectively. Particularly, the user interfaces pertain to the display of VOD content and better organizations thereof. Further, the user interfaces provide unique process of transitioning between the VOD content. | 04-24-2014 |
20140123192 | USER INTERFACE TO RECOMMEND VIDEOS - In at least one example embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a device to perform operations may include displaying a plurality of viewer profile options; receiving a first user input that selects at least one viewer profile option from among the plurality of viewer profile options; displaying, on a first area, the at least one selected viewer profile option and at least one non-selected viewer profile option; and displaying, on a second area, a first recommendation video list corresponding to the at least one selected viewer profile option and at least one second recommendation video list corresponding to a part of the at least one selected viewer profile option and a part of the at least one non-selected viewer profile option. | 05-01-2014 |
20140130095 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC PERSONALIZED MENU - The present invention provides a machine-implemented method of displaying an electronic personalized menu applied for a multimedia system, wherein the multimedia system provides a plurality of services for one or more users, wherein each of the plurality of services includes one or more service options/items, and the multimedia system comprises a sever, the method comprising: detecting recognition data corresponding to the one or more users and recognizing the identity and number of the one or more users by a recognition method; automatically logging into a personal or group account based on the identity and number of the one or more users and then the sever recording use habits of the one or more users of the personal or group account; and displaying an electronic personalized menu of the personal or group account based on the use habits recorded. | 05-08-2014 |
20140130096 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORGANIZING AND DISPLAYING A LIST OF TELEVISION PROGRAMS - A method for organizing a plurality of television programs is provided. The method includes (i) obtaining a first personalized list of television programs that are scheduled for broadcast at a current time, (ii) obtaining a second personalized list of television programs that includes television programs that are scheduled to be broadcast at a subsequent duration, (iii) displaying, at a display unit, the first personalized list of television programs that are scheduled for broadcast at the current time as a one dimensional set, and (iv) displaying, at the display unit, the second personalized list of television programs that are scheduled to be broadcast at the subsequent duration as a one dimensional set. The first personalized list of television programs and the second personalized list of television programs are personalized separately based on at least one parameter other than a channel associated with the television programs. | 05-08-2014 |
20140137156 | Television System And Method For Providing Computer Network-Based Video - A television system and method for providing computer network-based video. Various aspects may, for example, comprise a television system and method for providing both standard television video combined with computer network-based video, serially and/or concurrently. Various aspects may also comprise a user interface system and method for interacting with a user regarding the presentation and/or control of computer network-based video. | 05-15-2014 |
20140157319 | PROGRAM SWITCHING CONTROL DEVICE AND PROGRAM - A terminal ( | 06-05-2014 |
20140157320 | Meta Channel Based Media System Control Technology - Meta-channels identify content entries and indicate an order with which to experience the content entries. The meta-channels may include a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests. A selection of a meta-channel is received and the selection of the meta-channel is mapped to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel. A media system is controlled to render content based on a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel. | 06-05-2014 |
20140165105 | TEMPORAL BASED EMBEDDED META DATA FOR VOICE QUERIES - Information may be presented on a display device about program content substantially concurrently, substantially contemporaneously, or otherwise in conjunction with the presented program, or with portions of the presented program. This presentation of information about program content may occur dynamically in response to a voice query or other query from a user while the presented program is playing or paused on the same or different presentation device on which the information about the program content is being presented. | 06-12-2014 |
20140165106 | PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS FOR MEDIA CONTENT USING SCHEDULED TIMERS AND MEDIA USAGE - Predicting user-interest in particular media content. Data associated with scheduled program recording timers may be accumulated across accessible subscribing customers of a particular television provider. A ranking parameter may be assigned to particular programs associated with particular ones of the scheduled program recording timers. A list may be presented itemizing particular programs based on assigned ranking values. | 06-12-2014 |
20140181872 | SYSTEM FOR PRESENTING MEDIA PROGRAMMING GUIDES - A system for presenting media programming guides is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media receiver having a controller element to generate a Media Program Guide (MPG) that groups media programs according to a redundancy of media programs and a viewing history of a subscriber of the media receiver. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 06-26-2014 |
20140189743 | AUTOMATIC LEARNING CHANNEL CUSTOMIZED TO A PARTICULAR VIEWER AND METHOD OF CREATING SAME - Various embodiments facilitate generation, distribution, and presentation of a video program on a virtual channel. In one embodiment, an electronic program guide (“EPG”) manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The EPG manager receives from a program distributor a video stream that has plurality of video programs having program content. Each program has been preassigned for presentation on a particular channel. A virtual channel is linked to one or more users. The EPG manager tracks the types of programs that a user watches and records metadata associated with the programs that the user actually views. When sufficient data is stored in the data base, the virtual channel is provided that program that a user will likely wish to view based on this past viewing history. | 07-03-2014 |
20140189744 | METHOD FOR GENERATING A FAVORITE CHANNEL LIST AND RELATED DEVICE THEREOF - A method for generating a favorite channel list, where a device for generating the favorite channel list includes a receiver and a processor, is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal of a first channel of a television signal by the receiver; clearing channels stored in the favorite channel list by the processor before the receiver receives the television signal according to the television signal; and adding the first channel to the favorite channel list by the processor when the signal of the first channel is switched from a first program to an advertisement. | 07-03-2014 |
20140215525 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, CONTENT RECOMMENDATION INFORMATION RECEIVING METHOD, SERVER AND CONTENT RECOMMENDATION METHOD - An image display apparatus, a content recommendation information receiving method, a server and a content recommendation method are disclosed. The image display apparatus includes: a communicator configured to communicate with an external server; a plurality of content receivers respectively connected to a plurality of content providers; and a controller configured to transmit to the server information related to the plurality of content receivers and the plurality of content providers which correspond to the plurality of content receivers and a user viewing history, and receives from the server content recommendation information based on the viewing history out of contents provided by all of the plurality of content providers. Thus, there is provided an image display apparatus and a method of receiving content recommendation information, which are capable of displaying comprehensive information of contents that may be provided through the plurality of content receivers. | 07-31-2014 |
20140245355 | System For Interacting With An Electronic Program Guide - A computer system includes a display that displays an electronic program guide to a user. A data storage unit includes keywords related to television shows currently being broadcast. A server device is configured to retrieve real-time data related to a person of interest from the internet by monitoring messages that they generate. The server device can then identify one or more matches between the retrieved data and the stored keywords, and can output a modified electronic program guide including an indication of matching keywords. This can allow an electronic program guide to include an inference of the television show that a person of interest is likely to be watching or talking about online. | 08-28-2014 |
20140245356 | PERSONAL TELEVISION CHANNEL AND SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A system for presenting media programming guides is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to transmit to a media source a request to access media content of a personal television (TV) channel composed by a subscriber of a media communication system, transmit to the media source a communication identifier, and receive from the media source media content in the personal TV channel adapted according to the communication identifier. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 08-28-2014 |
20140282732 | Hypertext Service Guide Menu Display - The present invention provides a method and system for accessing services in a television system. In one implementation, a DHCT presents a user a menu containing a plurality of selectable link representations corresponding to separate services or applications offered by the cable television system. The user navigates the menu with a remote device and selects a desired service by choosing the selectable link representation corresponding to the desired service or application. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selectable link command into an executable call, and activates the service or application corresponding to the selected link representation from the menu chosen by the user. | 09-18-2014 |
20140282733 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus includes a display and a controller that controls display of a current program. The controller also controls display of a plurality of first images in a first arrangement. Each first image corresponds to content of the current program. The controller additionally controls display of a plurality of second images in a second arrangement. Each second image corresponds to content associated with a user. | 09-18-2014 |
20140289774 | DISPLAY APPARATUS, REMOTE CONTROLLER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A display apparatus and a method of controlling the display apparatus are provided. The display apparatus includes: an image processor configured to process an image of a predetermined content; a display configured to display the processed image of the content; a communicator configured to communicate with a remote controller configured to receive a user command and display information related to the content; and a controller configured to control the display to display the image of the content in accordance with the received user command, store information related to a use history that the user has used the content, and transmit information to the remote controller related to the stored use history of the user so that the information related to the content can be displayed on the remote controller based on the use history of the user. | 09-25-2014 |
20140298386 | Personalized Content Recommendation - Systems and methods for providing personalized content recommendation and content availability to a user are described. In one implementation, the described methods are implemented in the systems, where the method includes gathering content metadata based on user specific parameters, where the content metadata is content specific. The method also includes determining a primary content metadata from the gathered content metadata based and activity parameters. Further, the method includes rating the primary content metadata based on content rating parameter. Content availability information for the content associated with a secondary content metadata is also ascertained. The method moreover also includes providing the secondary content metadata with the content availability information to the user. | 10-02-2014 |
20140298387 | TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH AIDED USER PROGRAM SEARCHING - A system having an adaptive browse feature and an adaptive flip feature is provided. The adaptive browse and flip features may be selected to receive program viewing suggestions. The system may provide a suggestion by displaying an adaptive browse region or adaptive flip region including a program suggestion. The system identifies programs to suggest based on a user=s viewing activity. The system uses different algorithms that are user-selectable and user-adjustable to identify program suggestions. The system may query a program guide database to build a list of programs having attributes similar to the attributes of the current program or the last viewed program. The system may use an adaptive learning algorithm such as a neural network. The neural network may be trained by the program guide by monitoring user-viewing activity. Each algorithm may be personalized for multiple users. | 10-02-2014 |
20140304741 | ENABLING A FRIEND TO REMOTELY MODIFY USER DATA - The present invention allows users to interact with people, who have interacted with other people, and obtain media files and recommendations from those having common interests, thereby creating interactive media communities and spawning electronic social networks based on media and other types of electronic entertainment. | 10-09-2014 |
20140317661 | Meta Channel Based Media System Control Technology - Meta-channels identify content entries and indicate an order with which to experience the content entries. The meta-channels may include a multi-source meta-channel that includes at least a first content entry that relates to first content broadcast by a first content provider at a specific time and a second content entry that relates to second content made available, over a network, by a second content provider in response to user requests. A selection of a meta-channel is received and the selection of the meta-channel is mapped to a content entry defined by the selected meta-channel. A media system is controlled to render content based on a content entry mapped to by the selected meta-channel. | 10-23-2014 |
20140325566 | Program Guide Interface Systems and Methods - An exemplary method includes a computing device presenting a program guide interface by way of a touch screen, detecting a pinch gesture provided in relation to the program guide interface, and presenting, in response to the pinch gesture, a plurality of graphical objects representative of a plurality of media programming channel groups. Each graphical object in the plurality of graphical objects is configured to function as a user-selectable jump point to specific programming guide information associated with a respective media programming channel group in the plurality of media programming channel groups. | 10-30-2014 |
20140344861 | Method and system for trending media programs for a user - A client determines that a user is attempting to access media program recommendations. In response to the determination, the client attempts to collect media program recommendations to be presented to the user. Media program recommendations may be derived locally by the client, by the client and a multimedia device locally connected with the client, by the client and one or more additional devices, etc. In some embodiments, in response to receiving a query from the client, one or more recipient devices or servers identify media program recommendations in a plurality of trending categories. The media program recommendations may be selected based at least in part on EPG data and audience research and measurement data. The media program recommendations collected by the client are presented to the user for further exploration. The client may be one of mobile phones, tablet computers, etc. | 11-20-2014 |
20140344862 | BROADCAST RECEIVING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - Disclosed are a broadcast receiving apparatus and a method for operating the same. A broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an interface to access an electronic device that stores home screen information including a background image and a plurality of execution items, and to receive the home screen information from the electronic device, a controller to scale at least one of the background image and the execution items of the received home screen information, and a display to display a home screen including the scaled background image and execution items. As such, user convenience may be improved. | 11-20-2014 |
20140366066 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING BROADCAST PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS IN A DIGITAL TELEVISION SYSTEM - The disclosure generally relates to media broadcast technologies, and more specifically relates to a method and system for providing broadcast program recommendations in a digital television system. In one embodiment, a processor-implemented broadcast program recommendation method is disclosed, comprising: storing a user profile including a user interest pattern; tuning to a program channel not currently provided for display, using a tuner; extracting a snippet from the program channel; comparing, using a processor, the snippet with the user interest pattern, to identify a match; determining that the match is valid; and providing by the processor a notification of the match. The user interest pattern may comprise at least one of: a still image, a video clip, an audio clip, and a text pattern. The user profile may be created via selecting at least the user interest pattern from one of: a network source; and a user device. | 12-11-2014 |
20140373064 | Method and Systems for Tiered Navigational Guide Creation - A method and system are provided. A server ( | 12-18-2014 |
20140373065 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING TELEVISION CHANNELS - A method for switching channels comprises obtaining program information of programs of each channel. The obtained program information is displayed for a user to select one or more programs. The selected programs are regarded as favorite programs and added to a favorite program list. The currently airing favorite programs are determined, and a switch list recording the currently airing favorite programs is created. The channels of the favorite programs in the switch list can be switched according to a switch command. | 12-18-2014 |
20140380373 | SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING SOFT KEYS IN A MEDIA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, set top box (STB) having a controller to record one or more soft key preferences associated with a user of the STB for each of a plurality of media presentation states of a media communication system, receive a request for presentation of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with one of the media presentation states, select one or more soft keys according to the one or more soft key preferences assigned to the requested media presentation state, and present the selected one or more soft keys in the GUI. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 12-25-2014 |
20150020108 | Methods And Systems For Providing Information About Programs Available for Viewing - A user interface is presented on a monitor of a media device for providing information about available programs. The user interface includes an array having three columns (channel, current show, and next show) with commonly aligned rows. Each row of the channel column includes an indicator. Each row of the current show column includes a title naming a program currently available on a channel of the media device corresponding to the indicator in a commonly aligned row of the channel column. Each row of the next show column includes a title naming a show available after the current program on the same channel. The currently available program may be displayed on the monitor in response to a viewer selected row, indicator, and/or title in the array. | 01-15-2015 |
20150046949 | TIME-LINE BASED DIGITAL MEDIA POST VIEWING EXPERIENCE - Disclosed are a digital media asset selection interface and method. The interface may comprise a plurality of digital media assets that are displayed to a user such that the user can navigate the digital media assets in a first direction and a second direction, such as a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. In a more particular embodiment, the digital media assets are listed horizontally such that assets listed to the left of a selection pane represent a “past” aspect and assets listed to the right of a selection pane represent a “future” aspect. The digital media assets listed vertically are related to one another in some way. | 02-12-2015 |
20150052561 | AUDIOVISUAL CONTENT RECOMMENDATION METHOD AND DEVICE - A method for facilitating the generation of recommendations of audiovisual content for a first user. The method comprises receiving data from a plurality of second users, the received data indicating audiovisual content of interest to the second users. The method further comprises processing the received data to automatically identify a plurality of relationships between interests of one or more of the second users in respective items of audiovisual content in the audiovisual content represented by the received data and generate a recommendation engine. The recommendation engine is adapted to take as input indications of audiovisual content of interest to the first user and to generate recommendations of further audiovisual content of interest to the first user based upon a subset of the plurality of relationships. | 02-19-2015 |
20150067736 | Systems and Methods of Notification of Duplicate Content Available Elsewhere - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a program guide including scheduled and stored content items, indicating in the program guide where it has been determined that a match exists between stored and scheduled content items. In some embodiments, stored content information includes service provider stored content information and third party stored content information. Additionally, in some embodiments operations are performed on a set top box, service provider server, or a combination thereof. | 03-05-2015 |
20150074722 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TELEVISION PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION - The application provides a method and system for automatically recommending television program to a user. The application provides a method and system for recommending related television programs while viewing video on internet based, using context of the said video. Further, the application provides a method and system for extracting electronic program guide information for all the channels available on the television and correlating them for recommending related television programs. | 03-12-2015 |
20150074723 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING CONTENT - A method includes receiving, at a computing device, a first selection of first video content. The method also includes adding a first element corresponding to the first video content to a list. Each element of the list corresponds to respective previously displayed video content. The method includes receiving, at the computing device, input indicating a request to view the list and sending the list to the display device in response to the request. The elements of the list are ordered based on display times of the corresponding video content. | 03-12-2015 |
20150082352 | SECURE ON-PREMISE GLEANING TO MODIFY AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE (EPG) - Methods and systems for providing secure on-premises gleaning to modify an electronic program guide are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method involves receiving, at a network interface, network data traffic and routing the network data traffic between an external network and an internal network and receiving, at a broadcast interface, media content and an electronic programming guide from a media content distributor. The method also involves parsing the network data traffic to glean preference information, providing the preference information to a recommendation engine via a secure local path, and modifying an electronic programming guide to prioritize the media content according to the preference information. | 03-19-2015 |
20150082353 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING A PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to present a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, and cause the single presentation device to present a user interface for one of the plurality of unassociated media programs responsive to detecting a request for the user interface. Each of the plurality of unassociated media programs can be viewable only with a viewing apparatus. The viewing apparatus can be configured for viewing one of the unassociated media programs at a time. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated. | 03-19-2015 |
20150082354 | PROMOTIONAL PHILOSOPHY FOR A VIDEO-ON-DEMAND-RELATED INTERACTIVE DISPLAY WITHIN AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION APPLICATION - Systems and methods for providing an interactive display having indicators of video-on-demand programs are described. The systems and methods select indicators for inclusion in the interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm. | 03-19-2015 |
20150089543 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS IN AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE - An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user. | 03-26-2015 |
20150113567 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A CONTEXT AWARE REMOTE CONTROLLER APPLICATION - An approach for implementing a context-aware remote controller application on a controller device for interfacing with one or more target devices and controlling one or more functionalities and/or processes at the target includes determining a current state associated with one or more applications, one or more content items or a combination thereof at a user device. The approach also includes communicating a change in the current state to a controller device via a context update message, wherein the context update message encodes the current state, the change in the current state, or a combination thereof as a context identifier. Further, the approach includes initiating a presentation of one or more user interface options at the controller device based on the context update message, the context identifier, or a combination thereof. | 04-23-2015 |
20150128183 | BROADCAST RECEIVING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TUNING CHANNEL THEREOF - A broadcast receiving apparatus and a method for tuning a channel of a broadcast receiving apparatus is provided. The method includes displaying contents received through a broadcast channel, changing, if a channel zapping command is received, the broadcast channel, displaying, if the channel zapping command is consecutively received a plurality of times within a predetermined amount of time, a user interface (UI) using which a user can select a broadcast channel, and tuning, if a broadcast channel is selected from the UI, the selected broadcast channel. | 05-07-2015 |
20150128184 | CONTENT RECOMMENDING DEVICE, TELEVISION RECEIVER, AND CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR CONTENT RECOMMENDING DEVICE - A display control section ( | 05-07-2015 |
20150128185 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSONALIZATION OF AN APPLICANCE BY USING CONTEXT INFORMATION - Disclosed is a system and method for personalizing an appliance's functioning remotely in real-time. The user profile and set of parameters affecting the functionality of the appliance are received by a computing device by, for example, communication module and are matched by a data delivery device to pre-defined parameters stored therein, for the profile categorization. An output profile is generated and is defined by matched parameters. The appliance is remotely controlled by modifying the functioning of the appliance in accordance with the output profile defined by the matched parameters. | 05-07-2015 |
20150128186 | Mobile Multimedia Terminal, Video Program Recommendation Method and Server Thereof - The mobile multimedia terminal, a video program recommendation method and a server thereof may include steps of: extracting key information from electronic program guides; crawling social media information related with a terminal user from social media; generating an inquiry at least based on the key information and the crawled social media information; sending the inquiry to a server; searching for video programs in a broadcasting video library and an Internet video library by using the inquiry and taking information of public social media as a constraint condition, as video program recommendations for the terminal, by the server; sending the video program recommendations to the terminal by the server; and presenting the video program recommendations to the user in association with the played programs. | 05-07-2015 |
20150135225 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND MEDIA FOR PRESENTING SUGGESTIONS OF MEDIA CONTENT - Methods, systems, and media for presenting suggestions of media content are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: determining an item of media content; determining a probability of the item of media content being watched at one or more times based on at least one of: a characteristic of a person; a characteristic of a group; and a characteristic of the item of media content; creating a user interface which suggests that the item of media content be watched at one or more times based on the determined probability; and presenting the user interface. | 05-14-2015 |
20150135226 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GRAPHICAL CONTROL OF SYMBOL-BASED FEATURES IN A TELEVISION RECEIVER - Systems and methods provide for graphically controlling numeric, alphanumeric or other symbol-based features on a set top box (STB) or other television receiver. A keypad image is presented on the display that includes key images corresponding to the symbol-based features. A two-dimensional input is received from the remote control that indicates one of the key images, and imagery on the display is updated in response to the received two-dimensional input. | 05-14-2015 |
20150135227 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING HIERARCHICAL MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMMING FAVORITES - A system that determines first data according to data associated with a first number of media content items accessed by equipment of a user. A request is determined from the equipment of the user to receive media content items that are associated with the first data and an index category of an indexed media content items guide. The indexed content items guide is searched to identify those media content items of a second number of media content items that have indexed content items guide data associated with the index category and the first data. Search results including a third number of media content items are determined based on the searching of the indexed content items guide. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-14-2015 |
20150150052 | COLLABORATIVE RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM - A collaborative information system in which a first display device provides a recommendation of programming content to a viewer of a second display device, where the recommendation is based on content characteristics of the recommended content, and where the recommendation is based on assigning those content characteristics respectively different weights. | 05-28-2015 |
20150296238 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AND MANAGING PERSONALIZED CHANNELS - A method for managing content delivery to content consumers commences by initially establishing for at least one content consumer a set of personalized content channels via which the at least one user can access content in accordance with personal preferences. At least one of the one of the set of initially established personalized content channels undergoes modification (addition or deletion) in accordance with at least one attribute of other content consumers. | 10-15-2015 |
20150326929 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING CONTENT - A method includes receiving, at a computing device, input indicating a request to view a list. The list includes multiple elements, each of the elements corresponding to respective video content. The method also includes sending the list to a display device in response to the request, where the elements of the list are ordered based on a display order of the respective video content. | 11-12-2015 |
20150334462 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDE WITH MEDIA GUIDANCE INTERFACE - Systems and methods for providing guidance to users for finding media are described. Such systems and methods may be provided in interactive media guides such as program guides, web browsers, or other suitable interactive media guides. | 11-19-2015 |
20150350740 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM - According to one embodiment, a system comprises receiving circuitry to receive an input of a first operation at first time, the first operation used for displaying program information of recommended programs according to a user interest; and processing circuitry to output, in response to the first operation, program information of at least one of a first program broadcasted at the first time and a second program broadcasted subsequent to the first program. | 12-03-2015 |
20150350742 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRESENTING CUSTOMIZED OPTIONS ON A SECOND DEVICE - Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that generates for display icons on a second device, in which the icons represent options to perform one or more available media guidance application operations on a first device, and in which the options associated with the icons are selected based on the frequency of use with which the option is used on the first device. | 12-03-2015 |
20150365725 | EXTRACT PARTITION SEGMENTS OF PERSONALIZED VIDEO CHANNEL - Video content from different media sources can be configured to be rendered via a personalized channel based on portions of video content being identified according to different topics. User profile data is generated with user preferences that can include one or more topics for portions of video content. Boundaries of the video content are tagged in response to transitions within the video content being recognized. The video content topics are stored with tags having metadata related to the portions of video content and indexed. The video content and media sources can be rendered to one or more mobile devices at different times with different content and/or at the same time based on user profile data and the indexed tags. The video content is communicated via the personalized video channel based on the topics and the user profile data. | 12-17-2015 |
20150373407 | USER CONFIGURABLE CUSTOM CHANNEL CREATION AND USE - A method for creating and using a user configurable custom channel in a communications device is described including accessing a list of available content from a service provider, selecting a first unit of available content, selecting a second unit of available content, selecting a first time slot for rendering the selected first unit of available content, selecting a second time slot for rendering the selected second unit of available content, scheduling the selected first unit of available content during the first selected time slot and the selected second unit of available content during the selected second time slot and creating the user configurable custom channel for rendering the selected first unit of available content during the first selected time slot and for rendering the selected second unit of available content during the second selected time slot based on the scheduling. | 12-24-2015 |
20150373416 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH PERSONALIZED SELECTION OF BROADCAST CONTENT USING AFFINITIES DATA AND USER PREFERENCES - Apparatuses and methods are provided to inform a user of a broadcast stream, which has multiple, concurrently received channels of program content, about recommendations of a subset of the content currently playing across the available channels or to be played within a selected future time period. The subset of content is selected based on user preferences and system data (e.g., program topic and channel affinities among the broadcast content and channels) to recommend a more diverse subset of content than would be discovered if only user preferences were employed to make the selection of recommended content. | 12-24-2015 |
20150382052 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING FOR DISPLAY AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDE BASED ON USER HISTORY - Systems and methods for efficiently loading interactive media guide data based on user history are provided. A plurality of asset descriptions associated with a first media asset is received. A second media asset related to the first media asset is identified. An asset description is selected form the plurality of asset descriptions based on user history of accessing the second media asset. Data for the first media asset is loaded. Data for the first media asset comprises the selected asset description. | 12-31-2015 |
20150382069 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOADING INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDE DATA BASED ON USER HISTORY - Systems and methods for efficiently loading interactive media guide data based on user history are provided. A plurality of asset descriptions associated with a first media asset is received. A second media asset related to the first media asset is identified. An asset description is selected form the plurality of asset descriptions based on user history of accessing the second media asset. Data for the first media asset is loaded. Data for the first media asset comprises the selected asset description. | 12-31-2015 |
20160029099 | DYNAMIC ITEM HIGHLIGHTING SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation. | 01-28-2016 |
20160066026 | PROVISIONING PREFERRED MEDIA CONTENT - Allocating idle tuner resources to buffer or record broadcast programming determined to be desirable or preferred by any particular user or television viewer. | 03-03-2016 |
20160073167 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS IN AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE - An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user. | 03-10-2016 |
20160080815 | PERSONALIZED CONTENT AGGREGATION PLATFORM - A user device receives, from a network device, a content index of content items available for presentation via a content distribution network. The user device presents a user interface to configure a personalized channel plan and receives, via the user interface, user input to configure the personalized channel plan. The personalized channel plan includes a schedule of selected content items, from the content index, for presentation on a remote viewing device. The user device sends, to a remote viewing device, presentation instructions for the personalized channel plan, wherein the instructions cause the viewing device to present the selected content items to the user. | 03-17-2016 |
20160080816 | MANAGING MEDIA CONTENT FOR A PERSONAL TELEVISION CHANNEL - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to categorize media content of a subscriber according to one or more image features, and present at least a portion of the categorized media content in a personal television channel procured by the subscriber from a service provider of a media communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-17-2016 |
20160088358 | SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM - A scheduled programming recommendation system narrows down a user's electronic program guide to a short list of about a dozen recommended programs. The list is customized to the user's own interests according to a point scoring algorithm that compares program data with data from the user's viewing history. The content receiver is programmed to offer alternatives to users while engaged in a program, or within a short time interval near the end of a program. If the user switches to another ongoing program, there is an option to start the new program at the beginning. This option is made possible by a feature of the scheduled programming recommendation system that automatically records recommended programs in a background memory location, separate from the user's recorder memory space. Only recommended programs are automatically recorded. Access to recorded content is provided exclusively via the recommended list. | 03-24-2016 |
20160112774 | CACHING PROGRAMMING DATA - Systems and methods for facilitating caching of programming data are provided herein, including receiving two or more programming data portions, storing the respective programming data portions, managing access to a storage component or a communication component based on programming data portions stored within the storage component, merging programming data portions with a database, and generating a sleep signal based on a period of inactivity which exceeds an inactivity threshold. In one or more embodiments, caching of programming data may include determining a programming data set based on user profile data, parsing the programming data set into two or more programming data portions, converting respective programming data portions into a binary format, transmitting a first programming data portion of the respective programming data portions, and transmitting additional programming data portions of the respective programming data portions based on a sleep signal. | 04-21-2016 |
20160127793 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING AND PROVIDING PROGRAM GUIDES AND CONTENT - Systems and methods for identifying, assembling, and publishing content are described. A content item, such as a video, having a first time length, is identified by a system to be included in a program scheduled for a first time period. The video may be hosted on a third party system. A first span of time within the first program is allocated for the video, wherein the first span of time is longer than the first time length. The system determines, prior to or at the first time period, a time difference between a current length of the video and the first span of time. At least partly in response to determining that the video has a time length shorter than the first span of time, the system selects supplemental content based at least in part of the determined time difference to be streamed to user terminals over a data network within the first time period. | 05-05-2016 |
20160165310 | MEDIA CONTENT SELECTION BY SEASON NUMBER - A media content processing system includes an input device interface configured to receive a user input representing a season selection and a media content receiver configured to receive signals representing season metadata associated with at least one media content instance. A processing device is programmed to extract the season metadata from the signal, compare the season metadata to the user input representing the season selection, and record the at least one media content instance based on the season selection and the season metadata. | 06-09-2016 |
20160165313 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE GENERATION - A computing device is programmed to receive a popular channel database from a remote server and store the popular channel database in the memory. The popular channel database includes data representing the number of subscribers viewing the respective channels offered by a service provider at one or more viewing times. The processor generates an electronic programming guide which displays the channels ordered at least in part based on popularity of the respective channels as determined from the data in the popular channel database. | 06-09-2016 |
20160191985 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRE-CACHING MEDIA CONTENT - Methods, systems and devices to stream media content are described. A user interface is presented to a user via a media device. When the media device has determined that an interaction with the user interface has occurred (e.g., the user has begun scrolling through a list, or has performed a keyword search), the media device requests, from a media content source, a subset of first media content based on the interaction with the user interface and prior to selection of the first media content via the user interface. The subset of first media content is then displayed in response to the selection of the first media content. | 06-30-2016 |
20160192019 | CUSTOMIZABLE ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE - Implementations generally relate to electronic program guides. In some implementations, a method includes causing a main view of an electronic program guide to be displayed. The method further includes receiving one or more user preferences associated with the electronic program guide. The method further includes causing content items to be displayed in the electronic program guide based on the one or more user preferences. | 06-30-2016 |
20160192020 | MULTIMEDIA MOBILE PERSONALIZATION SYSTEM - A multimedia mobile personalization system allows a user to record and play multimedia content on a set top box at a location other than his home using the user's preferences from his home DVR. | 06-30-2016 |
20160381412 | USER CENTRIC ADAPTATION OF VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM USER INTERFACES - A vehicle entertainment system includes a video display unit and a user interface (UI) control processor. The UI control processor is configured to receive passenger attributes sensed from the passenger operating the video display unit, generate a passenger metric that characterizes the passenger based on the attribute, and control a UI of the video display unit based on the passenger metric. The passenger metric may be a passenger demographic metric determined based on facial features of the passenger. The passenger demographic metric may be a passenger emotion metric, a passenger attentiveness metric, a passenger UI operational effectiveness metric, a passenger biometric feature metric, etc. | 12-29-2016 |
20160381420 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC FORMATTING OF IMAGES FOR MEDIA ASSETS BASED ON PREVALANCE - Control circuitry may identify an image corresponding to a media asset, where the image comprises a plurality of portions, and where each portion of the plurality of portions comprises a respective entity. The image identified by control circuitry may include several portions, where each portion includes a respective entity. Control circuitry may determine an identity of each respective entity in each respective portion of the plurality of portions. Control circuitry may then access a database to determine a level of prevalence of each identity in the media asset. Based on these identifications, control circuitry may determine which respective entity corresponds to a highest level of prevalence (e.g., with respect to the other entities), and may generate for display a respective portion comprising the respective entity that corresponds to the highest level of prevalence. | 12-29-2016 |