US5410344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method of selecting video programs based on viewers' preferences
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Video Preferences 3 LLC
•
Filing: 1993-09-22
•
Granted: 1995-04-25
•
Expires: 2013-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for selecting audiovisual programs for presentation to a viewer. The audiovisual programs have attributes and a corresponding content code including information pertaining to the attributes. The method includes various steps. First, a viewer preference file is stored which includes information pertaining to the impact of various attributes of the audiovisual programs on the viewer. Second, a plurality of content codes corresponding to a plurality of the audiovisual programs are received. Third, the viewer preference file is compared to the plurality of the corresponding content codes. Finally, at least one of the plurality of audiovisual programs is selected in response to the comparison for presentation to the viewer.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon T. Graves
- 👤 Brendan M. O'Connor
- 👤 Alva C. Barker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/466; H04N21/4662; H04N21/4666; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/43; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/454; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for selecting audiovisual programs for presentation to a viewer, each of the audiovisual programs having a plurality of program attributes and a corresponding content code comprising a plurality of information fields representing the plurality of program attributes of the audiovisual program, comprising the steps of: storing a viewer preference file, wherein said viewer preference file comprises a plurality of attribute ratings corresponding to the plurality of program attributes, wherein each of said attribute ratings represents the viewer's preference of the program attribute corresponding to said rating; for a plurality of the audiovisual programs, receiving a plurality of the corresponding content codes; for each of said received content codes, comparing said viewer preference file to said corresponding content code such that each of said viewer's attribute ratings is compared with the corresponding information field in said corresponding content code; and in response to said comparing step, selecting at least one of the plurality of audiovisual programs for presentation to the viewer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for selecting audiovisual programs for presentation to a viewer, each of the audiovisual programs having a plurality of program attributes and a corresponding content code comprising a plurality of information fields representing the plurality of program attributes of the audiovisual program, comprising the steps of: storing a viewer preference file, wherein said viewer preference file comprises a plurality of attribute ratings corresponding to the plurality of program attributes, wherein each of said attribute ratings represents the viewer's preference of the program attribute corresponding to said rating; for a plurality of the audiovisual programs, receiving a plurality of the corresponding content codes; for each of said received content codes, comparing said viewer preference file to said corresponding content code such that each of said viewer's attribute ratings is compared with the corresponding information field in said corresponding content code; and in response to said comparing step, selecting at least one of the plurality of audiovisual programs for presentation to the viewer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of updating said viewer preference file.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 and further comprising the steps of: displaying a predetermined audiovisual program to a viewer; and receiving ratings from the viewer corresponding to the attributes for said predetermined audiovisual program, before said updating step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 2 and further comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of preferred audiovisual programs in a list in response to performing a plurality of said selecting steps; displaying said preferred list of audiovisual programs to a viewer; and soliciting a ranking from the viewer for each of said preferred list of audiovisual programs, before said updating step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the corresponding content codes and said viewer preference files each comprise corresponding fields of the attributes, and wherein step of comparing comprises the steps of: multiplying fields of a predetermined content code with corresponding fields of said viewer preference file to obtain a plurality of products; applying said plurality of products to a neural network; and determining a grade corresponding to said predetermined content code based on said products.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 5 and further comprising the steps of: performing said multiplying, applying, and determining steps for a plurality of content codes to obtain a plurality of corresponding grades; choosing a subset of said plurality of corresponding grades based on the relative magnitudes of said grades; and storing a preferred list of audiovisual programs corresponding to said grades in response to said choosing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6 and further comprising the steps of: displaying said preferred list of audiovisual programs to a viewer; and soliciting a ranking from the viewer for each of said preferred list of audiovisual programs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 and further comprising the step of updating said viewer preference file in response to said soliciting step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said neural network comprises weighing factors, and further comprising the steps of: receiving updated viewer preference information; and adjusting said weighing factors in response to said updated viewer preference information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for selecting audiovisual programs for presentation to a viewer, each of the audiovisual programs having a plurality of program attributes and a corresponding content code comprising respective fields of information pertaining to the plurality of program attributes of the audiovisual program, comprising the steps of: storing a viewer preference file, wherein said viewer preference file comprises a plurality of attribute ratings corresponding to the plurality of program attributes, wherein each of said attribute ratings represents the viewer's preference of the program attribute corresponding to said rating; for a plurality of the audiovisual programs, receiving a plurality of the corresponding content codes; multiplying fields of a predetermined content code with corresponding fields of said viewer preference file to obtain a plurality of products for a predetermined audiovisual program; applying said plurality of products to a neural network; determining a grade corresponding to said predetermined content code based on said products; repeating said receiving, multiplying, applying, and determining steps for a plurality of content codes to obtain a plurality of corresponding grades for a plurality of corresponding programs; choosing a subset of said plurality of corresponding grades based on the relative magnitudes of said grades; and storing a preferred list of audiovisual programs corresponding to said grades in response to said choosing step.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for selecting audiovisual programs for presentation to a viewer, each of the audiovisual programs having a plurality of program attributes and a corresponding content code comprising respective fields of information pertaining to the plurality of program attributes of the audiovisual program, comprising the steps of: storing a viewer preference file, wherein said viewer preference file comprises a plurality of attribute ratings corresponding to the plurality of program attributes, wherein each of said attribute ratings represents the viewer's preference of the program attribute corresponding to said rating; for a plurality of the audiovisual programs, receiving a plurality of the corresponding content codes; multiplying fields of a predetermined content code with corresponding fields of said viewer preference file to obtain a plurality of products for a predetermined audiovisual program; applying said plurality of products to a neural network; determining a grade corresponding to said predetermined content code based on said products; repeating said receiving, multiplying, applying, and determining steps for a plurality of content codes to obtain a plurality of corresponding grades for a plurality of corresponding programs; choosing a subset of said plurality of corresponding grades based on the relative magnitudes of said grades; and storing a preferred list of audiovisual programs corresponding to said grades in response to said choosing step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10 and further comprising the steps of: displaying a predetermined audiovisual program to a viewer; receiving ratings from the viewer corresponding to the attributes for said predetermined audiovisual program; and updating said viewer preference file.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 10 and further comprising the steps of: displaying said preferred list of audiovisual programs to a viewer; soliciting a ranking from the viewer for each of said preferred list of audiovisual programs; and updating said viewer preference file in response to said soliciting step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for selecting audiovisual programs having a plurality of program attributes, comprising: means for storing a viewer preference file, wherein said viewer preference file comprises a plurality of attribute ratings corresponding to the plurality of programming attributes, wherein each of said attribute ratings represents the viewer's preference of the program attribute corresponding to said rating; means for receiving a plurality of the audiovisual programs having a plurality of corresponding content codes, wherein each of said content codes comprises a plurality of information fields representing the plurality of program attributes; and means for comparing said viewer preference file to said plurality of the corresponding content codes, such that each of said viewer's attribute ratings is compared with the corresponding information field in said corresponding content code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for selecting audiovisual programs having a plurality of program attributes, comprising: means for storing a viewer preference file, wherein said viewer preference file comprises a plurality of attribute ratings corresponding to the plurality of programming attributes, wherein each of said attribute ratings represents the viewer's preference of the program attribute corresponding to said rating; means for receiving a plurality of the audiovisual programs having a plurality of corresponding content codes, wherein each of said content codes comprises a plurality of information fields representing the plurality of program attributes; and means for comparing said viewer preference file to said plurality of the corresponding content codes, such that each of said viewer's attribute ratings is compared with the corresponding information field in said corresponding content code.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising means for selecting at least one of the plurality of audiovisual programs in response to said comparing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising means for updating said viewer preference file.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for comparing comprises neural network means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising: means for displaying a predetermined audiovisual program to a viewer; and means for receiving ratings from the viewer corresponding to the attributes for said predetermined audiovisual program.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising means for selecting a subset of the plurality of audiovisual programs in a preferred viewing list in response to said comparing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 18 and further comprising: means for displaying said preferred list of audiovisual programs to a viewer; and means for soliciting and receiving a ranking from the viewer for each of said preferred list of audiovisual programs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising means for transmitting said corresponding content codes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4528589A
Cited
US4230990A
Cited
US4230990C1
Cited
US4578700A
Cited
US4816904A
Cited
US4527194A
Cited
US5036537A
Cited
US4751578A
Cited
US5179439A
Cited
US4954699A
Cited
US5189630A
Cited
US5293456A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-24 | 1998-10-24 | 1999-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-24 | 2002-10-24 | 2003-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-24 | 2006-10-24 | 2007-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |