US7240355B1
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US
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Subscriber characterization system with filters
Assignee: Prime Research Alliance E Inc
•
Filing: 2000-03-01
•
Granted: 2007-07-03
•
Expires: 2020-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A subscriber characterization system with filters in which the subscriber's selections are monitored, including monitoring of the time duration programming is watched, the volume at which the programming is listened to, and any available information regarding the type of programming, including category and sub-category of the programming. The raw subscriber selection data is then processed to eliminate data associated with irrelevant activities such as channel surfing, channel jumping, or extended periods of inactivity. The actual subscriber selection data is used to form program characteristics vectors. The programming characteristics vectors can be used in combination with the actual subscriber selection data to form a subscriber profile. Heuristic rules indicating the relationships between programming choices and demographics can be applied to generate additional probabilistic subscriber profiles regarding demographics and programming and product interests.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles A. Eldering
- 👤 M. Lamine Sylla
- 👤 John P. Blasko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/466; H04N21/4662; H04N21/4663; H04N21/43; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/44224; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; H04N21/2353; H04N21/25; H04N21/251; H04N21/252; H04N21/44; H04N21/44008; H04N21/441; H04N21/4415; H04N21/44204; H04N21/44209; H04N21/44218; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/4665; H04N21/4667; H04N21/4668; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
In a video network, a computer-implemented method of determining the number of people in a household, the method comprising: (a) monitoring viewer interactions with a multimedia device; (b) processing the viewer interactions to obtain viewer interaction data corresponding to the viewer interactions; (c) retrieving one or more previously developed heuristic rules, wherein the previously developed heuristic rules relate at least one aspect of the viewer interaction data to the number of people in the household and wherein the previously developed heuristic rules have been previously developed through the application of at least one heuristic process; (d) applying one or more of the previously developed heuristic rules to at least a subset of the viewer interaction data; and (e) inferring the number of people in the household from the viewer interaction data based on the application of the previously developed heuristic rules.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a video network, a computer-implemented method of determining the number of people in a household, the method comprising: (a) monitoring viewer interactions with a multimedia device; (b) processing the viewer interactions to obtain viewer interaction data corresponding to the viewer interactions; (c) retrieving one or more previously developed heuristic rules, wherein the previously developed heuristic rules relate at least one aspect of the viewer interaction data to the number of people in the household and wherein the previously developed heuristic rules have been previously developed through the application of at least one heuristic process; (d) applying one or more of the previously developed heuristic rules to at least a subset of the viewer interaction data; and (e) inferring the number of people in the household from the viewer interaction data based on the application of the previously developed heuristic rules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the heuristic rules are probabilistic in nature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the inferred number of people in the household is expressed as a probability assigned by the heuristic rules based on the viewer interaction data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring includes monitoring at least some subset of channel changes, volume changes, record commands, and time of viewer interaction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) includes evaluating channel change commands and associated viewing times to determine the viewer interaction data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the viewer interaction data includes at least some subset of viewing time per channel, category, and network; channel changes per time period; average volume per time period, channel, category, and network; and dwell time per channel, category, and network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the heuristic rules are predefined.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the heuristic rules remain unchanged at least during steps (c), (d) and (e).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the heuristic rules create an inferential link between the viewer interaction data and the number of people in the household.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the application of the heuristic rules provides a predictive value that the household has the number of people inferred in step (e).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: (f) accessing the inferred number of people in the household, wherein the accessing includes predictive values of the inferred number of people in the household and at least one other number of people in the household, and wherein the predictive values are assigned by the heuristic rules based on the viewer interaction data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a video network, a computer-implemented method of determining the number of people in a household, the method comprising: (a) monitoring viewer interactions with a multimedia device, the viewer interactions occurring during one or more interaction sessions; (b) processing the viewer interactions to obtain viewer interaction data; (c) retrieving one or more previously developed heuristic rules, wherein the previously developed heuristic rules relate at least one aspect of the viewer interaction data to the number of people in the household and wherein the previously developed heuristic rules have been previously developed through the application of at least one heuristic process; (d) applying one or more of the previously developed heuristic rules to at least a subset of the viewer interaction data, for each interaction session; and (e) inferring the number of people in the household from the viewer interaction data for each interaction session based on the application of the previously developed heuristic rules.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a video network, a computer-implemented method of determining the number of people in a household, the method comprising: (a) monitoring viewer interactions with a multimedia device, the viewer interactions occurring during one or more interaction sessions; (b) processing the viewer interactions to obtain viewer interaction data; (c) retrieving one or more previously developed heuristic rules, wherein the previously developed heuristic rules relate at least one aspect of the viewer interaction data to the number of people in the household and wherein the previously developed heuristic rules have been previously developed through the application of at least one heuristic process; (d) applying one or more of the previously developed heuristic rules to at least a subset of the viewer interaction data, for each interaction session; and (e) inferring the number of people in the household from the viewer interaction data for each interaction session based on the application of the previously developed heuristic rules.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein said step (b) includes processing the viewer interactions for an interaction session to generate session interaction data for each interaction session.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein step (b) includes processing the viewer interactions for multiple interaction sessions to generate average interaction data for the multiple interaction sessions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the heuristic rules are applied to the average interaction data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the heuristic rules are probabilistic in nature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the inferred number of people in the household is expressed as a probability assigned by the heuristic rules based on the viewer interaction data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein said monitoring includes monitoring at least some subset of channel changes, volume changes, record commands, and time of viewer interaction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein step (b) includes evaluating channel change commands and associated viewing times to group the viewer interaction data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the viewer interaction data includes at least some subset of viewing time per channel, category, and network; channel changes per time period; average volume per time period, channel, category, and network; and dwell time per channel, category, and network.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the heuristic rules are predefined.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the heuristic rules remain unchanged at least during steps (c), (d) and (e).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the heuristic rules create an inferential link between the viewer interaction data and the number of people in the household.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the application of the heuristic rules provides a predictive value that the household has the number of people inferred in step (e).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising: (f) accessing the inferred number of people in the household, wherein the accessing includes predictive values of the inferred number of people in the household and at least one other number of people in the household, and wherein the predictive values are assigned by the heuristic rules based on the viewer interaction data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a video network, a computer-implemented method of determining the number of people in a household, the method comprising: (a) monitoring viewer interactions with a multimedia device, the viewer interactions occurring during one or more viewing periods; (b) processing the viewer interactions to obtain viewer interaction data; (c) retrieving one or more previously developed heuristic rules, wherein the previously developed heuristic rules relate at least one aspect of the viewer interaction data to the number of people in the household and wherein the previously developed heuristic rules have been previously developed through the application of at least one heuristic process; (d) applying one or more of the previously developed heuristic rules to the viewer interaction data for each viewing period; and (e) inferring the number of people in the household from the viewer interaction data based on the application of the previously developed heuristic rules.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a video network, a computer-implemented method of determining the number of people in a household, the method comprising: (a) monitoring viewer interactions with a multimedia device, the viewer interactions occurring during one or more viewing periods; (b) processing the viewer interactions to obtain viewer interaction data; (c) retrieving one or more previously developed heuristic rules, wherein the previously developed heuristic rules relate at least one aspect of the viewer interaction data to the number of people in the household and wherein the previously developed heuristic rules have been previously developed through the application of at least one heuristic process; (d) applying one or more of the previously developed heuristic rules to the viewer interaction data for each viewing period; and (e) inferring the number of people in the household from the viewer interaction data based on the application of the previously developed heuristic rules.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein said step (b) includes processing the viewer interactions for a viewing period to generate period interaction data for each viewing period.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein step (b) includes processing the viewer interactions for multiple viewing periods to generate average interaction data for the multiple viewing periods.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the heuristic rules are applied to the average interaction data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the heuristic rules are probabilistic in nature.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the inferred number of people in the household is expressed as a probability assigned by the heuristic rules based on the viewer interaction data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein said monitoring includes monitoring at least some subset of channel changes, volume changes, record commands, and time of viewer interaction.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein step (b) includes evaluating channel change commands and associated viewing times to group the viewer interaction data.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the viewer interaction data includes at least some subset of viewing time per channel, category, and network; channel changes per time period; average volume per time period, channel, category, and network; and dwell time per channel, category, and network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the heuristic rules are predefined.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the heuristic rules remain unchanged at least during steps (c), (d) and (e).
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the heuristic rules create an inferential link between the viewer interaction data and the number of people in the household.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the application of the heuristic rules provides a predictive value that the household has the number of people inferred in step (e).
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising: (f) accessing the inferred number of people in the household, wherein the accessing includes predictive values of the inferred number of people in the household and at least one other number of people in the household, and wherein the predictive values are assigned by the heuristic rules based on the viewer interaction data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-07-02 | 2011-01-01 | 2011-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-07-02 | 2015-01-01 | 2015-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-07-02 | 2019-01-01 | 2019-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |