US6005597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for program selection
Assignee: Disney Enterprises Inc
•
Filing: 1997-10-27
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2017-10-27
Abstract
Abstract The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for television program selection that monitors the viewing preferences of a viewer to create a dynamic viewer profile that is used to rate available programs. Based on the viewer profile, available programs are sorted and presented to the viewer in descending order of predicted interest. The invention allows a viewer to quickly find the program of greatest interest to the viewer without having to tediously search through large numbers of available programs. The invention may also be used for selecting from among a plurality of programs other than television programs, such as, for example, radio programs or audio or video programs stored on digital storage media such as CD's and DVD's.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Barrett
- 👤 Gillian M. Lee
- 👤 Scott N. Miller
- 👤 M. O. S. C. Jasba Simpson
- 👤 Eric D. Rosenthal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/251; H04N21/252; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/266; H04N21/2668; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/44224; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/4788; H04N21/482; H04N21/4826; H04N21/60; H04N21/65; H04N21/658; H04N21/6582; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45; H04N5/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for presenting a selection of available programs to a user comprising: determining initial user interest criteria; said user interest criteria comprising a plurality of program criteria; said user interest criteria further comprising positive and negative factor values for each of a plurality of said program criteria; monitoring a user's program selection choices; detecting said user's selection of a first selected program; incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said first selected program; detecting said user's selection of a second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said second selected program and incrementing a negative factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; ranking available programs according to said user interest criteria; presenting said available programs to said user according to said ranking.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for presenting a selection of available programs to a user comprising: determining initial user interest criteria; said user interest criteria comprising a plurality of program criteria; said user interest criteria further comprising positive and negative factor values for each of a plurality of said program criteria; monitoring a user's program selection choices; detecting said user's selection of a first selected program; incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said first selected program; detecting said user's selection of a second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said second selected program and incrementing a negative factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; ranking available programs according to said user interest criteria; presenting said available programs to said user according to said ranking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said user interest criteria comprises a user profile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said user interest criteria comprises program content interest criteria.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said user interest criteria comprises program title interest criteria.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: augmenting said user interest criteria using collaborative user interest criteria.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said programs comprise television programs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said programs comprise radio programs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said programs comprise audio or video programs recorded on digital storage media.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining said available programs by consulting program schedule information retrieved from a program schedule information source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said program schedule information source is a site on the internet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said program schedule information source is a broadcast signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
268 words
Program selection apparatus comprising: a program access device for accessing a plurality of available programs; a program output device for outputting a program to a user; a controller coupled to said program access device and said program output device, said controller comprising: a processor; memory comprising available program description data and user interest criteria data, said user interest criteria data comprising a plurality of program criteria, said user interest criteria data further comprising positive and negative factor values for each of a plurality of said program criteria, said memory further comprising: program code readable by said processor for monitoring a user's program selection choices; program code readable by said processor for detecting said user's selection of a first selected program; program code readable by said processor for incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said first selected program; program code readable by said processor for detecting said user's selection of a second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; program code readable by said processor for incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said second selected program and incrementing a negative factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; program code readable by said processor for ranking available programs according to said available program description data and said user interest criteria data and for instructing said program output device to present said available programs to said user according to said ranking.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
268 words
Program selection apparatus comprising: a program access device for accessing a plurality of available programs; a program output device for outputting a program to a user; a controller coupled to said program access device and said program output device, said controller comprising: a processor; memory comprising available program description data and user interest criteria data, said user interest criteria data comprising a plurality of program criteria, said user interest criteria data further comprising positive and negative factor values for each of a plurality of said program criteria, said memory further comprising: program code readable by said processor for monitoring a user's program selection choices; program code readable by said processor for detecting said user's selection of a first selected program; program code readable by said processor for incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said first selected program; program code readable by said processor for detecting said user's selection of a second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; program code readable by said processor for incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said second selected program and incrementing a negative factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; program code readable by said processor for ranking available programs according to said available program description data and said user interest criteria data and for instructing said program output device to present said available programs to said user according to said ranking.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 wherein said user interest criteria comprises a user profile.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a user input device for providing user input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 14 wherein said memory further comprises program code readable by said processor for updating said user interest criteria based upon said user input.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a communications interface coupled to said controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 wherein said user interest criteria comprises program content interest criteria.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 wherein said user interest criteria comprises program title interest criteria.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 16 wherein said memory further comprises program code readable by said processor for receiving augmented user interest criteria via said communications interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 wherein said program access device comprises television program receiving apparatus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 wherein said program access device comprises radio program receiving apparatus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 wherein said program access device comprises a digital storage media player.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 16 wherein said memory further comprises program code readable by said processor for receiving said program description data via said communications interface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 20 wherein said program access device comprises a decoder for extracting data from a vertical blanking interval of a television program signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 wherein said program output device comprises loudspeakers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program selection apparatus of claim 12 wherein said program output device comprises a video monitor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
190 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for presenting a selection of available programs to a user, said method comprising: determining initial user interest criteria; said user interest criteria comprising a plurality of program criteria; said user interest criteria further comprising positive and negative factor values for each of a plurality of said program criteria; monitoring a user's program selection choices; detecting said user's selection of a first selected program; incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said first selected program; detecting said user's selection of a second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said second selected program and incrementing a negative factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; ranking available programs according to said user interest criteria; presenting said available programs to said user according to said ranking.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
190 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for presenting a selection of available programs to a user, said method comprising: determining initial user interest criteria; said user interest criteria comprising a plurality of program criteria; said user interest criteria further comprising positive and negative factor values for each of a plurality of said program criteria; monitoring a user's program selection choices; detecting said user's selection of a first selected program; incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said first selected program; detecting said user's selection of a second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; incrementing a positive factor value for criteria associated with said second selected program and incrementing a negative factor value for criteria associated with said first selected program upon said user's selection of said second selected program prior to the end of said first selected program; ranking available programs according to said user interest criteria; presenting said available programs to said user according to said ranking.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The program storage device of claim 27 wherein said user interest criteria comprises a user profile.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program storage device of claim 27 wherein said user interest criteria comprises program content interest criteria.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program storage device of claim 27 wherein said user interest criteria comprises program title interest criteria.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The program storage device of claim 27 wherein said method further comprises: augmenting said user interest criteria using collaborative user interest criteria.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The program storage device of claim 27 wherein said programs comprise television programs.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The program storage device of claim 27 wherein said programs comprise radio programs.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program storage device of claim 27 wherein said programs comprise audio or video programs recorded on digital storage media.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program storage device of claim 27 wherein said method further comprises: determining said available programs by consulting program schedule information retrieved from a program schedule information source.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The program storage device of claim 35 wherein said program schedule information source is a site on the internet.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The program storage device of claim 35 wherein said program schedule information source is a broadcast signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |