U.S. patent application number 10/348115 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-24 for method of creating default lists of content of probable interest.
Invention is credited to Smith, Kim C..
Application Number | 20030140313 10/348115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23156458 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030140313 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith, Kim C. |
July 24, 2003 |
Method of creating default lists of content of probable
interest
Abstract
A method, signal, system, and software program for identifying
items of probable user interest. Information associated with user
preferences and habits is maintained, and used in conjunction with
information obtained from media search mechanisms, including
electronic program guides and Internet browsers, to identify
available content information that may be of interest to a user.
Items identified as being of probable user interest are maintained
in a record, and presented to users as a default list for
initiating searches. No direct user input of preferences is
required.
Inventors: |
Smith, Kim C.; (Colleyville,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GATEWAY, INC.
ATTN: SCOTT CHARLES RICHARDSON
610 GATEWAY DRIVE
MAIL DROP Y-04
N. SIOUX CITY
SD
57049
US
|
Family ID: |
23156458 |
Appl. No.: |
10/348115 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10348115 |
Jan 21, 2003 |
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09299826 |
Apr 26, 1999 |
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6516329 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/255 ;
707/E17.058; 715/221 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 707/99934 20130101;
Y10S 707/99933 20130101; G06F 16/335 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/514 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method comprising the steps of: obtaining information
associated with available content information from a plurality of
content sources of one or more types; maintaining information
associated with user preferences and habits; and identifying items
of probable user interest from the information associated with the
available content information and the information associated with
user preferences and habits.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of maintaining
a record of the items identified by said identifying step.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of sorting the
record of identified items based on information associated with
user preferences and habits.
4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of removing
duplicate entries from the record of identified items.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying items of
probable user interest includes the step of identifying items of
probable user interest from the information associated with one
content source of a first type from information associated with
another content source of a second type.
6. A system comprising: at least one processor; memory operably
associated with said processor; and a program of instructions
configured to be executed by said processor and stored in said
memory, said program of instructions including instructions
configured to obtain information associated with available content
information from a plurality of content sources of one or more
types, maintain information associated with user preferences and
habits, identify items of probable user interest from said
information associated with available content information and said
information associated with user preferences and habits.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein said program of instructions is
further configured to maintain a record of the items identified as
being of probable user interest.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said program of instructions is
further configured to sort said record of identified items based on
said information associated with user preferences and habits.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein said program of instructions is
further configured to remove duplicate entries from said record of
identified items.
10. The system of claim 6 wherein identifying items of probable
user interest includes identifying items of probable user interest
from the information associated with one content source of a first
type from information associated with another content source of a
second type.
11. A signal embedded in a propagation medium comprising: at least
one instruction configured to obtain information associated with
available content information from a plurality of content sources
of one or more types; at least one instruction configured to
maintain information associated with user preferences and habits;
and at least one instruction configured to identify items of
probable user interest from said information associated with
available content information and said information associated with
user preferences and habits.
12. The signal of claim 11 further comprising at least one
instruction configured to maintain a record of the items identified
by said at least one instruction configured to identify.
13. The signal of claim 12 further comprising at least one
instruction configured to sort said record of identified items
based on information associated with user preferences and
habits.
14. The signal of claim 12 further comprising at least one
instruction configured to remove duplicate entries from said record
of identified items.
15. The signal of claim 11 wherein said instruction configured to
identify items of probable user interest includes identifying items
of probable user interest from the information associated with one
content source of a first type from information associated with
another content source of a second type.
16. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of
instructions, implementing the following method: obtaining
information associated with available content information from a
plurality of content sources of one or more types; maintaining
information associated with user preferences and habits; and
identifying items of probable user interest from said information
associated with available content information and said information
associated with user preferences and habits.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said program
of instructions further implements maintaining a record of the
items identified by said identifying step.
18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein said program
of instructions further implements sorting the record of identified
items based on information associated with user preferences and
habits.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein said program
of instructions further implements removing duplicate entries from
the record of identified items.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein identifying
items of probable user interest includes identifying items of
probable user interest from the information associated with one
content source of a first type from information associated with
another content source of a second type.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/354,052 filed on even
date herewith entitled "A Method of Searching Across Media and
Source Types" of common assignee herewith, Gateway Reference No.
98-0883, incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/299,826 filed on even
date herewith entitled "A Method of Maintaining Search Results
Pages" of common assignee herewith, Gateway Reference No. 98-0881,
incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/374,781 filed on even
date herewith entitled "Presenting Content Selection Options" of
common assignee herewith, Gateway Reference No. 98-0880,
incorporated herein by reference.
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/298,005 filed on even
date herewith entitled "Universal Content Database Structured
Around Relationship Being `Like" of common assignee herewith,
Gateway Reference No. 98-0882, incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates generally to methods for
identifying items of probable interest to a user and more
particularly to methods, systems, software, and signals for
identifying items of probable user interest from user preferences
and habits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A large part of making search mechanisms user friendly is
successfully anticipating user preferences. In most cases, users
must define their preferences in advance so that those preferences
can be used by a system. One example of defining preferences in
advance is found in most Internet browsers. A separate file of user
preferences is completed by a user shortly after launching the
browser for the first time. Most browsers have factory default
settings which attempt to anticipate user preferences, but given
the wide range of tastes and backgrounds of people using a given
program, default settings rarely anticipate all of a user's
preferences. Electronic program guides (EPGs) provide even less
functionality than Internet browsers even though, as in the case of
Internet browsers, EPGs generally allow users to define a few basic
preferences.
[0007] Another shortcoming of EPGs and Internet browsers is that
neither of them can identify items of probable user interest across
a plurality of content sources of one or more types. For example,
an Internet browser cannot anticipate the television program a user
may desire to watch at 6 p.m. on Sundays, nor can an EPG identify
what Internet site a user is likely to visit at 7 p.m. on
Mondays.
[0008] Therefore, what is needed is a method, system, software, and
signal for identifying items of probable user interest across a
plurality of content sources of one or more types and capable of
identifying user items of probable user interest from information
associated with user preferences and habits and then configuring
default states accordingly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method
comprising the steps of obtaining information associated with
available content information from a plurality of content sources
of one or more types, maintaining information associated with user
preferences and habits, and identifying items of probable user
interest from the information associated with the available content
information and the information associated with user preferences
and habits.
[0010] The present invention also provides a system comprising at
least one processor, memory operably associated with the processor,
and a program of instructions configured to be executed by the
processor and stored in the memory. The program of instructions
includes instructions configured to obtain information associated
with available content information from a plurality of content
sources of one or more types, maintain information associated with
user preferences and habits, and identify items of probable user
interest from the information associated with the available content
information and the information associated with user preferences
and habits.
[0011] The present invention further provides a signal embedded in
a propagation medium comprising at least one instruction configured
to obtain information associated with available content information
from a plurality of content sources of one or more types, maintain
information associated with user preferences and habits, and
identify items of probable user interest from the information
associated with the available content information and the
information associated with user preferences and habits.
[0012] The present invention also provides a computer readable
medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions, implementing
the method of obtaining information associated with available
content information from a plurality of content sources of one or
more types, maintaining information associated with user
preferences and habits, and identifying items of probable user
interest from the information associated with the available content
information and the information associated with user preferences
and habits.
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
method, system, signal, and software for identifying items of
probable user interest from user preferences and habits.
[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
record or list of items likely to be of interest to a user.
[0015] It is another object of the present invention to configure a
system's default states to contain items likely to be of interest
to a user.
[0016] An advantage of the present invention is that user
preferences can be determined without requiring direct user
input.
[0017] Another advantage of the present invention is that items of
probable user interest relating to a first source or type of
content can be determined from information associated with a second
content type or source.
[0018] A further advantage of the present invention is that
information associated with available content information is
obtained from a plurality of content sources of one or more
types.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Other objects, advantages, features and characteristics of
the present invention, as well as methods, operation and functions
of related elements of structure, and the combination of parts and
economies of manufacture, will become apparent upon consideration
of the following description and claims with reference to the
accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this
specification, wherein like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts in the various figures, and wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a detailed block diagram showing a
computer system according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed block diagram showing a
convergence system according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 shows the desktop of a computer operating system's
user interface typically employed on a computer system as in FIGS.
1 and 2, according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates the graphical user interface of the
present invention prior to utilization according to the preferred
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates the graphical user interface of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention after a search has
been initiated;
[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates how items are chosen to populate the
television portion of a list of items of probable user interest
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates how items are chosen to populate the DVD
portion of a list of items of probable user interest according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates how items are chosen to populate the Web
portion of a list of items of probable user interest according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 9 illustrates how items are chosen to populate the
Games portion of a list of items of probable user interest
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0029] FIG. 10 illustrates how items are chosen to populate the
Music portion of a list of items of probable user interest
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0030] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which
form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid
detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention, the description may omit certain information known
to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is,
therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of
the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
[0031] A representative hardware environment for practicing the
present invention is depicted in FIG. 1, which illustrates a
typical hardware configuration of an information handling system
100 in accordance with the present invention, having a central
processing unit 105 such as a conventional microprocessor and a
number of other units interconnected via at least one system bus
110. Information handling system 100 may be, for example, a
portable or desktop Gateway computer or a Gateway Destination
system (Gateway and Destination are trademarks of Gateway 2000,
Inc.). Information handling system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes
random access memory (RAM) 115, read-only memory (ROM) 120 wherein
the ROM 120 could also be erasable programmable read-only memory
(EPROM) or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
(EEPROM), and input/output (I/O) adapter 125 for connecting
peripheral devices such as disk units 130 and tape drives 135 to
system bus 110, a user interface adapter 140 for connecting
keyboard 145, mouse 150, speaker 155, microphone 160, and/or other
user interface devices to system bus 110, communications adapter
165 for connecting information handling system 100 to an
information network such as the Internet, and display adapter 170
for connecting system bus 110 to a display device such as monitor
175. Mouse 150 has a series of buttons 180, 185 and is used to
control a cursor shown on monitor 175.
[0032] Referring next to FIG. 2, a system 200 is shown in general
detail. Reference numerals or letters in FIG. 2 which are like,
similar, or identical to the reference numerals or letters of FIG.
1 indicate like, similar, or identical components or features.
External to system 200 is satellite 203 which in one preferred
embodiment is a HS601 model operated by Hughes at a 101 degree west
longitude geosynchronous orbital location. Satellite 203 transmits
signals comprising 150 channels of modulated digital video, audio,
and data at a frequency of about 12 Ghz. The satellite signals are
received by system 200 by antenna 206 containing a low noise block
converter amplifier. Antenna 206 is preferably about 18 inches in
diameter and receives left-hand and right-hand circularly polarized
signals between 12.2 and 12.7 Ghz. Antenna 206 provides a "down
converted-spectrum" signal between 950 and 1450 MHZ via a coaxial
cable or other suitable communication medium 209 to information
handling system 100, such as a personal computer or other system or
circuitry capable of processing data. Suitable antennas 206 are
already being manufactured and sold by RCA corporation by direct
sales and through numerous major retail chains such as Radio
Shack.
[0033] System 100 contains circuitry and software to further
process signals from the antenna, generally demodulating and
decoding the signal to produce a VGA (video graphics adapter)
signal. The VGA signal is provided via standard VGA compatible
monitor cable 212 to drive large screen data quality monitor 175
suitable for viewing in a family room or entertainment room
environment. System 100 provides for user input by means of remote
controls 215 and 145. Remote control 215 comprises a hand-held size
device with standard television controls and a numeric keypad and,
in one embodiment, video cassette recorder (VCR) controls and a
pointing device. It provides radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR)
control signals received by system 100. Remote control 145 is a
full function personal computer keyboard with additional standard
television and VCR controls, a pointing device which is preferably
in the form of a touchpad, and it also provides RF control signals
to system 100. RF control signals were selected over IR or
hardwired in one embodiment due to the home entertainment
environment. Monitor cable 212 is a standard type cable typically
used on VGA display devices and comprises up to 15 electrical
conductors interfacing with monitor 175 in a D-series shell
connector. In one embodiment, full multimedia sourcing and
destinationing of audio/video/data (A/V/D)) broadcast are provided
for. Although the embodiment presented herein discusses the use of
VGA signals, it should be mentioned that with an appropriate change
in hardware, National Television Standard Committee (NTSC)
compliant signals and NTSC compliant hardware will employ the
present invention in the manner mentioned herein.
[0034] Information handling system 100 may include a tuner, tuner
circuitry 280, or card capable of both tuning to multiple channels
and receiving television information or signals in the form of the
NTSC or Phase Alteration Line (PAL) form from any medium 116
carrying signals from satellite dish 206 which provides digital
A/V/D signals from such sources as DirecTV or Primestar (DirecTV is
a trademark of DirectTV, Inc., and Primestar is a trademark of
Primestar Partners, L.P.). In another such embodiment, the signals
carried on medium 209 provide analog A/V such as NTSC antenna
signals. In another such embodiment, the signal carried on medium
218 from camera 221 provides analog A/V such as NTSC audio/video
signals. In further embodiments, the signal carried on medium 224
from cable-data source 227 provides analog and/or digital A/V/D. In
further such embodiments, the signal carried on medium 230 from
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 233 provides data or phone
signals such as integrated services digital network (ISDN) or plain
old telephone system (POTS) signals. In one set of such
embodiments, system 100 is programmed to automatically record
analog signals, such as television programming, onto recordable
media, such as a video tape in VCR 236 coupled to cable 239. In
another such set of embodiments, system 100 is programmed to
automatically record digital signals such as digital television
programming, Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) programming, or compact
disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) type audio onto recordable media
such as recordable compact disks in CD/DVD jukebox 242 coupled to
cable 245. CD/DVD jukebox 242 also plays CDS, CD-ROMs, or DVDs for
use elsewhere. In another such embodiment, signals are sent to
stereo surround system 248 for audio output to one or more speakers
155 and on cable 251 to TV 254. In one such embodiment, earphones
257 on cable 260 and game pad 263 on cable 266 provide additional
input/output through remote control 145. Home network 269 is "smart
wiring" used to transmit data and control within the home, coupled
by cable 272 to system 100. Videoblaster 275 provides video signal
processing on cable/connector 278. Cables 224, 209, 230, 218, 251,
239, 278, 245, 260, and 153 can be wired coupling or wireless, such
as RF or IR.
[0035] One example of convergence system 200 is the Destination
System using the DestiVu user or media interface manufactured and
sold by Gateway 2000, Inc. In this manner, convergence system 200
is a fully functional computer integrated with a television,
providing TV viewing (via broadcast, cable, satellite, VCR, digital
disk, or other broadcast media) and personal computing
functionality. This convergence of computer and television enables
a user combined access to both television programs and information
and computer related functionality such as computer information and
programs and Internet access.
[0036] Although many of today's televisions employ many of the same
hardware resources employed by computers, such as information
handling system 100, it is possible that the present invention
might be practiced in other electronic devices or networked
electronic devices. For example, with the development of
audio/video networking such as the recently proposed HAVi standard,
television sets or other audio/video devices such as audio/video
receivers and VCRs that do not themselves contain such resources
could implement the present invention by using the resources of
other devices on a network.
[0037] Referring next to FIG. 3, a detail of an operating system's
graphical user interface, or GUI, as is typically displayed on
monitor 175 in accordance with the present invention is
illustrated. Reference numerals or letters in FIG. 3 which are
like, similar, or identical to the reference numerals or letters of
FIGS. 1-2 indicate like, similar, or identical components or
features. The operating system shown in FIG. 3 is IBM's OS/2 (OS/2
is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation);
however, the present invention will work with DestiVu, Windows 98,
Windows 95 (DestiVu is a trademark of Gateway 2000 Inc. and Windows
98 and Windows 95 are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation), or any
other graphical user interface. This GUI includes cursor 300,
desktop 305, three icons 310, two windows 315, 320, and dialog box
325, all of which are well known in the art. Dialog box 325 further
contains two buttons 330, 335. Programs are represented by the
graphical user interface as either icons 310 or windows 315, 320.
The horizontal region along the top of a window is called the
"title bar" 340, 345. A program window 315, 320 has the "focus"
when it has been designated by the user or by the operating system
to receive input from keyboard 145 or mouse 150. In OS/2.RTM., the
user gives the window focus by clicking a mouse button 180, 185
when cursor 300 is inside that window. Some operating systems,
however, give a window the focus merely whenever cursor 300 is
present within that window. The operating system indicates which
program has the focus by changing the color of the focused window's
title bar 340, 345.
[0038] A system for implementing the preferred embodiment of the
present invention has been described in the previous paragraphs. A
user interface practiced by the preferred embodiment of the present
invention as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is described next.
Reference numerals or letters in FIGS. 4 and 5 which are like,
similar, or identical to the reference numerals or letters of FIGS.
1-3 indicate like, similar, or identical components or
features.
[0039] Referring first to FIG. 4, a graphical user interface of the
present invention is illustrated. There are five basic display
areas implemented by the present invention, 410, 420, 430, 450,
470. The first area 410 to be discussed is used for displaying
tuned media content. Tuned media display area 410 uses the entire
available display area 305 when no other objects are displayed.
This means that when a user is viewing tuned media content, for
instance a broadcast television program, and not displaying any
search or program information, the tuned media content is viewed at
full size. If, however, a user decides that he wants to access
information relating to a program being viewed or wishes to conduct
a search for another program, then tuned media viewing area 410 is
scaled to take up only a portion of the screen, thereby allowing
other areas generated by the present invention 420, 430, 450, 470
to be displayed. Tuned media display area 410 is not restricted to
displaying only broadcast media streams; it can also display media
of other types or from other sources such as Internet information,
cable television programs, satellite programs, or even a
pre-recorded video cassette or DVD program.
[0040] Still referring to FIG. 4, the next display area to be
discussed is page index display area 450. Page index display area
450 consists of user-selectable objects 451 which are linked to
pages containing categorized information. These pages containing
categorized information are maintained in a page index. In one
embodiment of the present invention, the page index includes links
451 to a TV page, a home theater page, a games page, a web page,
and a music page. These pages contain categorized information,
possibly provided by a user, about preferred media content. As an
example of how user preferences could be entered into category
pages, suppose that a user enjoys listening to a local country
music station KTRY, a rock music station KROK, and an easy
listening station KEZZ. In one embodiment of the present invention,
users can conduct searches for available radio stations using one
of the search mechanisms 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, accessible
through the present invention's user interface. A list of available
radio stations is then displayed in search results area 420. Once a
list is displayed, a user can select which stations to add to the
music page, thereby creating a list of favorite radio stations.
From then on, whenever the user selects the music page 453, his
favorite radio stations, KTRY, KROK, and KEZZ, will be displayed in
the search results area 420. Similar methods can be used to store
information in the other category guides 451. In the preferred
method of the present invention, a user can select which category
guides are initially displayed when the system is started.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 5, in addition to the default category
guides 451 displayed each time the graphical user interface 305 is
initialized, page links 552, 554, 555 are added to the page index
every time a unique search is performed. For example, suppose a
user is looking for something to watch on television, and the user
initiates a search using EPG button 431 for action movies currently
showing. Only two action movies are returned by the search, and the
user is not interested. The user next initiates a search for dramas
currently showing. Four dramas are returned as a result of the
search, and a new entry 555 is made in the page index, but again,
the user is not interested. If the user changes his mind and
decides to go back and see what action movies are showing, he does
not need to initiate another search using the EPG button. Instead,
he can simply go to the page index area 450 as illustrated in FIG.
5 and click on the link 554 to display the results of his previous
search for action movies. The page index area 450 is not reset with
each new search, instead, each search is saved until either the
user discards the search results or the user terminates the
session. If there are too many pages to be displayed on the screen
in the area provided, scroll bar 460 is generated allowing the user
to easily move through the list 450 of indexed pages.
[0042] Refer again to FIG. 4 for a discussion of search results
display area 420. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, search
results area 420 displays information returned from searches
initiated through one of the present invention's search mechanisms
422, 423, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 451. Options 422, 423 will be
detailed at a later time. The search results are displayed in a
hyperlink format that allows a user to select an item for immediate
consumption simply by clicking on displayed object 424. In the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, displayed object 424
is the name of a program returned as a result of a search; however,
alternate embodiments allow the object to take other forms such as
a button or an icon of some sort. Below each item returned as a
result of a search, the present invention implements two other
linked objects 422, 423. These objects, which can take the form of
user-selectable buttons, allow users to easily initiate a search
for available content information related to displayed object 424.
Button 422 is linked to a search routine for finding similar
content only within the same media category as a displayed item.
Button 423 is linked to a search mechanism that returns related
media items regardless of what media category those items are in.
For example, suppose a user has selected games search item 452 from
page index area 450. The present invention has returned a list of
two games 424 displayed in area 420 that the user has stored in the
games page, for example, Monopoly and Risk. Below each of the game
titles 424, two user-selectable objects 422, 423 linked to search
mechanisms are displayed. Object 422, if selected, would initiate a
search for similar items within the games category, while object
423, if selected, would initiate a search for similar media content
across any media type. Suppose, for instance, that the user is
considering the game of Risk. If the user were to select search
mechanism 422 to return games similar to Risk, the present
invention may return the game of chess, but it would not return
information on a news broadcast covering Bobby Fisher. However, if
the user had selected object 423 that initiates the search for
related items regardless of the media type or category, then not
only would the game of chess be returned but so would a news
article about Bobby Fisher. The present invention, as illustrated
in FIG. 5, may also return an Internet address relating to chess,
such as www.chess.com. If either of these two searches 422, 423
were to be performed, the present invention would add a page link
552 in page index area 450. Adding a link 552, 554, 555 for each
unique search allows users to back-track easily and quickly find
desired content information.
[0043] The next area to be discussed, area 430, is provided in the
preferred embodiment of the present invention to display
user-selectable objects 431, 432, 433, 434, 435 linking to
information selection mechanisms including alternate media guides
431, 435 and search mechanisms 432, 433, 434. These links are
provided in anticipation of a user not wanting to use the
pre-defined categories 451 provided by the present invention. For
instance, object 431 may link to an EPG provided by a local cable
company, and object 434 may link to a web browser or possibly an
Internet search engine.
[0044] Providing a page index 450 and related-item search links
422, 423 allows basic users, or users unfamiliar with advanced
navigation techniques, to easily find content across many kinds of
media, while the links to alternate guides 431, 435 and search
mechanisms 432, 433, 434 allow advanced users, or those more
comfortable searching detailed guides, to search in any manner they
prefer.
[0045] The final display item is a display options button 470 that
allows users to control the amount of detail included in the
displayed information. In the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, display options button 470 is designed to toggle between
a verbose mode which displays a great deal of information, in area
420 about programs identified during a search, and a mode which
displays only a program's title 424.
[0046] Each of the display areas discussed must have some initial,
or default, state to use when system 100, implementing the present
invention, is initially powered on or when a new session is
started. The initial state can be dictated by a user's direct
input, as described earlier, however, the preferred embodiment of
the present invention provides for the initial state of tuned media
display area 410, page index display area 450, and search results
display area 420 to be populated by information associated with
currently available items of probable user interest identified from
information associated with user preferences and habits.
[0047] A method used by the preferred embodiment of the present
invention to identify items of probable user interest, as
illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, will be discussed next. Reference
numerals or letters in FIGS. 6-10 which are like, similar, or
identical to the reference numerals or letters of FIGS. 1-5
indicate like, similar, or identical components or features.
[0048] Referring first to FIG. 6, the generation of the television
portion of a record or list of items of probable user interest is
discussed. In order for items of probable user interest to be
identified, the system must be aware of available media content.
The present invention obtains information associated with available
content information including television scheduling and program
information 610 from a search mechanism. This search mechanism
could be a dedicated television search mechanism such as an EPG, or
a search mechanism for a consolidated database containing
information associated with various media types and sources. This
television information is then used, along with information
associated with user preferences and habits, to construct a record
or list of items likely to be of interest to a user.
[0049] The preferred embodiment of the present invention maintains
information associated with user preferences and habits in separate
history files or databases; however, it is not necessary for the
files to be maintained separately. Maintaining information
associated with user preferences and habits in a single database
utilizing separate information categories will work as well, and
numerous methods of doing so are obvious to one skilled in the art.
Some of the databases maintained by the present invention and
illustrated in FIG. 6 are favorites list 612, most watched channels
614, program reminders 616, most watched programs 618, channel
normally tuned 620, Internet information 622, and most watched
movie genres 624. Any of the databases used by the present
invention may be maintained by other systems or programs, or they
may be maintained at remote locations.
[0050] The television program information 610 is used along with
the information in databases 612, 614, 618, 620, 622, 624 to
extract currently available programs likely to be of interest to a
user. For an item to be considered to be of probable user interest,
it must fall into one of the seven categories illustrated in FIG.
6: 1) current programs on favorite channels 640, 2) current
programs on most watched channels 642, 3) programs for which
reminders have been set 644, 4) currently available most watched
programs 646, 5) currently available program on the channel
normally tuned at the current time of day 648, 6) currently
available programs related to Internet preferences and usage 650,
and 7) currently available programs that fit a user's genre tastes
652. All items returned as members of one of the listed categories
are compiled into a single record. The items are ranked according
to the number of times each item appears in the compiled record,
based on the assumption that the more occurrences of a given item,
the more likely that item is to be of interest to a user. The items
in the record are then listed in ranked order, and duplicate items
are removed to prevent redundancy.
[0051] A number of points should be mentioned about the preceding
discussion. One important point is that the criteria for
determining probable user interest include membership of items in
one of the aforementioned categories; however, the present
invention should not be limited to the few items presented above.
Numerous other criteria, evident upon examination of users'
preferences and habits, will be obvious to one skilled in the art.
Another point of clarification is that the actions of sorting,
compiling and filtering items into a list do not necessarily need
to be done in that order. For instance, a list may be compiled then
sorted and filtered. Also, the particular order of items in the
list may be from most probable to least probable, least probable to
most probable, or any other logical ordering scheme. Finally,
multiple preference and habit databases may be maintained to allow
the invention to identify probable items of interest for multiple
users.
[0052] Refer now to FIG. 7 for an illustration of the creation of a
DVD/Home Theater list identifying items of probable user interest
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Information about available DVD titles 730 is obtained from a
database, and information associated with user preferences and
habits, including the most recently watched DVD movie 710 and the
most often watched DVD titles 720, are used to create list 740. The
preferred embodiment of the present invention can utilize alternate
criteria, such as a genre criteria, for identifying items of
probable user interest. Other criteria could be used by one skilled
in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 8, a history of Uniform Resource
Locators (URLs) visited 810 and user selected bookmarks 820 are
combined with information 830 about URLs that may have time
sensitive information or that may have been updated since they were
last accessed. The most recently visited URLs 840, most often
visited URLs 850 and television program information 860 are used to
determine items for the Web portion of a list 870 of items of
probable user interest. One difference between the Web portion of
the list and the television portion is the criteria for ranking the
items within the list. For the Web portion of the list, if an item
is determined to contain time sensitive information, that item is
ranked as having a high probability of user interest. In the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, television program
information is used as a factor in determining Internet sites that
may be of user interest and vice-versa. The preferred embodiment of
the present invention makes the reasonable assumption that if a
user is interested in, for example, an Internet site containing
information about baseball statistics, then that same user is
likely to be interested in a baseball game broadcast on
television.
[0054] The present invention is not limited to the content types
previously mentioned. FIG. 9 illustrates the categories of
information used to determine whether a game is likely to be of
interest to a user. The categories include a list of all games
resident on a user's system 910, a list of all games hosted from
the Internet on a user's system 920, the most recently played games
930, and most often played games 940. The items identified as being
of probable user interest are sorted, compiled and indexed in Games
list 950, in a manner similar to the television portion of the
list.
[0055] The last portion of the list to be discussed is the music
portion illustrated in FIG. 10. All music titles available 1010
from sources such as radio, satellite, cable, or the Internet are
combined with a user-defined favorite music channel list 1020 to
make a semi-final list of currently available music titles 1060.
The most recently played CD or DVD 1070, as well as the most often
played CD and DVD are selected from the list of all available CD
and DVD titles available to the system 1030, and added to the music
portion of the list of items of probable user interest. The most
recently tuned music broadcast channel 1040 and the most often
tuned music broadcast channel 1050 are used in combination with the
semi-final list of currently available music titles to generate the
remaining items in the music portion of the list 1080.
[0056] All of the individual portions of the list can be combined
into a single record and sorted according to probability that the
user will be interested. The record can then be presented to the
user in any number of formats. In the preferred method of the
present invention, each portion of the record is stored as a page
of related information and presented as user selectable default
page 451 in the page index area 450 of a GUI.
[0057] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been
shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants
thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the
teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those
skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is not
intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but
on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included
within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0058] Although the invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it should be recognized that elements
thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of the
preferred implementations of the invention is as sets of
instructions resident in the random access memory 115 of one or
more computer or information handling systems configured generally
as described in FIGS. 1-10. Until required by the computer system,
the set of instructions may be stored in another computer readable
memory, for example, in a hard disk drive or in a removable memory
such as an optical disk for eventual use in a CD-ROM drive or a
floppy disk for eventual use in a floppy disk drive. Further, the
set of instructions can be stored in the memory of another computer
and transmitted over a local area network or a wide area network,
such as the Internet, where the transmitted signal could be a
signal propagated through a medium such as an ISDN line, or the
signal may be propagated through an air medium and received by a
local satellite whereupon being transferred to the computer or
information handling system of the preferred embodiment where the
signal is a composite signal comprising a carrier signal, and
contained within the carrier signal is the desired information
containing at least one computer program instruction implementing
the invention and may be downloaded as such when desired by the
user. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the physical
storage and/or transfer of the sets of instructions physically
changes the medium upon which it is stored electrically,
magnetically, or chemically so that the medium carries computer
readable information. The invention is limited only by the
following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *
References