US7003792B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Smart agent based on habit, statistical inference and psycho-demographic profiling
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
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Filing: 1999-11-30
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Granted: 2006-02-21
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Expires: 2019-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A smart agent (SA) is provided which resides locally in a local client device and by iterative means integrates the habit, statistics and psycho-demographic information of a user to infer the user's preferences. The SA may also utilize the preferences to filter information delivered to the local device. The invention further discloses a means of collecting, combining, integrating and inferring information from the user to arrive at a psycho-demographic profile of the user, and a means of utilizing such psycho-demographic profile to select or filter information delivered to the user, thereby achieving targeting. The invention also discloses a means of classifying and identifying the information delivered so that it can be matched, filtered or selected.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry C. Yuen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/44224; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/466; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N21/4826; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/478; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining a profile of a user based on statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user, the method comprising the steps of: storing statistical data and psycho-demographic information that is based on probability-based character traits about a plurality of contents; collecting data about user selections of a portion of the plurality of contents; iteratively integrating the collected user selections data with the stored statistical data and the psycho-demographic information about the user selections of a portion of the plurality of contents; and inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining a profile of a user based on statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user, the method comprising the steps of: storing statistical data and psycho-demographic information that is based on probability-based character traits about a plurality of contents; collecting data about user selections of a portion of the plurality of contents; iteratively integrating the collected user selections data with the stored statistical data and the psycho-demographic information about the user selections of a portion of the plurality of contents; and inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for determining a profile of a user based on statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user, the method comprising the steps of: collecting data about user selections; iteratively integrating the collected selections data with the statistical data and the psycho-demographic information about the user; and inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information wherein, the step of inferring the profile (UP) is determined by the equation: UP ( X )={ρ[ Ei ( X )]} where Ei(x) is the ith element of the character trait of a real person X, and ρ[Ei(X)] is the probability of the person X having a specific character trait.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for determining a profile of a user based on statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user, the method comprising the steps of: collecting data about user selections; iteratively integrating the collected selections data with the statistical data and the psycho-demographic information about the user; and inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information wherein, the step of inferring the profile (UP) is determined by the equation: UP ( X )={ρ[ Ei ( X )]} where Ei(x) is the ith element of the character trait of a real person X, and ρ[Ei(X)] is the probability of the person X having a specific character trait.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein, the element Ei is a binary element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein, the element Ei is a multiple-outcome-element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein, the step of iteratively integrating comprises iteratively integrating the collected selections with the statistical data and the psycho-demographic information in a cumulative fashion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 wherein, the collected selections data is disregarded after the integration step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 5 wherein, the step of inferring the profile (UP) is determined by the equation: UP ( X )={ε1, ε2, ε3, . . . , εN) where υi={(1/n) Σj Ei,j τj ωj, . . . }, i identifies the elements, j identifies events being utilized by the person X, Ei,j is the jth event of the ith element, providing information on the ith element, τj is the duration for which event j is being utilized, and ωj is a weighting function to give weight or take away weight for a given event and having a range from 0 to 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 wherein, ωj is a function of one or more of the intensity of the event, the length of the event, the day of the week, and the time of the day.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, the user is a television viewer having a television receiver and the step of collecting comprises collecting data about the viewer's television program selections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 wherein, the step of collecting comprises collecting data about television programs watched by the viewer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 wherein, the step of collecting comprises collecting data about television programs selected in an EPG.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 wherein, the step of collecting comprises collecting data about television programs scheduled for recording or watching in an EPG.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method of claim 9 wherein, the step of inferring the profile (UP) is determined by the equation: UP ( X )={ε1, ε2, ε3, . . . , εN) where εi={(1/n) Σj Ei,j τj ωj, . . . }, i identifies the elements, j identifies the television program being watched by the television viewer X, Ei,j is the jth television program of the ith element, providing information on the ith element, ij is the duration for which the television program j is being watched, and ωj is a weighting function to give weight or take away weight for a given television program and having a range from 0 to 1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of targeting information to the television viewer based on the profile.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 14 wherein, the information is advertisement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein, the advertisement includes one or more of text, still image, and video.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein, the information is displayed simultaneously with an EPG on a display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining the profile in a secure file.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of storing an EPG data base at the receiver, the EPG data base including time, channel, and program category identifiers of telecast television programs; and collecting step collects data about the program categories of telecast television programs selected by the viewer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, the user is an Internet user having an Internet terminal for accessing the Internet and the step of collecting comprises collecting data about the user's website selections.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, the step of collecting comprises collecting data about websites visited by the user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein, the step of collecting comprises collecting data about products purchased the user from the visited website.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, the accessing the Internet is initiated from an EPG.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, the step of inferring the profile (UP) is determined by the equation: UP ( X )={ε1, ε2, ε3, . . . , εN) where εi={(1/n) Σj Ei,j τj ωj, . . . }, i identifies the elements, j identifies the website being visited by the Internet user X, Ei,j is the jth visited website of the ith element, providing information on the ith element, τj is the duration for which the website j is being visited, and ωj is a weighting function to give weight or take away weight for a given website and having a range from 0 to 1.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of targeting information to the Internet user based on the profile.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, the information is advertisement.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 26 wherein, the advertisement includes one or more of text, still image, and video.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, the information is displayed simultaneously with an EPG on the Internet terminal.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of inferring a preference profile of a user utilizing general populous statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user, the profile having a plurality of unique characteristic segments, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring user selections iteratively collecting data about the user selections with respect to each of the unique characteristic segments; iteratively assigning probabilities to each of the collected unique characteristic segments; integrating each of the collected unique characteristic segments with assigned probabilities derived from the general populous statistical data and with the psycho-demographic information about the user that is based on probability-based character traits; and inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of inferring a preference profile of a user utilizing general populous statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user, the profile having a plurality of unique characteristic segments, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring user selections iteratively collecting data about the user selections with respect to each of the unique characteristic segments; iteratively assigning probabilities to each of the collected unique characteristic segments; integrating each of the collected unique characteristic segments with assigned probabilities derived from the general populous statistical data and with the psycho-demographic information about the user that is based on probability-based character traits; and inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for inferring a preference profile of a user utilizing general populous statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user, the profile having a plurality of unique characteristic segments, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring user selections iteratively collecting data about the user selections with respect to each of the unique characteristic segments; iteratively assigning probabilities to each of the collected unique characteristic segments; integrating each of the collected unique characteristic segments with assigned probabilities derived from the general populous statistical data and with the psycho-demographic information about the user; and inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information wherein, the step of inferring the profile (UP) is determined by the equation: UP ( X )={ρ[ Ei ( X )]} where Ei(x) is the ith element of the character trait of a real person X, and ρ[Ei(X)] is the probability of the person X having a specific character trait.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for inferring a preference profile of a user utilizing general populous statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user, the profile having a plurality of unique characteristic segments, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring user selections iteratively collecting data about the user selections with respect to each of the unique characteristic segments; iteratively assigning probabilities to each of the collected unique characteristic segments; integrating each of the collected unique characteristic segments with assigned probabilities derived from the general populous statistical data and with the psycho-demographic information about the user; and inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information wherein, the step of inferring the profile (UP) is determined by the equation: UP ( X )={ρ[ Ei ( X )]} where Ei(x) is the ith element of the character trait of a real person X, and ρ[Ei(X)] is the probability of the person X having a specific character trait.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 30 wherein, the step of inferring the profile (UP) is determined by the equation: UP ( X )={ε1, ε2, ε3, . . . , εN) where εi={(1/n) Σj Ei,j τj ωj, . . . }, i identifies the elements, j identifies events being utilized by the person X, Ei,j is the jth event of the ith element, providing information on the ith element, τj is the duration for which event j is being utilized, and ωj is a weighting function to give weight or take away weight for a given event and having a range from 0 to 1.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 31 wherein, ωi is defined as v/N, where v is the number selections present as alternatives when a selection is made, and N is the total number of selections available.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 31 wherein, the user is a television viewer having a television receiver, the events are television programs being viewed by the viewer, and the step of collecting comprises collecting data about the viewer's television program selections.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 31 wherein, the user is an Internet user having an Internet terminal for accessing the Internet, the events are websites being visited by the Internet user, and the step of collecting comprises collecting data about the user's website selections.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of: recording a predetermine number of inconsistencies of the user selections; separating the user profile into two consistent sets, a first user profile and a second user profile, while continuing collecting data for the user profile; monitoring the time-of-day for each collected data for the first and second user profiles; inferring that the first user profile and the second user profile are for different individuals if over a predetermined period the time-of-day of the first user profile data is grouped together and the time-of-day of the second user profile data is grouped together.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of integrating external data with the collected data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 36 wherein, the external data is one or more of user provided information, feedback information, inherent information, and inferred information.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 37 wherein, the user provided information includes user assignable weighting.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for inferring preference profile of a user utilizing general populous statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user comprising: a plurality of unique characteristic segments included in the profile; means for monitoring user selections; means for iteratively collecting data about the user selections with respect to each of the unique characteristic segments; means for iteratively assigning probabilities to each of the collected unique characteristic segments; means for integrating each of the collected unique characteristic segments with assigned probabilities derived from the general populous statistical data and with the psycho-demographic information about the user that is based on probability-based character traits; and means for inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for inferring preference profile of a user utilizing general populous statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user comprising: a plurality of unique characteristic segments included in the profile; means for monitoring user selections; means for iteratively collecting data about the user selections with respect to each of the unique characteristic segments; means for iteratively assigning probabilities to each of the collected unique characteristic segments; means for integrating each of the collected unique characteristic segments with assigned probabilities derived from the general populous statistical data and with the psycho-demographic information about the user that is based on probability-based character traits; and means for inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 39 wherein, the means for integrating and the means for inferring is local to the user.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 39 wherein, the means for integrating and the means for inferring is remote to the user.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for inferring preference profile of a user utilizing general populous statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user comprising: a plurality of unique characteristic segments included in the profile; means for monitoring user selections; means for iteratively collecting data about the user selections with respect to each of the unique characteristic segments; means for iteratively assigning probabilities to each of the collected unique characteristic segments; means for integrating each of the collected unique characteristic segments with assigned probabilities derived from the general populous statistical data and with the psycho-demographic information about the user; and means for inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information wherein, means for inferring the profile (UP) is a microprocessor computing the equation: UP ( X )={ρ[ Ei ( X )]} where Ei(x) is the ith element of the character trait of a real person X, and ρ[Ei(X)] is the probability of the person X having a specific character trait.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for inferring preference profile of a user utilizing general populous statistical data and psycho-demographic information about the user comprising: a plurality of unique characteristic segments included in the profile; means for monitoring user selections; means for iteratively collecting data about the user selections with respect to each of the unique characteristic segments; means for iteratively assigning probabilities to each of the collected unique characteristic segments; means for integrating each of the collected unique characteristic segments with assigned probabilities derived from the general populous statistical data and with the psycho-demographic information about the user; and means for inferring the profile of the user from the integrated information wherein, means for inferring the profile (UP) is a microprocessor computing the equation: UP ( X )={ρ[ Ei ( X )]} where Ei(x) is the ith element of the character trait of a real person X, and ρ[Ei(X)] is the probability of the person X having a specific character trait.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system of claim 42 wherein, the means for inferring the profile (UP) is a microprocessor computing the equation: UP ( X )={ε 1, ε2, ε3, . . . εN) where εi={(l/n) Σj Ei,j τj Ωj, . . . }, i identifies the elements, j identifies events being utilized by the person X, Ei,j is the jth event of the ith element, providing information on the ith element, τj is the duration for which event j is being utilized, and ωj is a weighting function to give weight or take away weight for a given event and having a range from 0 to 1.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 43 wherein, the user is a television viewer having a television receiver, the events are television programs being viewed by the viewer, and the means for collecting comprises means for collecting data about the viewer's television program selections.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 43 wherein, the means for collecting comprises means for collecting data about television programs selected in an EPG.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 43 wherein, the user is an Internet user having an Internet terminal for accessing the Internet, the events are websites being visited by the Internet user, and the means for collecting comprises means for collecting data about the user's website selections.
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