U.S. patent application number 11/208486 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-09 for method of contextually determining missing components of an incomplete uniform resource locator.
Invention is credited to Frank J. Montero.
Application Number | 20060053230 11/208486 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22104153 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060053230 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Montero; Frank J. |
March 9, 2006 |
Method of contextually determining missing components of an
incomplete uniform resource locator
Abstract
A technique and apparatus for connecting a terminal to a host
server on the Internet in response to an incomplete uniform
resource locator (URL). The remaining or missing components of the
incomplete URL is contextually determined as a function of the host
server.
Inventors: |
Montero; Frank J.; (Orlando,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI, LLP
666 FIFTH AVE
NEW YORK
NY
10103-3198
US
|
Family ID: |
22104153 |
Appl. No.: |
11/208486 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09528094 |
Mar 17, 2000 |
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11208486 |
Aug 19, 2005 |
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09071874 |
May 4, 1998 |
6133912 |
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09528094 |
Mar 17, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/238 ;
348/E5.105; 348/E7.075 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/812 20130101;
H04N 5/44543 20130101; H04N 21/4782 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101;
H04N 21/4263 20130101; H04N 21/4722 20130101; H04N 21/2668
20130101; H04N 21/44222 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; H04N 7/17354
20130101; H04N 21/25883 20130101; H04N 21/25891 20130101; H04N
21/4622 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/238 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/173 20060101
G06F015/173 |
Claims
1-416. (canceled)
417. A method of connecting a terminal to a host server on the
internet in response to an incomplete uniform resource locator,
wherein said terminal has a monitor and an input device, the method
comprising the steps of: entering a host name by a user
corresponding to said host server on said input device to provide
said incomplete uniform resource locator; contextually determining
remaining components of said incomplete uniform resource locator as
a function of said host server.
418. The method of claim 417, wherein the step of contextually
determining includes the step of determining a domain of said host
server as a function of a probability distribution of the number of
host servers in a particular domain.
419. The method of claim 417, wherein said monitor includes a
plurality of clickable buttons, each of said plurality of clickable
buttons corresponding to one component of a uniform resource
locator; and wherein the step of contextually determining
contextually determines the remaining components of said incomplete
uniform resource locator in response to one or more of said
plurality of clickable buttons clicked by said user.
420. Apparatus for connecting a computer terminal to a host server
on the internet in response to an incomplete uniform resource
locator, comprising a device for contextually determining remaining
components of said incomplete uniform resource locator as a
function of a host name entered by a user to provide a complete
uniform resource locator, wherein said host name corresponds to
said host server.
421. The apparatus of claim 420, wherein said device for
contextually determining is operable to determine a domain of said
host server as a function of a probability distribution of the
number of host servers in a particular domain.
422. The apparatus of claim 420, wherein said terminal includes a
monitor having a plurality of clickable buttons, each of said
plurality of clickable buttons corresponding to one component of a
uniform resource locator; and said device for contextually
determining contextually determines the remaining components of
said incomplete uniform resource locator in response to one or more
of said plurality of clickable buttons clicked by said user.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of Application Ser. No.
09/528,094 filed Mar. 17, 2000, which is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 09/071,874 filed May 4, 1998, both
applications incorporated by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to delivering information to the
subscribers on a communication network, more particularly to a
technique for dynamically delivering information to each active
subscriber on the network without interfering with the reception
and display of their selected data or program from the network.
[0003] In a typical communication network in which advertisements
or other information are delivered, such as a conventional cable
television network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network
(WAN) and the internet, the delivery of advertisements interferes
with the reception and/or display of subscribers' selected program
or data.
[0004] In a conventional cable television network and a
conventional on-demand video distribution system, the messages are
incorporated into the transmission data stream representing the
program selected by the subscriber. That is, the transmission
and/or display of the selected program is interrupted for
commercial breaks.
[0005] In the internet, the information is downloaded ("pushed") on
to the subscriber's terminal such that the display of the pushed
information interferes with the display of the subscriber's
selected data. That is, the pushed information is placed on top of
the data (e.g., frames or page of data from a web site) that is
being currently displayed on the subscriber's terminal.
[0006] However, it is desirable to continuously display "pushed"
information, messages or advertisements simultaneously with the
subscriber's selected data or program wherein they do not interfere
with each other and are simultaneously viewable by the
subscriber.
[0007] Also, in a typical communication network, the information
such as advertisements are delivered to many subscribers
indiscriminately. This is disadvantageous for the subscribers
because some subscribers are subjected to advertisements in which
they have no interest. It is also disadvantageous to the
advertisers because the advertisers must pay to deliver the
advertisement to a large audience of subscribers including the
subscribers they desire to reach and the subscribers who have no
interest in their advertisement.
[0008] It is desirable to target information, such as messages,
announcements, advertisements, etc., to subscribers who are more
likely to be interested in such information and deliver that
information to only those selected subscribers.
[0009] Techniques have been proposed heretofore for selective
distribution of messages over communication networks, such as a
conventional cable television network and a conventional on-demand
video distribution system. In a conventional cable television
network, an addressable controller communicates with a plurality of
subscriber converters on the network.
[0010] Each converter, i.e., set-top converter box, is assigned as
a member of a primary message group and may also be assigned to one
or more message subgroups. The messages are input to the
addressable controller for subsequent transmission to a converter
for display on a television receiver connected to that converter.
The head end tags the text messages with distribution data defining
at least one primary message group or message subgroup to receive
the message. Various primary groups are used to segregate
converters based on geographical area or distribution hub, and
subgroups are used to segregate subscribers into groups of
particular interest. The tagged text messages are transmitted over
the conventional cable television network together with broadcast
signals from network service providers on separate paths or
channels. A particular converter determines whether it is
authorized to receive the tagged text message. If it is determined
that this particular converter is authorized to receive the tagged
text message, the converter either immediately displays the tagged
text message by blocking the display of the broadcast signals on
the selected (tuned) channel or overlays alphanumeric characters
and/or graphics on top of the program being displayed on the
subscriber's television receiver.
[0011] In a conventional on-demand video distribution system, a
technique has been proposed in which commercial messages to be
distributed over the network contain embedded information
identifying categories of recipients for each message. A server,
centrally located on the network, selectively tags commercial
messages with the converter addresses of subscribers, satisfying
the identifying categories. The commercial messages are inserted
into the video signal associated with the video program selected by
a particular addressed converter (subscriber) and transmitted over
the network for receipt and display by a television receiver
connected to that addressed converter. The addressed converters
receive and display the commercials on their corresponding
television receiver during scheduled commercial breaks in the
program. The addresses are selected by the server based on
information stored in a database related to demographic and other
information relating to the household of the subscriber in
comparison to the same information relating to households which are
actual customers of the product or service which is a subject of
the commercial.
[0012] However, it is desirable to continuously display the text
messages or commercials along with the program on the subscriber's
television receiver. The present invention proceeds upon the
desirability of continuously displaying the messages simultaneously
with the broadcast program in which the broadcast program and the
messages do not interfere with each other and are simultaneously
viewable by the subscriber.
[0013] Also, it is desirable to update the demographic information
based on viewing habits, purchasing behavior and the like because
the demographic information may become stale over time.
[0014] A customized information file is dynamically generated for
each active subscribers on the network in accordance with the
corresponding subscriber profile data stored in a database.
[0015] Each customized information file containing a plurality of
addresses of the information, e.g., messages, announcements,
advertisements, etc., are sent to the corresponding subscriber.
Each active subscriber terminal sequentially displays the
information located in the addresses found in its customized
information list.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus and technique for delivering information to
subscribers on a communication network such that the information
and the subscriber's selected data is simultaneously viewable by
the subscriber.
[0017] Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus
and technique as aforesaid, which additionally displays the
information without interfering with the reception and display of
the subscriber's selected data.
[0018] Additional object of the present invention is to provide a
technique for targeting information to subscribers who are more
likely to be interested in a particular information and delivering
that information to only those targeted (selected) subscribers.
[0019] Various other objects, advantages and features of the
present invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing
detailed description, and the novel features will be particularly
pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] In accordance with this invention, a processing device
connected to a communication network continuously displays a
sequence of information received from a plurality of INFO sources
simultaneously with data selected from at least one data provider
on the network such that the sequence of information and the
selected data are simultaneously viewable by the subscriber.
Although the subscriber may select data from on or more data
providers, the subscriber cannot control the display of the
sequence of information.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the sequence of information is
continuously displayed without interfering with the display of the
selected data.
[0022] In accordance with yet another aspect of this invention, a
sequence of information is uniquely generated for each subscriber
in accordance with the subscriber's profile data. A processing
device associated with the subscriber continuously displays the
sequence of information simultaneously with data selected from at
least one data provider on the network such that the sequence of
information and the selected data are simultaneously viewable by
the subscriber. Although the subscriber may select data from on or
more data providers, the subscriber cannot control the display of
the sequence of information.
[0023] Preferably, the sequence of information is continuously
displayed in one portion of the monitor associated with the
processing device and the selected data is displayed in another
portion of the monitor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The following detailed description, given by way of example,
and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto,
will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the incorporation of the
present invention in a world wide web (internet);
[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing an embodiment of a
terminal of FIG. 1 depicting the three portions of the monitor;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a block diagram representing an embodiment of an
INFO window and a browser window of FIG. 2;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the incorporation of the
present invention in a cable television network;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a television
receiving apparatus of FIG. 4;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the INFO
window and a program window of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The present invention is readily implemented by presently
available communication apparatus and electronic components. The
invention finds ready application in virtually all commercial
communication networks, including but not limited to over-the-air
broadcasts, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN),
intranet, world wide web (internet), wired cable transmission
systems and direct satellite broadcast systems.
[0032] Turning now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a block diagram
of a computer network, specifically internet (world wide web),
which incorporates the present invention. An internet service
provider (ISP) server 110, INFO servers 120, INFO databases 121, a
profile database 122, subscriber terminals 130, data providers,
such as an IBM server 140 and a FORD server 150, a session usage
server 210, a name/password database 220, a session usage database
230, an INFO display database 240, a clicked event server 250, a
clicked event database 260, a session log server 270, a primary
session log database 280, a profile server 285 and an additional
profile database 286 are connected to each other to form an
internet 100. It is appreciated that the internet contemplated in
the present invention is not limited to the internet shown in FIG.
1. FIG. 1 is merely a simplified representation of the internet and
it is appreciated that a numerous number of servers may be
connected to form the internet.
[0033] The individual subscriber terminal 130 includes a monitor
180 and an input device 170 such as keyboard, mouse or like.
Although not described in detail, it will be appreciated that the
terminal may be a conventional computer, such as an ibm-compatible
personal computer (PC), a network computer, an Apple Macintosh
computer or like.
[0034] The profile data representing the demographic of the
subscriber is stored in the profile database 122. The profile data
may comprise home address, business address, length of residence,
household income, gender, age group, the frequency of internet or
cable use, but is not limited to such. It is appreciated that the
profile data may be supplied via a telephone to a representative of
the internet service provider, entered on the input device 170 of
the subscriber terminal 130, obtained from a questionnaire profile
form completed by the subscriber or by other comparable means. If
the profile data is entered on the input device 170 by the
subscriber, the subscriber terminal 130 transmits the profile data
to the ISP server 110. The profile data may be encrypted and
compressed before it is transmitted to the ISP server 110.
[0035] The ISP server 110 forwards and stores the received profile
data in the profile database 122. The ISP server 110 may also
decrypt and decompress the received profile data before storing the
profile data in the profile database 122. Also, from time to time,
additional demographic information may be requested from the
subscribers and this additional demographic information may be
stored with the profile data in the profile database 122 or
separately in the additional profile database 286.
[0036] If the additional profile data is entered on the input
device 170 by the subscriber, the subscriber terminal 130 transmits
the additional profile data to the ISP server 110. The additional
profile data may be encrypted and compressed before it is
transmitted to the ISP server 110. The ISP server 110 forwards and
stores the received additional profile data in the additional
profile database 286 or the profile database 122. Alternatively,
the ISP server 110 may forward the additional profile data to the
profile server 285 which decrypts and decompresses the received
additional profile data, and stores the additional profile data in
the additional profile database 286.
[0037] The INFO servers 120 continuously transmit information, such
as advertisements, news, messages, web pages, data packets, stock
tickers, announcements, updates and like, to form a sequence of
information. It is appreciated that the information may comprise
but is not limited to texts, still pictures, moving pictures, video
and audio components, or a combination thereof. This sequence of
information is supplied to the ISP server 110 for distribution to
the subscribers. It is appreciated that the one or more INFO
servers may represent web channels, e.g., travel channel, weather
channel, etc. In such a case, the INFO servers 120 continuously
transmit information relating to travel or weather. It is also
appreciated that each INFO server 120 may include an INFO database
121 wherein the information for distribution is stored. In such a
case, each INFO server 120 retrieves the information from its
respective INFO database 121 and transmits the retrieved
information to the subscribers on the network.
[0038] Alternatively, the sequence of information is selected for
each subscriber in accordance with the subscriber's profile data
which may also include the additional profile data. That is, a
sequence of information is dynamically and individually generated
for each subscriber. For example, if an advertiser chooses to
target its advertisements to males under 40 years of age with
annual incomes exceeding $50,000, then these advertisements could
be distributed to only those subscribers satisfying these
demographic requirements. It is appreciated that a part or all of
the subscriber's profile data containing various demographic
information may be used to generate the sequence of
information.
[0039] Preferably, the ISP server 110 may retrieve a sequence of
INFO IDs or a sequence of INFO addresses from an INFO list database
125 for distribution to the subscribers. The sequence of INFO IDs
may contain a list of INFO IDs uniquely identifying each
information in the sequence of information; INFO durations
representing the length of time each information is to be displayed
to the subscribers, e.g., display the information for 30 seconds;
and display time ranges representing the time of the day that each
information is to be displayed to the subscribers, e.g., display
the information within 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
[0040] Additionally, the sequence of INFO addresses may contain a
list of addresses indicating the location of each information in
the INFO servers 120, INFO durations, display time ranges.
[0041] The ISP server 110 transmits the sequence of INFO IDs or
addresses to the subscriber terminals 130 which stores the received
sequence in a local storage device (not shown).
[0042] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the ISP server 110 may generate a customized and
individualized sequence of INFO IDs or addresses for each
subscriber in accordance with the subscriber's profile data which
may also include the additional profile data. That is, a sequence
of INFO IDs or addresses is dynamically and individually generated
for each subscriber. It is appreciated that this sequence of INFO
IDs or addresses may be pre-generated for each subscriber during
off-peak hours and provided to the subscriber's terminal 130 when
it connects to the ISP server 110 or dynamically generated for each
subscriber when the subscriber's terminal successfully connects to
the ISP server 110. This customized sequence of INFO IDs or
addresses is then transmitted to the subscriber terminal 130
associated with that subscriber and to the session usage server 210
which stores the received sequence for that subscriber in the
session usage database 230.
[0043] The individual subscriber terminals or processing devices
130 then reads the information located in these addresses or
corresponding to the INFO IDs and displays the read information as
the sequence of information for the INFO duration specified during
the display time ranges. In other words, these addresses may
represent URLs (uniform resource locators) or the like and the
subscriber terminal 130 reads the web pages from the INFO servers
120 corresponding to these URLs and displays them as the sequence
of information from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. For example, if a
particular information has INFO duration of 30 seconds, then each
time this particular information is displayed during the display
time period (range), the information is displayed for 30
seconds.
[0044] Also, the profile data may contain information relating to
the subscriber's time zone which can be used to generate the
sequence of information. For example, if a particular information
has a display time range of 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and the current time
is 9:00 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time), then this information would
not be provided to any U.S. subscribers in the EST time zone, but
would be supplied to U.S. subscribers in the Pacific time zone.
[0045] Individual subscriber terminals 130, i.e., authorized
subscribers to the ISP, are connected to the ISP server 110 by
telephone lines 160, which can be constructed as ordinary telephone
lines, ISDN lines, or Ti lines. It is appreciated that the
subscriber terminals 130 may be connected to the ISP server 110 by
cables, which can be constructed as either coaxial cables, optical
fiber cables, or a combination thereof. Also, it is appreciated
that the connection between the ISP server 110 and each subscriber
terminal 130 may be a wireless connection.
[0046] It is noted that only authorized subscribers, i.e.,
authorized subscriber terminals 130, are permitted to be connected
to the ISP server 110 and unauthorized subscriber terminals are
inhibited from displaying the sequence of information received from
the INFO servers 120.
[0047] Each subscriber is assigned a unique subscriber ID and a
password, which are stored in the name/password database 220 or
like accessible by the ISP server 110. Alternatively, each
subscriber terminal 130 may be assigned a unique subscriber ID and
a password.
[0048] The subscriber enters a subscriber ID and a password on the
input device 170 to initiate a connection between the subscriber
terminal 130 and the ISP server 110. The subscriber terminal 130
transmits the subscriber ID and the password to the ISP server 110
which forwards them to the name/password database 220 for
verification. Preferably, the subscriber ID and the password is
compressed and encrypted using standard compression and encryption
techniques before it is transmitted to the ISP server 110. The
name/password database 220 decrypts and decompresses the compressed
and encrypted subscriber ID and the password before they are
stored. The name/password database 220 first determines whether the
received subscriber ID matches one of the stored subscriber IDs. If
a match is found for the subscriber ID, then the name/password
database 220 further determines whether received password matches
the stored password associated with that subscriber ID. If match is
also found for the password, then the subscriber is determined to
be an authorized subscriber, and the connection between the
subscriber terminal 130 and the ISP server 110 is established.
Additionally, the subscriber terminal 130 is categorized as an
authorized subscriber terminal and login information for that
authorized subscriber is generated and stored in the session usage
database 230 or like. It is appreciated that subscriber terminal
130 may store the login information in a local storage device (not
shown) before transmitting the login information to the session
usage database. The login information may comprise a login time and
a login date, but is not limited to such information. For example,
the login information may additionally contain a location ID,
information relating to the locality of that subscriber terminal
130. It is appreciated that the location ID may represent a zip
code, a telephone number, a country name or code, a state or
province name, or like. Alternatively, the login information may be
transmitted to the session usage server 210 which generates a
session usage record from the login information and stores the
session usage record in the session usage database 230. It is
appreciated that the session usage record may not necessarily
contain all the login information.
[0049] Also, it is appreciated that the login time and the login
date may be generated in accordance with a network system clock,
thereby ensuring accurate and uniform login information from the
subscriber terminals 130. The network system clock may reside in
the ISP server 110 or some other server on the internet 100.
Accordingly, the clock information of each subscriber terminal is
not overwritten with the network system clock information, but each
subscriber terminal time stamps the information to be transmitted
to the ISP server 110 based on the network system clock. That is,
each subscriber terminal 130 has a real time and a virtual time
based on the network system clock, and generates a virtual login
time and a virtual login date based on the network system
clock.
[0050] However, if no match is found for the subscriber ID or the
password, then the subscriber is determined to be an unauthorized
subscriber, and the connection is not established between the
subscriber terminal 130 and the ISP server 110. Additionally, the
subscriber terminal 130 is categorized as an unauthorized
subscriber terminal.
[0051] In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the subscriber
also selects an access phone number using the input device 170 to
initiate a connection between the subscriber terminal 130 and the
ISP server 110 using that access phone number. It is contemplated
that a phone database 225 connected to the internet 100 contains
all of the access phone numbers that can be used to connect to the
ISP server 110 along with the zip codes and time zones that are
associated with each access phone number. Additionally, a
pre-assigned zip code is stored for each access phone number in the
phone database 225.
[0052] Once the connection has been successfully established
between the subscriber terminal 130 and the ISP server 110 using
the selected access phone number, the ISP server 110 requests zip
code information of the subscriber terminal 130 from the
name/password database 220. The received zip code is forwarded to
the phone database 225 to determine whether the received zip code
is associated with the entered access phone number. If it is
determined that the received zip code is associated with the
selected access phone number, then the subscriber is presumed to be
logging in from his/her home and the received zip code is used as a
location zip code. However, if it is determined that the received
zip code is not associated with the selected access phone number,
then the subscriber is presumed to be logging in from a remote
location and the pre-assigned zip code associated with the selected
access phone number is used as the location zip code.
[0053] It is appreciated that the access phone number and the
location zip code of the subscriber, and the time zone
corresponding to the location zip code of the subscriber can also
be used to generate the sequence of information for that
subscriber. For example, if a particular information has a display
time range of 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the current time is 9:00 PM
EST (Eastern Standard Time), then this information would not be
provided to any U.S. subscribers in the EST time zone, but would be
supplied to U.S. subscribers in the Mountain and Pacific time
zones. This will advantageously permit the advertisers to target
their advertisements based on the geographic location of the
subscriber to consider regional preferences. That is, advertisers
may want to use one advertisement for people in the east coast and
another advertisement for people in the west coast.
[0054] The authorized subscriber enters an URL on the input device
170 to request a web page from the host server (or data provider)
on the internet 100. It is appreciated that each host server on the
internet is uniquely identified by a host server name which is
referred hereinafter as a data provider ID. For example, to request
a web page from the IBM server 140 on the internet 100, the
authorized subscriber enters the following URL,
"http://www.ibm.com", on the input device 170. The subscriber
terminal 130 supplies the requested URL to the ISP server 110. It
is appreciated that the requested URLs received from the
unauthorized subscriber terminals are rejected by the ISP server
110 and not forwarded to the host server. This effectively inhibits
the unauthorized subscriber terminals from displaying the web page
from the host server.
[0055] The ISP server 110 retransmits the request for a web page
from the authorized subscriber terminals 130 to the IBM server 140
via the internet 100. In response to the request, the IBM server
140 supplies the requested web page to the ISP server 110. The ISP
server 110 then retransmits the web page to the appropriate
subscriber terminal 130.
[0056] The subscriber terminal 130 continuously displays on the
monitor 180 the sequence of information simultaneously with the
requested web page received from the IBM server 140 via the ISP
server 110. It is contemplated that the sequence of information and
the requested web page are displayed on the monitor 180 such that
they are simultaneously viewable by the subscriber.
[0057] Preferably, the display of the sequence of information on
the monitor 180 does not interfere with the display of the
requested web page. In such a scheme, the sequence of information
may be displayed in a first portion of the monitor 180 and the
requested web page in a second portion of the monitor 180. For
simplicity, the two portions of the monitor 180 will be referred
hereinafter as a browser window 190 and an INFO window 200 as
depicted in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the sequence of information is
displayed in the INFO window 200 and the requested web page is
displayed in the browser window 190. It is appreciated that each
information in the sequence is displayed on the INFO window 200 for
the assigned INFO duration, e.g., first information may be
displayed for 30 seconds, second information for 15 seconds,
etc.
[0058] Alternatively, the monitor 180 may be divided into three
portions, namely the browser window 190, the INFO window 200 and a
navigation window 290. The navigation window may include clickable
buttons 291, channel button 292 to select preferred channels,
locator field 293, a GO button 294, a back button 295 to move to
previous web page, a forward button 296 to move to the next web
page, a home button 297 to retrieve the subscriber's selected home
page, a preference button 298 to enter, modify and update the
subscriber's profile data and a logo button 299 to connect a
pre-assigned web page. It is appreciated that more buttons
providing different functions and features may be incorporated into
the navigation window 290.
[0059] The subscriber may use the preference button 298 to select
the preferred system attributes such as the preferred home page,
the display settings, the modem settings, the memory allocation or
the like. Also, the preference button 298 may be used to modify
passwords, access phone numbers or the like.
[0060] The URL entered by the authorized subscriber on the input
device 170 to request a web page from the host server appears on
the locator field 293. Instead of entering the complete URL, the
user may instead enter an incomplete URL by simply entering the
host name of the desired host server with or without the name of
the domain, and press the GO button 294. The present invention
contextually determines the remaining (or missing) components of
the incomplete URL to form a complete URL. That is, if the
subscriber enters "ibm.com," the subscriber terminal 130
contextually determines the complete URL as "http://www.ibm.com"
and supplies the complete URL to the ISP server 110.
[0061] However, if the subscriber simply enters "ibm," then the
subscriber terminal 130 first determines the appropriate domain of
the host server "ibm" and then contextually determines the complete
URL. It is noted that currently the following domains exist in the
internet for the United States: com, gov, edu, org, and net. For
other countries, these domains are followed by country code, such
as org.kr for Korea and org.de for Germany. It is also noted that
the host servers are distributed between these various domains,
thus the subscriber terminal 130 determines the appropriate domain
based on the probability distribution of the host servers in a
particular domain. That is, the subscriber terminal 130 determines
the probability of finding the entered host server in these various
domains and then selects the one with the highest probability. If
it is determined that the host server does not reside in the
selected domain, the subscriber terminal 130 selects another domain
having the next highest probability until the domain is found for
the entered host server.
[0062] Each of the clickable buttons 291 corresponds to one
component of the URL, such as "http://", "www.", ".com", ".net" and
the like as shown in FIG. 2. Instead of simply entering the host
name, the subscriber may enter the host name and click one or more
clickable buttons 291 for the missing components of the URL, and
the subscriber terminal 130 contextually determines the appropriate
URL. For example, if the subscriber enters "ibm" and clicks the
"http://" button, the subscriber terminal 130 contextually
determines the complete URL as "http://www.ibm.com" for the IBM web
site. If the subscriber clicks the ".gov" button and enters "irs",
the subscriber terminal 130 contextually determines the complete
URL as "http://www.irs.gov" for the IRS web site. It is appreciated
that the components of the URL need not be entered in its proper
sequential order. Regardless of the order the URL components are
entered, the present invention contextually determines the complete
URL in its proper sequential order.
[0063] Also, the INFO window 200 may include unlinked regions 202
and linked regions 201 such as "Corporate News", "Merchandise",
"New Products" or "Order Now" as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the
linked regions 201 may be linked to a host server (a data provider)
on the internet 100. The subscriber may click one of the linked
regions 201 to receive additional information relating to corporate
news, merchandise, new products or to place an order. For example,
if the subscriber clicks the linked region 201 labeled "Corporate
News" in FIG. 2, the subscriber terminal 130 will be connected to
the Coca-Cola corporate news web page containing corporate news
information which will be displayed on the browser window 190.
[0064] Alternatively, if the subscriber clicks the linked region
201 labeled "Corporate News," the subscriber may receive this
additional information via e-mail, fax, mail or like. Preferably,
the additional information displayed in the browser window 190 may
depend on the subscriber's profile data. For example, if the
subscriber checks on the linked region 201 labeled "New Products"
to receive additional information on the latest golf gloves, the
subscriber terminal 130 may request the subscriber's profile data
from the profile database 122 to determine whether the subscriber
is left-handed or right-handed. If it is determined that the
subscriber is left-handed then only golf-gloves for left-handed
people are displayed in the browser window 190. It is appreciated
that the linked regions 201 are not limited to those depicted in
FIG. 2 and other linked regions are contemplated in the present
invention.
[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 3, if the subscriber clicks one of
the linked regions 201 of the INFO window 200, a pop-up window, a
pull-down menu or like may appear in the browser window wherein the
subscriber may be requested to complete a questionnaire form or
provide requested data to receive the additional information. For
example, the subscriber may be requested to provide an e-mail
address, street address, fax number or the like to receive
additional information. It is appreciated that the subscriber may
provide another person's e-mail address so that the other person
may receive the additional information via e-mail. Also, it is
appreciated that the requested data may be retrieved from the
profile database 122 and displayed in the browser window 190. The
subscriber may accept (confirm) this retrieved data or modify the
data so as to provide the additional information to another person.
After the requested data is either entered or selected by the
subscriber, the subscriber terminal 130 transmits the requested
data or completed questionnaire form to the ISP server 110.
[0066] Preferably, the ISP server 110 transmits the completed
questionnaire form or the requested data to the profile server 285
to store or update the subscriber's additional profile information
in the additional profile database 286. Alternatively, the ISP
server 110 retrieves the profile data associated with the
subscriber from the profile database 122 and transmits the
completed questionnaire form along with the subscriber ID and the
subscriber's profile data to the profile server 285. The profile
server 285 then stores or updates the subscriber's additional
profile information in the additional profile database 286. It is
appreciated that this advantageously permits the present invention
to provide a mechanism for interactive communication between the
subscriber and the INFO provider. Also, other means of providing
the requested data are contemplated such as a radio button for
exclusive selections, check boxes for multiple selections and
like.
[0067] It is appreciated that although the subscriber cannot
control the display of the sequence of information on the INFO
window 200 of the monitor 180, the subscriber can select another
web page to be displayed on the browser window 190 by entering
another URL such as "http://www.ford.com" on the input device 170.
The display of the web page from the IBM server 140 on the browser
window 190 is replaced with the web page from the FORD server 150.
That is, the requested web page received from the FORD server 150
is now displayed in the browser window 190 without affecting the
display of the INFO window 200.
[0068] Alternatively, the contents of the INFO window 200, each
information in the sequence of information, can be characterized as
an unsolicited request for a web page (data) from one of the host
servers, such as the IBM server 140. In other words, the materials
displayed on the browser window 190 represent solicited web pages
requested by the subscriber, whereas the materials displayed on the
INFO window 200 represent unsolicited web pages not requested by
the subscriber. Essentially, without informing the subscriber, the
subscriber terminal 130 automatically transmits an URL to request a
web page to be displayed on the INFO window 200 from a host
server.
[0069] Preferably, the host servers may be divided into two groups,
wherein each group of servers accepts only one type of requests.
That is, the first group of servers may accept only solicited
request for web pages and the second group accepts only unsolicited
request for web pages. Any solicited request for web pages from the
second group of servers is denied and the browser window 190 may
display a message such as "requested URL unavailable".
[0070] When the connection between the subscriber terminal 130 and
the ISP server 110 is determined to be terminated, the ISP server
110 generates logout information and stores the information in the
session usage database 230. It is appreciated that the subscriber
terminal may store the logout information in the local storage
device (not shown) before transmitting the logout information to
the session usage database 230. The logout information may comprise
a logout time and a logout date, but is not limited to such
information.
[0071] Alternatively, each subscriber terminal 130 may generate the
logout information if the connection between the subscriber
terminal 130 and the ISP server 110 is terminated by the
subscriber. It is appreciated that each subscriber terminal 130 may
generate the logout time and the logout date using the virtual
clock rather than its internal clock to ensure accurate and uniform
logout information.
[0072] Alternatively, the ISP server 110 transmits the logout
information to the session usage server 210. The session usage
server 210 generates session duration information as a function of
the subscriber's stored login date, the subscriber's stored login
time, the received logout date and the received logout time. The
session usage server 210 updates the session usage record of the
subscriber in response to the received logout date, the received
logout time and the session duration information, and stores the
updated session usage record in the session usage database 230. The
updated session usage record of the subscriber may be used along
with the subscriber's profile data to select the sequence of
information for the subscriber. That is, the data generated from
the current session for the subscriber may be used to generate the
sequence of information for the next session. It is noted that the
current session implies the subscriber's current connection to the
ISP server 110.
[0073] It is appreciated that the subscriber terminal 130 may be
disconnected from the ISP server 110 due to faulty connection,
hardware and software problems, power outage, etc. Preferably, to
account for such disconnections, each subscriber terminal 130
generates a ping signal every predetermined interval, e.g., every
5, 10 or 15 minutes, and transmits the ping signal to the ISP
server 110. It is appreciated that the ping signal may include
information identifying the source of the ping signal, such as the
subscriber ID.
[0074] The ISP server 110 forwards the ping signal to the session
usage database 230. It is contemplated that the session usage
database 230 stores information relating to the expected time of
the next ping signal for each subscriber. When a subscriber
terminal 130 successfully connects to the ISP server 110, the
session usage database 230 sets the expected time of the next ping
signal for that subscriber to the current time plus a multiple
number of the predetermined ping signal interval. That is, upon the
receipt of login information from a subscriber terminal 130, the
session usage database 230 sets the expected time of the next ping
signal for that subscriber.
[0075] If a ping signal is received substantially within the
expected time from a subscriber terminal 130, then the session
usage database 230 updates the expected time of the next ping
signal for that subscriber. Preferably, the ISP server 110 may
transmit the ping signal to the session usage server 210 which
forwards the ping signal to the session usage database 230 for
processing and storage. However, if a ping signal is not received
substantially within the expected time from that subscriber
terminal 130, then the connection between that subscriber terminal
130 and the ISP server 110 is presumed to be terminated.
Preferably, the session usage server 210 transmits a disconnect
signal to the ISP server 110 to disconnect that subscriber terminal
130 from the ISP server 110. The session usage server 210 also
generates and transmits the logout information for that subscriber
to the session usage database 230 for storage. It is appreciated
that the disconnect signal and logout information may be generated
by the ISP server 110 and transmitted to the session database 230
for storage.
[0076] It is appreciated that for transmission efficiency and
security the ping signal may be encrypted and compressed using
standard encryption and compression techniques before it is
transmitted to the ISP server 110. In such a scenario, the session
usage server 210 decrypts and decompresses the ping signal before
updating the expected time of the next ping signal.
[0077] Since the information displayed to the subscribers may
represent advertisements, it may be important to keep track of what
advertisements were transmitted and displayed to the subscribers.
This information may be used to directly determine the number of
people who viewed a particular advertisement. It is appreciated
that this is comparable to Nielsen's or Arbitron's rating scheme
for television and radio, except that the present technique
provides a more precise and detailed measurement of the viewing
habits of the subscribers. That is, the present technique
advantageously permits a more accurate demographic profile to be
developed for each subscriber, thereby enabling the advertisers to
selectively target their advertisements with greater precision.
[0078] Accordingly, for each subscriber, the present invention
determines which information in the sequence of information was
displayed to that subscriber based on the INFO durations and the
subscriber's session usage record stored in the session usage
database 230. Specifically, the subscriber's stored session
duration information or the subscriber's stored login time, stored
login date, stored logout time and stored logout date of the
subscriber's session usage record may be used to determine which
information was displayed on the subscriber terminal 130. The
result of this determination may be compiled as a list to provide a
list of displayed information. This list of displayed information
is then stored in an INFO display database 240 or the like. It is
appreciated that this list of displayed information for each
subscriber may be a list of INFO IDs and INFO durations
corresponding to the information that was displayed to that
subscriber.
[0079] The list of displayed information for each subscriber may
additionally contain the subscriber ID and information relating to
the display date and display time that a particular information in
that list of displayed information was displayed to that
subscriber. It is appreciated that the display date and the display
time information may be derived from the INFO durations and the
subscriber's session usage record stored in the session usage
database 230, namely from subscriber's login time, login date,
logout time and logout date.
[0080] The list of displayed information for each subscriber may
further contain information relating to the locality of that
subscriber terminal 130, namely the location ID. Alternatively, the
list of displayed information for each subscriber may be
transmitted to the session usage server 210 which generates an INFO
display record for each INFO ID in that list of displayed
information and stores the INFO display record in the INFO display
database 240. It is appreciated that the session usage server 210
may not necessarily use all of the information contained in the
list of displayed information to generate the INFO display record.
Also, the INFO display record of the subscriber may be used along
with the subscriber's profile data to select the sequence of
information for the subscriber. That is, the information displayed
to the subscriber in his/her current session may be used to
generate the sequence of information for the next session.
[0081] In addition, for each displayed information, the present
invention keeps track of all of the linked regions 201 selected (or
clicked) by each subscriber during the display of that information
to provide a linked region ID. This information may be used to
determine the subscriber's interest in a particular product,
company, channel or like, providing a more accurate information on
the viewing habits of the subscriber. Also, this information may be
used to develop a targeted advertising strategy, where the
advertisers can determine the subscribers who are more likely to be
interested in receiving such information. It is appreciated that
since each linked region 201 is connected to a particular host
server, each linked region ID may represent a selected host server
ID (or a selected data provider ID).
[0082] If it is determined that at least one linked region 201 has
been selected by a subscriber, the subscriber terminal 130
associated with that subscriber generates and transmits a clicked
event report packet to the ISP server 110. It is appreciated that
the subscriber terminal 130 may store the clicked event report
packet in the local storage device (not shown) before transmitting
the clicked event report packet to the ISP server 110. The clicked
event report packet may contain the subscriber ID of the subscriber
terminal 130, the displayed INFO ID of the displayed information,
the selected data provider ID corresponding to the clicked linked
region 201, the date and time the information was displayed on the
subscriber terminal 130 to provide the display date and the display
time of the displayed information, and the location ID defining the
locality of the subscriber terminal 130. It is appreciated that the
subscriber terminal 130 may generate the display date and display
time using the virtual clock rather than its internal clock to
ensure accurate and uniform information. Also, it is appreciated
that the clicked event report packet may be encrypted and
compressed before it is transmitted to the ISP server 110 for
transmission efficiency and security purposes.
[0083] The ISP server 110 forwards and stores the received clicked
event report packet in the clicked event database 260.
Alternatively, the ISP server 110 may forward the clicked event
report packet to the clicked event server 250 which decrypts and
decompresses the received clicked event report packet, and
generates a clicked event record. The clicked event record is then
stored in the clicked event database 260. It is appreciated that
the clicked event server 250 may not necessarily use all of the
information in the clicked event report packet to generate the
clicked event record. Also, the clicked event record of the
subscriber may be used along with the subscriber's profile data to
select the sequence of information for the subscriber. That is, the
information selected by the subscriber in his/her current session
may be used to generate the sequence of information for the next
session.
[0084] Further, it may be advantageous to keep track of the web
sites (host servers) visited by the subscriber to develop a more
precise profile on each subscriber. Thereby, enabling the
advertisers to better select their target audience (subscribers)
for their promotions, advertisements and like.
[0085] Accordingly, for each subscriber, the present invention
determines all the host servers selected by that subscriber and
stores the corresponding data provider IDs in the primary session
log database 280. It is appreciated that each time a requested web
page (data) is successfully retrieved from the host server and
displayed on the browser window 190, the subscriber terminal 130
associated with that subscriber may generate and transmit a session
log packet to the ISP server 110. It is appreciated that the
subscriber terminal 130 may store the session log packet in the
local storage device (not shown) before transmitting the session
log packet to the ISP server 110. The session log packet may
contain the subscriber ID of the subscriber terminal 130, the data
provider ID of the host server selected by the subscriber, the date
and time the requested web page was displayed on the subscriber
terminal 130 to provide the display date and the display time of
the requested web page, and the location ID defining the locality
of the subscriber terminal 130. Also, it is appreciated that the
subscriber terminal 130 may generate the display date and display
time using the virtual clock rather than its internal clock to
ensure accurate and uniform information. Further, it is appreciated
that the session log packet may be encrypted and compressed before
it is transmitted to the ISP server 110.
[0086] The ISP server 10 forwards and stores the received session
log packet in the primary session log database 280. Alternatively,
the ISP server 110 may forward the session log packet to the
session log server 270 which decrypts and decompresses the received
session log packet, and generates a primary data display record.
The primary data display record is then stored in the primary
session log database 280.
[0087] Also, the session log server 270 may retrieve the profile
data from the profile database 122 using the subscriber ID and
additionally generate a secondary data display record substituting
the subscriber ID information in the primary data display record
with the profile data information associated with that subscriber
ID. The secondary data display record is then stored in the
secondary session log database 281. That is, the session log server
270 may combine information from the different databases to
generate a customized record. For example, a record may be created
to provide viewing habits of subscribers belonging to a particular
demographic group such as single female under 30 with annual income
exceeding $100,000 living in Florida. It is appreciated that the
session log server 270 may not necessarily use all of the
information in the session log packet to generate the primary and
secondary data display records.
[0088] Further, the data display record of the subscriber may be
used along with the subscriber's profile data to select the
sequence of information for the subscriber. That is, the web site
visited by the subscriber in his/her current session may be used to
generate the sequence of information for the next session.
[0089] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram
of a cable television network which incorporates the present
invention. The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4 may be included in a
set-top converter, a television receiver, a video recorder or other
conventional apparatus typically used to receive and cause the
display of television pictures. A broadcasting station 300
transmits broadcasting signals to a satellite 310 (for example, a
broadcasting or communication satellite). These broadcasting
signals are retransmitted to head-ends 320 disposed in individual
service areas, each of which may contain an antenna to receive the
broadcasting signals, a receiving amplifier, an image source input
portion (if necessary), a modulator to modulate the received
broadcasting signals, and a multiplexer to multiplex the output of
the modulator before it is output to a transmission line.
[0090] Individual homes 330, i.e., subscribers to the cable
television system, are connected to a single head-end 320 by a
cable 340, which can be constructed as either a coaxial cable, an
optical fiber cable, or a combination thereof. For simplicity, the
head-end 320 that a particular home 330 (or a particular television
receiving apparatus 350) is connected to is referred to hereinafter
as the associated head-end 320. The cable 340 is connected in a
tree shape or in a star shape. It is appreciated that the
individual homes 330 may be connected to head-end 320 via wireless
connection, satellite connection or like. A subscriber of the cable
television system (home 330) is provided with a processing device
such as a television receiving apparatus 350, which contains a
tuner 390 for permanently tuning to information channels
broadcasting the sequence of information and selectively tuning to
a desired broadcast channel. It is appreciated that the tuner 390
may comprise multiple tuners such that one tuner may be used to
tune to the desired broadcast channel and other tuners may be used
to tune to the information channels. The received broadcast signals
which constitute the program received from the broadcasting station
300 are supplied to a monitor 370 (FIG. 5) whereat it is displayed
to the viewer (i.e., members of subscriber's household). It will be
appreciated that the monitor 370 includes the usual video
processing circuitry normally provided in television receiving
apparatus or high definition television (HDTV) to permit a
television picture (and accompanying audio information) to be
displayed to a viewer.
[0091] The cable television network according to the present
invention is not limited to the cable television network shown in
FIG. 4. For example, a plurality of program providers (i.e., data
providers) can transmit programs and a plurality of INFO servers
360 can transmit information such as advertisements and like to the
satellite 310. A cable television station may be interposed between
the satellite 310 and the head-ends 320 to receive broadcasting
signals from the satellite 310 and relay those signals to the
head-ends by optical fiber cables. Each head end is connected to
homes of authorized subscribers by optical fiber cables or coaxial
cables. In addition, the present invention may be applied to a
video image communication system such as a TV conference system, a
satellite communication system or like.
[0092] The broadcasting signal generated in the head-end 320
contains a plurality of broadcast channels (i.e., data providers)
which are encoded for example using motion compensated inter-frame
prediction coding techniques. Highly efficient encoders are
utilized in the head-end 320 (not shown) in accordance with the
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) or MPEG2 system that has been
adopted by the ISO (international Organization for
Standardization). The encoded broadcast signals may be
time-division multiplexed into a packet, which is digitally
modulated, for example, using a PSK modulation technique.
[0093] Turning to FIG. 5, the television receiving apparatus 350
may be included in a set-top converter, a television receiver or
other conventional apparatus typically used to receive and cause
the display of television pictures. An input device 450 is adapted
to receive input from the subscriber. For example, the input device
450 may be used by the subscriber to respond to a query from the
cable system provider, to request modification to the existing
service such as adding or deleting a premium channel, etc.
[0094] A remote control unit 440 is adapted to transmit
conventional control signals to the television receiving apparatus
for controlling various functions such as channel selection, volume
control, brightness, contrast, color adjustments, etc. Such control
signals may be transmitted by infra-red transmission; and in that
event the remote control unit includes an IR transmitter (not
shown) and the television receiving apparatus includes a remote IR
receiver 430. Alternatively, remote control unit 440 and remote IR
receiver 430 may be omitted and the aforementioned control signals
may be generated simply by operating corresponding controls
directly on the television receiving apparatus (e.g., channel
selector 420, a volume adjustment button, a picture control button
and the like).
[0095] The control signals, whether received by remote IR receiver
430 or generated by control elements provided directly on the
television receiving apparatus, such as channel selector 420, are
coupled to a microprocessor 410 which controls the operation of a
tuner 390 to tune to a selected television channel received at the
input of the tuner. For example, the microprocessor may control
tuner 390 to tune to a particular broadcast frequency over which a
television program is transmitted. Alternatively, the
microprocessor 410 may control tuner 390 to tune to a particular
digital channel (as in direct satellite broadcast transmission)
over which the television program is transmitted. The video signals
which constitute the television program broadcast over the selected
channel are supplied to the monitor 370 whereat they are displayed
to the subscriber. It will be appreciated that the monitor 370
includes the usual video processing circuitry normally provided in
television receiving apparatus to permit a television picture (and
accompanying audio information) to be displayed to a viewer. The
foregoing operation is typical of television receiving
apparatus.
[0096] Although not described in detail, it will be appreciated
that the microprocessor may be a conventional microprocessor, such
as a relatively inexpensive, small eight-bit controller or a
powerful, high-speed microprocessor for example, a "486"-type
microprocessor or Pentium microprocessor manufactured by Intel
Corp.
[0097] Returning to FIG. 4, each head-end 320 may also include a
profile database 325, wherein the profile data representing the
demographic of the subscriber is stored. As stated hereinabove with
respect to the internet, the profile data may comprise home
address, business address, length of residence, household income,
gender, age group, the frequency of internet or cable use, but is
not limited to such. The profile data may be supplied via a
telephone to a representative of the cable television system,
entered on the input device 450 of the television receiving
apparatus 350, obtained from a questionnaire profile form completed
by the subscriber or by other comparable means. If the profile data
is entered on the input device 450 by the subscriber, the
television receiving apparatus 350 transmits the profile data to
the associated head-end 320 via the cable 340 or a dedicated
channel or a data link 341. It is appreciated that the profile data
may be encrypted and compressed before it is transmitted to the
associated head-end 320.
[0098] The head-end 320 decrypts and decompresses the receive
profile data, and forwards the decrypted and decompressed profile
data to profile database 325 for storage. Alternatively, the
decrypted and decompressed profile data may be stored in a central
profile database (not shown) which is accessible by each head-end
320. Also, from time to time, additional demographic information
may be requested from the subscribers and these additional
demographic information may be stored with the profile data in the
profile database 325 or separately in the additional profile
database 326.
[0099] If the additional profile data is entered on the input
device 450 by the subscriber, the television receiving apparatus
350 transmits the additional profile data to the associated
head-end 320. The additional profile data may be encrypted and
compressed before it is transmitted to the television receiving
apparatus 350. The head-end 320 decrypts and decompresses the
received additional profile data, and stores the additional profile
data in the additional profile database 326 or the profile database
325.
[0100] Excluding the information channel, each broadcast channel
contains a plurality of programs which are encoded so that only
authorized subscribers of the cable television system may receive
the broadcast programs. The information channel contains a
plurality of information, such as advertisements, news, messages,
announcements, updates and like, which are continuously broadcasted
to the subscribers of the cable television system to form a
sequence of information. The information may comprise but is not
limited to texts, still pictures, moving pictures, video and audio
components, or a combination thereof. It is appreciated that
information from numerous information channels may be multiplexed
and distributed to the subscribers. The encoding technique normally
depends on each channel.
[0101] In accordance with the present invention, the information
channel may receive a plurality of information from the INFO
servers 360. Each INFO server may include a storage device 365 or
like. The information to be broadcasted on the information channel
is first retrieved from the respective storage device 365 and
supplied to the information channel for distribution to the
subscribers.
[0102] Alternatively, the sequence of information is selected for
each subscriber in accordance with the subscriber's profile data
which may also include the additional profile data. That is, a
sequence of information is dynamically and individually generated
for each subscriber. For example, if an advertiser chooses to
target its advertisements to single females under 30 years of age
with annual incomes exceeding $50,000, then these advertisements
could be distributed to only those subscribers satisfying these
demographic requirements. As stated hereinabove with respect to the
internet, a part or all of the subscriber's profile data containing
various demographic information may be used to generate the
sequence of information.
[0103] As stated hereinabove with respect to the internet, for each
information in the sequence, the respective storage device 365 may
contain the INFO duration representing the length of time the
information is to be displayed to the subscribers, e.g., display
the information for 30 seconds; and the display time range
representing the time of the day that the information is to be
displayed to the subscribers, e.g., display the information within
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Accordingly, each INFO server 360 may transmit
only those information satisfying the display time range
requirements of the information as a part of the sequence of
information to a particular subscriber. The sequence of information
is selected for each subscriber based on the subscriber's profile
data and the display time range of the information. In other words,
the microprocessor 410 (FIG. 5) controls the tuner 390 (FIG. 5) to
tune to a particular INFO channel to receive the sequence of
information selected for that subscriber. It is appreciated that
each subscriber may be categorized into groups based on the
subscriber's profile data and each INFO channel is associated with
a particular group.
[0104] Also, the profile data may contain information relating to
the subscriber's time zone which can be used to generate the
sequence of information. For example, if a particular information
has a display time range of 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the current time
is 9:00 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time), then this information would
not be provided to any subscribers in the EST time zone, but would
be supplied to subscribers in the Mountain and Pacific time
zones.
[0105] Preferably, as stated hereinabove with respect to the ISP
server 110 (FIG. 1), the associated head-end 320 may retrieve a
sequence of INFO IDs from an INFO list database 327 for
distribution to the subscribers. The sequence of INFO IDs may
contain a list of the INFO IDs uniquely identifying each
information in the sequence of information; the INFO durations
representing the length of time each information is to be displayed
to the subscribers; and display time ranges representing the time
of the day that each information is to be displayed to the
subscribers. The associated head-end 320 may transmit the sequence
of INFO IDs to the television receiving apparatus 350 which stores
the received sequence in a local storage device 415 (FIG. 5).
[0106] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the associated head-end 320 may generate a customized
and individualized sequence of INFO IDs for each subscriber in
accordance with the subscriber's profile data which may also
include the additional profile data. That is, a sequence of INFO
IDs is dynamically and individually generated for each subscriber.
It is appreciated that this sequence of INFO IDs may be
pre-generated for each subscriber during off-peak hours and
provided to the subscriber's television receiving apparatus 350
when it is "turn on" or dynamically generated for each subscriber
as part of the "logging in" process, i.e., when the television
receiving apparatus "turns on" to connect to the cable network.
This customized sequence of INFO IDs is then transmitted to the
television receiving apparatus 350 associated with that subscriber.
The television receiving apparatus 350 stores the received sequence
of INFO IDs in the local storage device 415 (FIG. 5).
[0107] The microprocessor 410 (FIG. 5) of the television receiving
apparatus 350 may request information corresponding to stored INFO
IDs over the dedicated channel or data link 341 from the associated
head-end 320 to which the television receiving apparatus 350. It is
appreciated that the request for information may include more than
one INFO ID and the subscriber ID of the television receiving
apparatus 350. The associated head-end 320 forwards the request to
the INFO server 360 which retrieves the requested information
corresponding to the INFO ID from the storage device 365. The
requested information is then transmitted to the associated
head-end 320 for distribution to the requesting television
receiving apparatus 350. The associated head-end 320 transmits the
requested information to the television receiving apparatus 350 via
the dedicated channel or data link 341. The microprocessor 410
stores the requested information in a local storage device 415 and
supplies the requested information to the monitor 370 to be
displayed to the subscriber. It is appreciated that the
microprocessor 410 may request and store the information in advance
from the associated head-end 320 in the local storage device 415
such that the information to be displayed is always available from
the local storage device 415.
[0108] Alternatively, the associated head-end 320 may retrieve a
sequence of channel IDs from an INFO list database 327 for
distribution to the subscribers. The sequence of channel IDs may
contain a list of the channel IDs uniquely identifying the
information channel wherein the information may be received from
the associated head-end 320 and the INFO durations representing the
length of time the information receivable on each information
channel corresponding to the channel IDs is to be displayed to the
subscribers. The associated head-end 320 may transmit the sequence
of channel IDs to the television receiving apparatus 350 which
stores the received sequence in a local storage device 415 (FIG.
5).
[0109] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the associated head-end 320 may generate a customized
and individualized sequence of channel IDs for each subscriber in
accordance with the subscriber's profile data which may also
include the additional profile data. That is, a sequence of channel
IDs is dynamically and individually generated for each subscriber.
It is appreciated that this sequence of channel IDs may be
pre-generated for each subscriber during off-peak hours and
provided to the subscriber's television receiving apparatus 350
when it is "turn on" or dynamically generated for each subscriber
as part of the "logging in" process, i.e., when the television
receiving apparatus "turns on" to connect to the cable network.
This customized sequence of channel IDs is then transmitted to the
television receiving apparatus 350 associated with that subscriber
and to a session usage server 510 which stores the received
sequence for that subscriber in the session usage database 515. The
television receiving apparatus 350 stores the received sequence of
channel IDs in the local storage device 415 (FIG. 5).
[0110] The microprocessor 410 of the subscriber's television
receiving apparatus 350 may control the tuner 390 (FIG. 5) to tune
to the information channels corresponding to stored channel IDs to
receive the information selected for that subscriber. That is, the
tuner 390 sequentially tunes to the information channel
corresponding to each stored channel ID for the INFO duration
specified for that information channel.
[0111] It is noted that only authorized subscribers, i.e.,
authorized television receiving apparatus 350, are permitted to be
connected to the head-end 320 and unauthorized television receiving
apparatus 350 are inhibited from displaying the sequence of
information received from the INFO servers 360 and the program
receivable on the broadcast channels.
[0112] As described hereinabove with respect to the internet, the
login information is generated when authorized television receiving
apparatus 350 "turns on" to receive programs from the associated
head-end 320 (or connects to the associated head-end 320). The
login information is stored in a session usage database 515 or
like. The login information may comprise the login time and the
login date, but is not limited to such information. For example,
the login information may additionally contain a location ID,
information relating to the locality of that television receiving
apparatus 350. It is appreciated that the location ID may represent
a zip code, a telephone number, a country name or code, a state or
province name, or like. Alternatively, the login information may be
transmitted to the session usage server 510 which generates the
session usage record from the login information and stores the
session usage record in the session usage database 515. It is
appreciated that the session usage record may not necessarily
contain all the login information.
[0113] Also, it is appreciated that the login time and the login
date may be generated in accordance with a network system clock,
thereby ensuring accurate and uniform login information from the
television receiving apparatus 350. The network system clock may
reside in the head-ends 320 or some other server on the satellite
310. Accordingly, the clock information of each television
receiving apparatus 350 is not overwritten with the network system
clock information, but each television receiving apparatus 350
stamps the information to be transmitted to the associated head-end
320 based on the network system clock. That is, each television
receiving apparatus 350 has a real time and a virtual time based on
the network system clock, and generates a virtual login time and a
virtual login date based on the network system clock.
[0114] It is appreciated that the zip code and time zone of the
subscriber may also be used to generate the sequence of information
for that subscriber. For example, if a particular information has a
display time range of 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the current time is
9:00 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time), then this information would
not be provided to any U.S. subscribers in the EST time zone, but
would be supplied to U.S. subscribers in the Mountain and Pacific
time zones. It is appreciated that U.S. subscribers in the EST time
zone will receive information having a display time range of 9:00
PM to 10:00 PM. This will advantageously permit the advertisers to
target their advertisements based on the geographic location of the
subscriber to consider regional preferences. That is, advertisers
may want to use one advertisement for people in the east coast and
another advertisement for people in the west coast. Also, it is
appreciated the time zone and the display time range information
may be used to insure that a particular advertisement is shown to
all U.S. subscribers only from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
[0115] The authorized subscriber selects (requests) a program to
view by selecting the desired broadcast channel using the remote
control unit 440 or the channel selector 420 on the television
receiving apparatus 350. In response, the microprocessor 410
controls the tuner 390 to tune to a selected broadcast channel or a
particular broadcast frequency over which the requested program is
transmitted. The video signals which constitute the program
broadcast over the selected broadcast channel are supplied to the
monitor 370 whereat they are continuously displayed simultaneously
with the sequence of information. As stated hereinabove with
respect to the internet, the sequence of information and the
requested program are displayed on the monitor 370 such that they
are simultaneously viewable by the subscriber.
[0116] Preferably, the display of the sequence of information on
the monitor 370 does not interfere with the display of the
requested program. In such a scheme, the sequence of information
may be displayed in a first portion of the monitor 370 and the
requested program in a second portion of the monitor 370. For
simplicity, the two portions of the monitor 370 will be referred
hereinafter as a program or browser window 371 and an INFO window
372 as depicted in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the sequence of information
is displayed in the INFO window 372 and the requested program is
displayed in the program window 371. It is appreciated that each
information in the sequence is displayed on the INFO window 372 for
the assigned INFO duration, e.g., first information may be
displayed for 30 seconds, second information for 15 seconds,
etc.
[0117] As stated hereinabove with respect to the internet, the INFO
window 372 may include unlinked regions 374 and linked regions 373
such as "Preview Programs", "Merchandise", "New Products" or "Order
Now" as shown in FIG. 6. Each of the linked regions 373 may be
linked to an INFO server 360 or a broadcasting station 310 (a data
provider) on the satellite 310. The subscriber may click one of the
linked regions 373 to preview new programs, receive additional
information relating to merchandise and new products or to place an
order. For example, if the subscriber clicks the linked region 373
labeled "Preview Programs" in FIG. 6, the television receiving
apparatus 350 will be tuned to a broadcast channel or an INFO
channel to display the program receivable on that channel on the
program window 371. Additionally, the INFO window 372 may display a
program that is currently receivable on a broadcast channel such as
channel 10 and the subscriber may tune to channel 10 by simply
clicking on the display of that program. That is, the linked region
373 may be connected to the microprocessor 410 of the television
receiving apparatus 350 to control the tuner 390 to select the
broadcast channel transmitting the program currently displayed on
the INFO window 372. Preferably, as described hereinabove with the
internet, the additional information displayed in the program
window 371 may depend on the subscriber's profile data. It is
appreciated that the linked regions 373 are not limited to those
depicted in FIG. 6 and other linked regions are contemplated in the
present invention.
[0118] Alternatively, if the subscriber clicks the linked region
373 labeled "Preview Programs," a pop-up window may be displayed on
the program window 371 wherein the subscriber may be requested to
complete a questionnaire form or to provide e-mail address, home
address, fax number or like to receive a complementary copy of a
video containing the program or a promotional brochure on the
program. It is appreciated that the requested data may be retrieved
from the profile database 1222 and displayed in the program window
371. The subscriber may accept (confirm) this retrieved data or
modify the data so as to provide the additional information to
another person. After the requested data is either entered or
selected by the subscriber, the television receiving apparatus 350
transmits the requested data to the associated head-end 320 via the
data link 341. Preferably, the associated head-end 320 stores or
updates the subscriber's additional profile information in the
additional profile database 286 in accordance with the completed
questionnaire form or the requested data. Alternatively, the ISP
server 110 retrieves the profile data associated with the
subscriber from the profile database 326, and stores or updates the
subscriber's additional profile information in the additional
profile database 326 in accordance with the completed questionnaire
form or the requested data, subscriber ID and the subscriber's
profile data. It is appreciated that this advantageously permits
the present invention to provide a mechanism for interactive
communication between the subscriber and the INFO provider. Also,
other means of providing the requested data is contemplated such as
a radio button for exclusive selections, check boxes for multiple
selections and like.
[0119] It is appreciated that although the subscriber cannot
control the display of the sequence of information on the INFO
window 372 of the monitor 370, the subscriber can select another
program to be displayed on the program window 371 by selecting
another broadcast channel using the remote control unit 440 or the
channel selector 420.
[0120] Alternatively, the contents of the INFO window 372, each
information in the sequence of information, can be characterized as
an unsolicited request for a program (data) from one of the
broadcasting stations. In other words, the programs displayed on
the program window 371 represent solicited programs requested by
the subscriber, whereas the materials (programs) displayed on the
INFO window 372 represent unsolicited programs not requested by the
subscriber. Essentially, without informing the subscriber, the
television receiving apparatus 350 automatically tunes to a
broadcast channel to request (select) a program that is receivable
on that broadcast channel to be displayed on the INFO window
372.
[0121] Preferably, the broadcast channels (or broadcast stations)
may be divided into two groups, wherein the tuner 390 is operable
to tune to the first group of broadcast channels in response to a
solicited request and second group of broadcast channels in
response to an unsolicited request. That is, the microprocessor 410
does not permit the tuner 390 to tune to the second group of
broadcast channels in response to a control signal from the remote
control unit 440 or the channel selector 420. Any solicited request
for programs from the second group of broadcast channels is denied
and the program window 371 may display a message such as "channel
unavailable".
[0122] When the television receiving apparatus 350 is determined to
be disconnected from the associated head-end 320, the associated
head-end 320 generates the logout information and stores the
information in the session usage database 515. As stated
hereinabove with respect to the internet, the logout information
may comprise the logout time and the logout date, but is not
limited to such information. Alternatively, each television
receiving apparatus 350, namely the microprocessor 410, may
generate the logout information if the subscriber disconnects the
television receiving apparatus 350 from the associated head-end 320
by "turning off" the television receiving apparatus 350. It is
appreciated that each television receiving apparatus 350 may
generate the logout time and the logout date using the virtual
clock rather than its internal clock to ensure accurate and uniform
logout information.
[0123] Alternatively, the associated head-end 320 transmits the
logout information to the session usage server 510. Similar to the
session usage server 210 in FIG. 1, the session usage server 510
generates the session duration information as a function of the
subscriber's stored login date, the subscriber's stored login time,
the received logout date and the received logout time. The session
usage server 510 updates the session usage record of the subscriber
in response to the received logout date, the received logout time
and the session duration information, and stores the updated
session usage record in the session usage database 515. The updated
session usage record of the subscriber may be used along with the
subscriber's profile data to select the sequence of information for
the subscriber. That is, the data generated from the current
session for the subscriber may be used to generate the sequence of
information for the next session. It is noted that the current
session implies the subscriber's current connection to the
associated head-end 320.
[0124] It is appreciated that the television receiving apparatus
350 may be disconnected from the associated head-end 320 due to
faulty connection, hardware and software problems, power outage,
etc. Preferably, to account for such disconnections, each
television receiving apparatus 350 generates a ping signal every
predetermined interval, e.g., every 5, 10 or 15 minutes and
transmits the ping signal to the associated head-end 320. It is
appreciated that the ping signal may include information
identifying the source of the ping signal such as the subscriber ID
and channel ID indicating the subscriber's selected channel.
[0125] The associated head-end 320 forwards the ping signal to the
session usage database 515. It is contemplated that the session
usage database 515 stores information relating to the expected time
of the next ping signal for each subscriber. When the television
receiving apparatus "turns on" to connect to the associated
head-end 320, the session usage database 515 sets the expected time
of the next ping signal for that subscriber to the current time
plus a multiple number of the predetermined ping signal interval.
That is, upon the receipt of login information from the television
receiving apparatus 350, the session usage database 515 sets the
expected time of the next ping signal for that subscriber.
[0126] If a ping signal is received substantially within the
expected time from the television receiving apparatus 350 (the
microprocessor 410), then the session usage database 515 updates
the expected time of the next ping signal for that subscriber.
Preferably, the associated head-end 320 may transmit the ping
signal to the session usage server 510 which forwards the ping
signal to the session usage database 515 for processing and
storage. However, if a ping signal is not received substantially
within the expected time from that television receiving apparatus
350, then the television receiving apparatus 350 is presumed to be
disconnected from the associated head-end 320. Preferably, the
session usage server 510 transmits a disconnect signal to the
associated head-end 320 to disconnect that television receiving
apparatus 350 from the associated head-end 320. The session usage
server 510 also generates and transmits the logout information for
that subscriber to the session usage database 515 for storage. It
is appreciated that the disconnect signal and logout information
may be generated by the associated head-end 320 and transmitted to
the session database 515 for storage.
[0127] As stated hereinabove with respect to the internet, it is
appreciated for transmission efficiency and security the ping
signal may be encrypted and compressed using standard encryption
and compression techniques before it is transmitted to the
associated head-end 320. In such a scenario, the session usage
server 510 decrypts and decompresses the ping signal before
updating the expected time of the next ping signal.
[0128] As stated hereinabove with respect to the internet, since
the information displayed to the subscribers may represent
advertisements, it may be important to keep track of what
advertisements were transmitted and displayed to the subscribers.
This information may be used to directly determine the number of
people who viewed a particular advertisement. It is appreciated
that this is comparable to Nielsen's or Arbitron's rating scheme
for television and radio, except the present technique provides a
more precise and detailed measurement of the viewing habits of the
subscribers. That is, the present technique advantageously permits
a more accurate demographic profile to be developed for each
subscriber, thereby enabling the advertisers to selectively target
their advertisements more effectively.
[0129] Accordingly, for each subscriber, the preferred embodiment
of the present invention determines which information in the
sequence of information was displayed to that subscriber based on
the INFO durations and the subscriber's session usage record stored
in the session usage database 515. Specifically, the subscriber's
stored session duration information or the subscriber's stored
login time, stored login date, stored logout time and stored logout
date of the subscriber's session usage record may be used to
determine which information was displayed on the television
receiving apparatus 350. The result of this determination may be
compiled as a list to provide a list of displayed information. This
list of displayed information is then stored in an INFO display
database 525 or like. It is appreciated that the list of displayed
information may be stored in the local storage device 415 (FIG. 5)
of the television receiving apparatus 350 before the list is
transmitted to the INFO display database 525. Also, it is
appreciated that this list of displayed information for each
subscriber may be a list of INFO IDs and INFO durations
corresponding to the information that was displayed to that
subscriber.
[0130] The list of displayed information for each subscriber may
additionally contain the subscriber ID and information relating to
the display date and display time that a particular information in
that list of displayed information was displayed to that
subscriber. It is appreciated that the display date and the display
time information may be derived from the INFO durations and the
subscriber's session usage record stored in the session usage
database 515, namely from subscriber's login time, login date,
logout time and logout date.
[0131] The list of displayed information for each subscriber may
further contain information relating to the locality of that
television receiving apparatus 350, namely the location ID.
Alternatively, the list of displayed information for each
subscriber may be transmitted to the session usage server 515 which
generates an INFO display record for each INFO ID in that list of
displayed information and stores the INFO display record in the
INFO display database 525. It is appreciated that the session usage
server 510 may not necessarily use all of the information contained
in the list of displayed information to generate the INFO display
record. Also, the INFO display record of the subscriber may be used
along with the subscriber's profile data to select the sequence of
information for the subscriber. That is, the information displayed
to the subscriber in his/her current session may be used to
generate the sequence of information for the next session.
[0132] In addition, for each displayed information, the present
invention keeps track of all of the linked regions 373 selected (or
clicked) by each subscriber during the display of that information
to provide a linked region ID. This information may be used to
determine the subscriber's interest in a particular product,
company, channel or like, providing a more accurate information on
the viewing habits of the subscriber. Also, this information may be
used to develop a targeted advertising strategy, where the
advertisers can determine the subscribers who are more likely to be
interested in receiving such information. It is appreciated that
since each linked region 373 is connected to a particular data
provider (i.e., broadcasting station or INFO server), each linked
region ID may represent a selected data provider ID.
[0133] If it is determined that at least one linked region 373 has
been selected by a subscriber, the television receiving apparatus
350 associated with that subscriber generates and transmits a
clicked event report packet to the associated head-end 320. It is
appreciated that the television receiving apparatus 350 may store
the clicked event report packet in the local storage device 415
(FIG. 5) before transmitting the clicked event report packet to the
associated head-end 320. The clicked event report packet may
contain the subscriber ID of the television receiving apparatus
350, the displayed INFO ID of the displayed information, the
selected data provider ID corresponding to the clicked linked
region 373, the date and time the information was displayed on the
television receiving apparatus 350 to provide the display date and
the display time of the displayed information, and the location ID
defining the locality of the television receiving apparatus 350. It
is appreciated that the television receiving apparatus 350 may
generate the display date and display time using the virtual clock
rather than its internal clock to ensure accurate and uniform
information. Also, it is appreciated that the clicked event report
packet may be encrypted and compressed before it is transmitted to
the associated head-end 320 for transmission efficiency and
security purposes.
[0134] The associated head-end 320 forwards and stores the received
clicked event report packet in the clicked event database 535.
Alternatively, the associated head-end 320 may forward the clicked
event report packet to the clicked event server 530 which decrypts
and decompresses the received clicked event report packet, and
generates a clicked event record. The clicked event record is then
stored in the clicked event database 535. It is appreciated that
the clicked event server 530 may not necessarily use all of the
information in the clicked event report packet to generate the
clicked event record. Also, the clicked event record of the
subscriber may be used along with the subscriber's profile data to
select the sequence of information for the subscriber. That is, the
information selected by the subscriber in his/her current session
may be used to generate the sequence of information for the next
session.
[0135] Further, it may be advantageous to keep track of the
broadcasting channels selected by the subscriber to develop a more
precise profile on each subscriber. Thereby, enabling the
advertisers to better select their target audience (subscribers)
for their promotions, advertisements and like.
[0136] Accordingly, for each subscriber, the present invention
determines all the broadcasting channels selected by that
subscriber and stores the corresponding data provider IDs in the
primary session log database 545. It is appreciated that each time
a new broadcast channel is selected to display the program
receivable on that selected broadcast channel on the program window
371, the television receiving apparatus 350 associated with that
subscriber may generate and transmit the session log packet to the
associated head-end 320. It is appreciated that the television
receiving apparatus 350 may store the session log packet in the
local storage device 415 before transmitting the session log packet
to the associated head-end 320. The session log packet may contain
the subscriber ID of the television receiving apparatus 350, the
data provider ID of the broadcast channel selected by the
subscriber, the date and time the program receivable on the
selected (requested) broadcast channel was displayed on the
television receiving apparatus 350 to provide the display date and
the display time of the requested program, and the location ID
defining the locality of the television receiving apparatus 350.
Also, it is appreciated that the television receiving apparatus 350
may generate the display date and display time using the virtual
clock rather than its internal clock to ensure accurate and uniform
information. Further, it is appreciated that the session log packet
may be encrypted and compressed before it is transmitted to the
associated head-end 320.
[0137] The associated head-end 320 forwards and stores the received
session log packet in the primary session log database 545.
Alternatively, the associated head-end 320 may forward the session
log packet to the session log server 540 which decrypts and
decompresses the received session log packet, and generates the
primary data display record. The primary data display record is
then stored in the primary session log database 545.
[0138] Also, the session log server 540 may forward a request for
profile data associated with the subscriber ID to the head-ends
320. Each head-end 320 searches its profile database 325 for the
requested profile data corresponding to the subscriber ID. When the
requested profile data is located by the associated head-end 320,
the associated head-end 320 forwards the requested profile data to
the session log server 540. The session log server 540 additionally
generates a secondary data display record substituting the
subscriber ID information in the primary data display record with
the profile data information associated with that subscriber ID.
The secondary data display record is then stored in the secondary
session log database 546. That is, the session log server 540 may
combine information from the various databases to generate a
customized record. For example, a record may be created to provide
viewing habits of subscribers belonging to a particular demographic
group such as married male under 35 with annual income exceeding
$100,000 living in New York City. It is appreciated that the
session log server 540 may not necessarily use all of the
information in the session log packet to generate the primary and
secondary data display records.
[0139] Further, the data display record of the subscriber may be
used along with the subscriber's profile data to select the
sequence of information for the subscriber. That is, the broadcast
channels selected by the subscriber in his/her current session may
be used to generate the sequence of information for the next
session.
[0140] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be
readily appreciated that various changes may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example,
instead of storing the information in various databases, all of the
information may be stored in a single database or a single storage
device. Also, the information such as the clicked event report, the
session log packet and like may be stored in the subscriber
terminal 130 and the television receiving apparatus 350 before they
are transmitted to the respective databases for storage via the ISP
server 110 and the associated head-end 320, respectively. This
advantageously permits the subscriber terminal 130 and the
television receiving apparatus 350 to queue the information and
transmit the information in bulk to the ISP server 110 and the
associated head-end 320, respectively, during off-peak hours when
the network is less congested.
[0141] Additionally, instead of storing the profile data and
additional profile data in the profile databases 325 and additional
profile databases 326 associated with each head-end 320, they may
stored in a single profile database 325 and a single additional
profile database 326 connected to the satellite 310.
[0142] Further, it is appreciated that each server and database may
be mirrored for redundancy to provide a more reliable and robust
system. The information stored in various databases may be
additionally backed up in a central database every predetermined
interval or during off-peak hours to provide recoverability,
efficiency and security. Alternatively, each database may backup
another database so that there is always a primary and secondary
databases for any given information.
[0143] It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as
including the embodiment discussed above, those various
alternatives which have been described and all equivalents
thereto.
* * * * *
References