U.S. patent application number 11/894609 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-12 for program guide system with preference profiles.
This patent application is currently assigned to TV Guide Networks, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kevin B. Easterbrook, Michael D. Ellis, Joel G. Hassell, Robert A. Knee, Edward B. Knudson, Thomas R. Lemmons.
Application Number | 20090070817 11/894609 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21879556 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090070817 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ellis; Michael D. ; et
al. |
March 12, 2009 |
Program guide system with preference profiles
Abstract
An interactive television program guide system is provided in
which a user may inform a program guide of the user's interests.
Information on the user's interests may be stored in a preference
profile. There may be more than one preference profile, each for a
different user. Each preference profile contains a number of
preference attributes (program titles, genres, viewing times,
channels, broadcast characteristics, etc.). A preference level
(e.g., strong or weak like, strong or weak dislike, illegal,
mandatory, don't care, etc.) that is indicative of the user's level
of interest is associated with each preference attribute.
Preference profiles may be used to restrict the programs that are
listed in various program listings display screens and may be used
to limit the channels to which the program guide allows the user to
tune.
Inventors: |
Ellis; Michael D.; (Boulder,
CO) ; Knudson; Edward B.; (Littleton, CO) ;
Lemmons; Thomas R.; (Sand Springs, OK) ; Hassell;
Joel G.; (Arvada, CO) ; Knee; Robert A.;
(Lansdale, PA) ; Easterbrook; Kevin B.; (Monument,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROPES & GRAY LLP
PATENT DOCKETING 39/361, 1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036-8704
US
|
Assignee: |
TV Guide Networks, Inc.
Tulsa
OK
|
Family ID: |
21879556 |
Appl. No.: |
11/894609 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11704736 |
Feb 9, 2007 |
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11894609 |
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09034934 |
Mar 4, 1998 |
7185355 |
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11704736 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/482 20130101;
H04N 21/4312 20130101; H04N 21/4532 20130101; H04N 21/4668
20130101; H04N 21/4753 20130101; H04N 21/4755 20130101; H04N
5/44543 20130101; H04N 21/4751 20130101; H04N 21/47214 20130101;
H04N 21/25891 20130101; H04N 21/44222 20130101; H04N 21/47
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/46 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/445 20060101
H04N005/445 |
Claims
1-180. (canceled)
181. A program guide system implemented on user media equipment,
comprising: a provided option to select a plurality of preference
attributes based on the user's programming interests; a provided
option to select one of at least several preference levels for each
of the plurality of selected preference attributes; and a displayed
list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and
selected preference levels.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to interactive television program
guides, and more particularly, to television program guides in
which users may create profiles of their programming preferences.
Profiles contain information about the user's interests (e.g.,
favored or disfavored programming genres, actors, channels, series,
etc.) The profiles are used by the program guide in determining
which channels the user may tune to and which programs are to be
included in various lists displayed by the guide.
[0002] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide
viewers with a large number of television channels. Viewers have
traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to
determine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. More
recently, interactive electronic television program guides have
been developed that allow television program information to be
displayed on a viewer's television.
[0003] Interactive program guides are typically implemented on
set-top boxes. Such program guides allow users to view television
program listings in different display formats. For example, a user
may instruct the program guide to display a grid or table of
program listings organized in a channel-ordered or a time-ordered
list. Users may also search and sort program listings by genre
(e.g., movies, sports, etc.) or by title (i.e, alphabetically). A
user may obtain additional information for a program by placing a
highlight region on a desired program listing and pressing an
"info" button. The user may purchase a pay program from the program
guide by placing the highlight region on a program listing and
pressing an "OK" button. Some systems allow the user to select a
program for recording by placing the highlight region on a program
listing and pressing a "record" button.
[0004] Because there are so many television channels available,
particularly with cable and satellite television systems,
television program guides have been developed that allow users to
establish lists of favorite channels. When a user is channel
surfing, the set top box on which the program guide is implemented
can be directed to tune only to channels contained in the favorite
channel list. When the user directs the program guide to display
current or future programming, the displayed list of programs is
restricted to television programs that occur only on the user's
preselected favorite channels.
[0005] This approach is not very selective. Even though a user may
have chosen a channel as a favorite, some of the programming that
appears on that channel may not be of interest to the user.
Moreover, programs that would be of interest to the user often
appear on channels that the user has not chosen as favorites (e.g.,
because the user does not like most of the programming on those
channels).
[0006] What is needed is a more sophisticated way in which a user
may inform a program guide of the user's preferences, so that the
program guide can more accurately filter out disliked programming
while retaining more programming of the type the user likes.
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a program guide system with which a user may set up a
profile based on various preference attributes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in
accordance with the principles of the present invention by
providing an interactive television program guide system in which a
user may inform a program guide of the user's television
programming interests. The user may specify a number of preference
attributes such as program title, genre, start time, broadcast
characteristics, language, rating, critics ratings, actor, etc.
Each preference attribute has an associated preference level that
is indicative of the user's interest in that attribute. Suitable
preference levels include: strong like, weak like, strong dislike,
weak dislike, illegal, mandatory, and don't care.
[0009] The program guide may maintain the preference attributes and
associated preference levels for a user in a preference profile.
Different preference profiles may be used by different users of the
same program guide. If desired, more than one preference profile
may be active at a given time.
[0010] The program guide may use the preference profiles when
displaying lists of available television programming. Only those
programs that satisfy the preference profile will be displayed by
the program guide, even if other programs are available. Another
way in which the program guide may use the preference profiles is
to restrict the programs to which the user may tune with the system
to only those programs that satisfy the profile.
[0011] A user may define a preferred sort order for programs that
satisfy the profile. The user may also specify a desired preference
scope. A narrow scope may be used to restrict programming choices
to programs that are liked, whereas a wide scope may be used to
restrict programming choices to programs that are just not
disliked.
[0012] The user may direct the program guide to require a personal
identification number (PIN) in order to access certain profile
modification options. Such personal identification number access
control may be used by parents to control the television viewing of
their children.
[0013] A master profile may be used that has settings that override
the settings in other profiles.
[0014] Profiles may contain non-program settings for controlling
audio and display options in the system.
[0015] Further features of the invention, its nature and various
advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and
the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system in which an interactive
television program guide is implemented in accordance with the
present invention.
[0017] FIGS. 2a and 2b are flow charts of steps involved in
providing options for selecting various preference profile
attributes in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an illustrative preference profile
showing how multiple preference attributes of the same type may be
associated with the same preference profile.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing steps involved in using the
program guide with a specified sort order in accordance with the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of steps involved in allowing a
selected preference attribute to expire or be deselected in
accordance with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of steps involved in using the
program guide with various preference scopes in accordance with the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an illustrative preference profile
containing multiple preference attributes and their associated
preference levels and an associated preference scope in accordance
with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a table illustrating the titles, genres,
closed-caption status, and ratings associated with a number of
programs and illustrating which groups of these programs would
satisfy the profile of FIG. 7 with various different preference
scopes in accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating how multiple profiles may
be used and how a given preference attribute may be associated with
more than one such profile in accordance with the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of steps involved in selecting a
profile to make active and displaying programming or allowing
tuning based on one or more active profiles in accordance with the
present invention.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating how the program guide
provides an opportunity to modify a profile based on the
characteristics of a selected program in accordance with the
present invention.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a diagram of an illustrative profiles display in
accordance with the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a diagram of another illustrative profiles
display in accordance with the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 14 is a flow chart of steps involved in automatically
modifying a profile based on which programs a user watches in
accordance with the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 15 is a flow chart of steps involved in using automatic
reminders based on a preference profile in accordance with the
present invention.
[0031] FIG. 16 is a diagram of an illustrative create profile
screen and an illustrative set up profile screen in accordance with
the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 17 is a flow chart of steps involved in providing
various display mode options in accordance with the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 18 is an illustrative navigator menu containing a
favorites display mode option in accordance with the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 19 is an illustrative by-time favorites list display in
accordance with the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 20 is a diagram of an illustrative flip feature for the
program guide in accordance with the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 21 is a diagram of an illustrative browse feature for
the program guide in accordance with the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 22 is a diagram of a program listings screen
illustrating the restricted highlight movement mode in accordance
with the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 23 is a flow chart of steps involved displaying
programs in various display modes in accordance with the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 24 is an illustrative program listings screen showing
how programs that satisfy different preference profiles can be
listed with different colors, patterns, or icons in accordance with
the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 25 is an illustrative hot list in accordance with the
present invention.
[0041] FIG. 26 is a flow chart of the step of providing the option
of displaying a hot list a short time before the start time of the
programs on the hot list in accordance with the present
invention.
[0042] FIG. 27 is a flow chart of steps involved in displaying a
hot list in various formats in accordance with the present
invention.
[0043] FIG. 28 is an illustrative personal identification number
setup screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the concurrent use of both
a master profile and another profile in accordance with the present
invention.
[0045] FIG. 30 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
using a master profile in accordance with the present
invention.
[0046] FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating how both program settings
and non-program settings may be associated with a given preference
profile in accordance with the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 32 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
using a preference profile to specify certain non-program settings
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] An illustrative program guide system 30 in accordance with
the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 32 contains
a program guide database 34 for storing program guide information
such as television program guide listings data, pay-per-view
ordering information, television program promotional information,
etc. Information from database 34 may be transmitted to television
distribution facility 36 via communications link 38. Link 38 may be
a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic
link, a microwave link, a combination of such links, or any other
suitable communications path. If it is desired to transmit video
signals over link 38 in addition to data signals, a relatively high
bandwidth link such as a satellite link is generally preferable to
a relatively low bandwidth link such as a telephone line.
[0049] Television distribution facility 36 is a facility for
distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system
headend, a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite
television distribution facility.
[0050] The program guide information transmitted by main facility
32 to television distribution facility 36 includes television
program listings data for current and future television programs.
The television program listings data for each program preferably
includes the title of the program, the channel for the program, a
scheduled broadcast time (start time) and an ending time (or
duration). Other typical program listings data include ratings,
critics ratings, descriptions, genres (sports, movies, children,
etc.), actors, etc. Transmitted program information may also
include advertising information and pay program data such as
pricing information for individual programs and subscription
channels, time windows for ordering programs and channels,
telephone numbers for placing orders that cannot be impulse
ordered, etc.
[0051] Television distribution facility 36 distributes television
programming and program guide information to the user television
equipment 40 of multiple users via communications paths 42. For
example, television programming may be distributed over analog
television channels and program guide data may be distributed over
an out-of-band channel on paths 42. Data distribution may also
involve using one or more digital channels on paths 42. Such
digital channels may also be used for distributing television
programming and other information. Multiple television and audio
channels (analog, digital, or both analog and digital) may be
provided to set-top boxes 44 via communications paths 42. If
desired, program listings and other information may be distributed
by one or more distribution facilities that are similar to but
separate from television distribution facility 36 using
communications paths that are separate from communications paths
42.
[0052] Certain functions such as pay program purchasing may require
set-top boxes 44 to transmit data to television distribution
facility 36 over communications paths 42. If desired, such data may
be transmitted over telephone lines or other separate
communications paths. If functions such as these are provided using
facilities separate from television distribution facility 36, some
of the communications involving set-top boxes 44 may be made
directly with the separate facilities.
[0053] Each user has a receiver, which is typically a set-top box
such as set-top box 44, but which may be other suitable television
equipment into which circuitry similar to set-top-box circuitry has
been integrated. Program guide data is distributed to set-top boxes
44 periodically. Television distribution facility 36 may also poll
set-top boxes 44 periodically for certain information (e.g., pay
program account information or information regarding programs that
have been purchased and viewed using locally-generated
authorization techniques). Main facility 32 preferably contains a
processor to handle information distribution tasks. Each set-top
box 44 preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated
with implementing a program guide application on the set-top box
44. Television distribution facility 36 may contain a processor for
tasks associated with monitoring a user's interactions with the
interactive program guide implemented on set-top boxes 44 and for
handling tasks associated with the distribution of program guide
data and other information to user television equipment 40.
[0054] Each set-top box 44 is typically connected to an optional
videocassette recorder 46 so that selected television programs may
be recorded. Each videocassette recorder 46 is connected to a
television 48. To record a program, set-top box 44 tunes to a
particular channel and sends control signals to videocassette
recorder 46 (e.g., using an infrared transmitter) that direct
videocassette recorder 46 to start and stop recording at the
appropriate times.
[0055] During use of the interactive television program guide
implemented on set-top box 44, television program listings and
other information may be displayed on television 48. Such program
guide displays may be presented on top of a television program to
which the user has tuned with set-top box 44 or may be presented in
place of such a program. Each set-top box 44, videocassette
recorder 46, and television 48 may be controlled by one or more
remote controls 50 or any other suitable user input interface such
as a wireless keyboard, mouse, trackball, dedicated set of buttons,
etc. Remote controls such as remote control 50 have various buttons
that may be pressed by the user such as cursor keys (for on-screen
movement of a highlight region, scrolling functions, etc.), an
enter key (for making a selection), channel number keys (for
selecting a television channel), a favorites key (to invoke
functions related to user preferences), etc.
[0056] Because television viewers sometimes feel overwhelmed by the
large number of programming choices that are available,
particularly with modern cable and satellite systems, the present
invention allows users to inform the program guide of their
programming preferences. The program guide may then tailor its
operation to reflect the user's programming interests.
[0057] For example, a user may inform the program guide that the
user likes the program Seinfeld and the programming genre "movies,"
but dislikes the actor John Wayne. The program guide can use these
preferences to limit the amount of material that is presented to
the user (e.g., when generating lists of television program choices
or when deciding which channels to allow the user to tune to with
the set-top box). The different types of television program
characteristics that a user may indicate a preference about are
referred to herein as preference attributes.
[0058] Each preference attribute may have an associated preference
level. For example, users may indicate whether a preference
attribute is liked, disliked, illegal, mandatory or don't care
(neutral). The degree to which a user likes or dislikes certain
preference attributes may also be specified. For example, the user
may indicate that the preference level associated with the
preference attribute of the genre sports is a strong like and that
the preference level associated with the preference attribute of
the actor John Wayne is a weak dislike.
[0059] The program guide implemented on set-top box 44 provides
various options that allow the user to specify which different
preference attributes are to be used in presenting television
program listings information to the user. Such options may be
provided in the form of clickable menu items, drop-down lists, or
any other suitable format. The user may select a desired menu item
using a highlight region, cursor, arrow, or other suitable
on-screen indicator that may be positioned over an option on the
display (i.e., television 48). For example, a user may position a
highlight region over a desired menu item and press "OK" on remote
control 50 to complete the selection. Selections that involve
entering characters may be made by selecting characters from
characters displayed on screen (e.g., using cursors to move through
the alphabet) or by using a wireless keyboard or other alphanumeric
entry device.
[0060] Steps that are involved in providing preference attribute
options with the program guide are shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. At
step 52 of FIG. 2a, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a certain type of channel (such as the
pay-per-view channel type) as a preference attribute. This feature
allows a user to express an interest in, e.g., pay-per-view
programming without requiring the user to individually select or
even know the names of all of the pay-per-view channels that are
available.
[0061] At step 54, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a given airing of a program as a preference
attribute. For example, if the user wishes to watch the next
broadcast of the program Seinfeld at 9:00 on Thursday, the user may
select that broadcast of Seinfeld as a preference attribute and may
indicate that the selection has a preference level of "strong
like." This effectively allows the user to use the indicated
preference as a reminder (e.g., in situations in which the program
guide has been configured to present an on-screen reminder of all
upcoming programs that satisfy the user's selected
preferences).
[0062] At step 56, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a given program series as a preference
attribute. For example, the user could indicate an interest in the
Seinfeld series. When the user directs the program guide to present
a list of available programs, the programs that are listed will
include those in the Seinfeld series (unless a conflicting
preference prevents such a program from being listed).
[0063] At step 58, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting as a preference attribute a program genre
(category) or other suitable grouping (e.g., all programs aired on
Sundays, etc.--that are not in a traditional genre, but that are in
some way related). For example, the genre (which may be a subgenre)
may be sports, children's programming, news, weather, movies,
action, horror, baseball, football, comedy, etc.
[0064] At step 60, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a rating (G, PG, TV-Y, etc.), a range of
ratings (e.g., the R rating and all ratings for more mature
audiences), or a parental control advisory (e.g., this program
contains strong language, etc.) as a preference attribute.
[0065] At step 62, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting an actor or actress as a preference
attribute.
[0066] At step 64, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a topic (e.g., cooking, photography, music,
painting), keyword (e.g., cooks, etc.), or sporting team as a
preference attribute.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 2b, at step 66 the program guide may
provide the user with the option of selecting a given word or
phrase in a program description as a preference attribute. The
program guide may search all program descriptions for the presence
of the selected word or phrase when determining whether a program
satisfies the user's preference criteria.
[0068] At step 68, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a channel as a preference attribute.
[0069] At step 70, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a start time (e.g., a scheduled broadcast
time), an end time, or a range of broadcast times as a preference
attribute. This feature may be used for parental control by
restricting the viewing times available for children.
[0070] At step 72, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting original (or rerun) programs as a preference
attribute.
[0071] At step 74, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a given broadcast characteristic such as
closed-captioning or secondary audio as a preference attribute.
[0072] At step 76, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a language as a preference attribute.
[0073] At step 78, the program guide may provide the user with the
option of selecting a certain critics rating (e.g., three stars, or
three stars or greater, etc.) as a preference attribute.
[0074] The steps involved in providing the preference attribute
selection options shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b are illustrative only
and the program guide may provide the user with the option of
selecting any other suitable preference attributes if desired.
Moreover, the order of the steps shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b is not
important. Typically, several such options are provided at the same
time (e.g., on the same menu screen).
[0075] The preference attributes the user selects may be organized
in a profile (sometimes called a preference profile or a favorites
profile). If there are several users (e.g., different family
members) associated with a given program guide, each user may have
his own profile. A profile may contain more than one preference
attribute of the same type. For example, preference profile 80 of
FIG. 3 has three series preference attributes (series Nos. 1, 2,
and 3), four genre preference attributes (movies, game shows, news,
baseball, and comedy), and two actor preference attributes (John
Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger).
[0076] If desired, the user may specify a priority or sort order in
which programs satisfying the preference criteria in a profile are
to be displayed or tuned to. When listing or tuning to programs
that satisfy a profile, the programs matching the highest priority
preference attributes may be tuned to (with set-top box 44) or
listed (on the display of television 48) first. This feature is
particularly useful when a user wishes to further simplify the
process of selecting programs of interest.
[0077] FIG. 4 shows how the program guide provides the user with
the option of specifying the sort order (i.e., priority) for each
of the selected preference attributes at step 82. If the user
chooses to list programs satisfying the profile criteria, the
program guide may display a list of the current or future programs
based on the selected preference attributes and the specified sort
order at step 84. If the user chooses to use the profile to limit
the channels that may be tuned to, rather than displaying a list of
results, the program guide may allow tuning to channels and
programs based on the selected preference attributes in the profile
and the specified sort order at step 86.
[0078] When a user selects an individual showing of a program as
part of a preference profile, the program guide will allow that
selection to expire at the end of the program. This is shown as
step 88 in FIG. 5. The program guide may allow preference
attributes that have been selected by the user to remain valid
until deselected by the user (step 90).
[0079] Preference levels that may be used to indicate the user's
interest or disinterest in a given preference attribute include
strong like, weak like, strong dislike, or weak dislike, mandatory
(appropriate, e.g., for closed-captioning for a deaf person),
illegal (appropriate for R-rated programs for a child) and don't
care (neutral). As shown in FIG. 6, after the program guide
provides the user with an opportunity (option) for selecting
preference attributes at step 92, the program guide provides an
option that allows the user to set one of at least several
available preference levels for each selected preference attribute
at step 94.
[0080] The program guide also allows the user to specify a
preference scope at step 96. Each profile may have a separate
associated preference scope. The preference scope is used to
determine which programs that match the preference criteria in the
profile will be displayed (or used when tuning). If the user opts
to display a list of programs based on a preference profile, the
program guide may display a list of current or future programming
based on the selected preference attributes, selected preference
levels, and preference scope that are associated with the profile
at step 98. If the user opts to have the program guide restrict the
user's tuning options based on the preference profile, the program
guide may allow tuning to certain channels or programs based on the
selected preference attributes, selected preference levels, and the
selected preference scope that are associated with the profile at
step 100. The program listings information that is used by the
program guide in displaying the list of programs or in controlling
the tuning of the set-top box is the program listings data provided
to the program guide by the television distribution facility.
[0081] An illustrative preference profile 102 containing a number
of preference attributes 104, associated preference levels 106, and
an associated preference scope 108 is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a
table containing an illustrative list of programs that might be
available to the user (under the title column). The results that
appear under the columns labeled "narrow scope," "moderate scope,"
and "wide scope" show which programs (from the titles column)
satisfy the preference attributes and preference levels of profile
102 (FIG. 7).
[0082] When the user selects the widest scope in the example of
FIG. 8, the program guide lists (or allows tuning to) programs that
have all mandatory attributes and no illegal attributes. For
example, Seinfeld is included in the widest preference scope
because Seinfeld has the only mandatory attribute that is specified
in profile 102 of FIG. 7--closed-captioning. In addition, Seinfeld
has no preference attributes with a preference level of illegal (R
rating, TV-MA rating, or NC-17 rating). The Night at the Opera is
not included because it does not have a mandatory attribute
(closed-captioning). Dante's Peak is not included because it has a
illegal rating (R).
[0083] When the user selects the moderate scope in the example of
FIG. 8, the program guide lists (or allows tuning to) programs that
have no preference attributes with an associated preference level
of disliked and that have all mandatory attributes and no illegal
attributes. The program Terminator is not within the moderate scope
example of FIG. 8 because the preference attribute of horror in
profile 102 of FIG. 7 has an associated preference level of "weak
dislike" and the preference attribute of Schwarzenegger (an actor
in the program Terminator) has an associated preference level of
"strong dislike." When faced with two different preference levels
associated with the same program, the program guide uses the
stronger of the two (in this case "strong dislike"). The program ER
is included within the moderate scope example of FIG. 8 because it
does not have any disliked attributes.
[0084] When the user selects the narrow preference scope in the
example of FIG. 8, the program guide lists (or allows tuning to)
all liked programs that are not more disliked and that have all
mandatory attributes and no illegal attributes. The program ER is
not within the narrow scope example, because it does not have any
liked attributes.
[0085] The program guide allows multiple profiles to be used. For
example, different users (e.g., different family members who share
user television equipment 40) may each have their own profile. One
profile maybe used for children. Another profile may be used for
children when watching television with their parents (who can
supervise). A profile may be created for each adult. Another
profile may be created for adults to use when watching television
together.
[0086] An illustrative set of profiles is shown in FIG. 9. Profile
No. 1 belongs to a first user who has a strong like for the program
Seinfeld, a strong like for the genre comedy, a strong dislike for
the genre horror, a weak dislike for reruns, and a strong like for
programs containing the text string "Bond." The first user has
selected a narrow preference scope. Profile No. 2 belongs to a
second user who has a weak like for the ESPN channel, a strong like
for the genre hockey, a weak like for the broadcast characteristic
second audio program (SAP), and a weak like for comedy. The second
user has selected a moderate preference scope. Profile No. 3
belongs to a third user who has a strong like for programs with a
critics rating of three stars or more, a strong like for the genre
movies, a strong dislike for the genre sports, and a weak like for
pay-per-view programs. The third user has selected a preference
scope of narrow.
[0087] Although each profile has its own independent set of
preference attributes, any given attribute may be in more than one
profile. For example, the attribute comedy appears in both profile
No. 1 and profile No. 2.
[0088] When a user desires to use the program guide, the user may
activate an appropriate profile. As shown in FIG. 10, the program
guide provides users with the option of selecting which profile to
make active at step 110. More than one profile may be active at a
given time. If a single profile is made active at step 110, the
program guide displays lists of programming or allows tuning to
certain channels or programs based on that single active profile at
step 112. If multiple profiles are made active at step 110, the
program guide displays lists of programming or allows tuning to
certain channels or programs based on the multiple profiles that
are active at step 112.
[0089] When multiple profiles are used at the same time, the
program guide resolves conflicts between profiles. For example, if
one profile indicates that comedy is a strong like and another
indicates that comedy is a strong dislike, the program guide may
use a preference level of neutral for the attribute comedy.
Conflicts between the scopes selected in different profiles may be
resolved, for example, by using a moderate scope for all situations
in which multiple profiles are active. These techniques for
allowing multiple profiles to be active at the same time are
illustrative only. Any other suitable technique may be used if
desired.
[0090] Preference attributes may be added to a profile by example.
This is illustrated in FIG. 11. At step 114, the user may tune
set-top box 44 to a channel (e.g., channel 9) to watch a desired
television program (e.g., the program Seinfeld) or may highlight a
desired program listing on any suitable program listings screen.
The user may then press an appropriate button on the remote control
(e.g., a "FAV" or favorites key) or may click on an on-screen
option. The program guide then provides an opportunity to modify or
create a profile based on the characteristics of the selected
program or the highlighted program listing at step 116.
[0091] For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the program guide may
present a profiles display such as profiles display 118 in which
all attributes of the selected program or highlighted program
listing (Seinfeld) are listed in column 120 and the associated
preference levels are listed in column 122. The user may select
which profile to change or update when highlight region 124 is on a
profile name 126 such as "Mike." As indicated by arrows 128 and
130, when the user presses left or right cursor keys on the remote
control, the profile names for other users will be displayed under
highlight region 124. By pressing a down cursor key, highlight
region 124 may be moved to preference level selection region 132,
where the user may use the right and left cursor keys to set the
desired preference level (e.g., strong or weak like or dislike,
don't care or neutral, illegal, or mandatory) for the program
Seinfeld. The preference levels in column 122 may be modified
similarly for each of the other attributes listed in column 120.
The neutral preference level "don't care" may be set as a default.
If desired, a previously selected attribute may be deselected from
the profile. A new profile may be created by copying an existing
profile and modifying its contents.
[0092] Another way in which profiles may be modified is shown in
FIG. 13. Profiles display 134 of FIG. 13 allows the user to view
all selected attributes for a given profile. The program guide
provides option 136 to allow the user to select which profile the
user wishes to modify (e.g., "Mike" in the example of FIG. 13).
Option 138 allows the user to set preference levels for various
programs. Option 140 allows the user to set preference levels for
various categories. Option 142 allows the user to set preference
levels for various ratings. Option 144 allows the user to set
preference levels for various channels. The options shown in
profiles display 134 are illustrative only. Options may for
provided for setting the preference levels of any desired
preference attributes. The format of the options shown in FIG. 13
is also only illustrative.
[0093] Other user interfaces may be used by the program guide if
desired. For example, it may be preferable to select ratings from a
list (i.e., using arrows 146 in option 142 to select from among
various available ratings choices). In option 138, the program
guide may allow the user to enter the first few characters of a
desired title. The program guide may then present a list of
available titles that start with those letters. When the list has
been narrowed sufficiently, the user may select the desired program
title from the list. The program guide may allow text to be entered
letter by letter using the cursor keys on the remote to change each
letter, using a wireless keyboard, using the numeric keys on the
remote to enter letters corresponding to a telephone keypad, etc.
If desired, the program guide may allow users to remove attributes
from the profile being modified using profiles display 134.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 14, the program guide may monitor the
programs that are being watched by the user by monitoring the
user's viewing times, channels, and the frequency with which the
programs are watched (step 148). Monitoring the user's behavior in
this way allows the program guide to determine the user's
preferences. The program guide may modify the currently active
profile based on the programs that are watched at step 150. At step
152, the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to
review the automatic profile modifications and, to remove or change
these modifications. The program guide may also provide the user
with the option of disabling the automatic profile modification
feature at step 154.
[0095] If desired, the user may direct the program guide to
generate automatic program reminders for programs that satisfy the
criteria in a profile. As shown in FIG. 15, the program guide may
provide the option of turning on such an automatic reminders
feature at step 156. If the user turns this feature on at step 156,
the program guide displays automatic reminder messages on
television 48 of FIG. 1 (based on the profile that is currently
active) just prior to (e.g., one minute before) the scheduled
broadcast times of the programs that satisfy the criteria in the
profile (step 158). The program guide may present a "view now"
option as part of the reminders screen used to present a reminder
to the user. If the user selects the "view now" option, the program
guide may tune set-top box 44 to the channel for the program for
which the reminder was displayed (step 160).
[0096] The program guide may allow new profiles to be created using
create profile screen 162 and set up profile screen 164 of FIG. 16.
The user may move highlight region 166 between various existing
profile options 168 and new profile option 170 using remote control
cursor keys. If new profile option 170 is selected (e.g., by
pressing "OK" on the remote control), the program guide presents
set up profile screen 164. Set up profile screen 164 allows the
user to delete profiles, rename profiles, activate or deactivate a
profile, turn the automatic reminders feature on or off, adjust the
preference scope for the profile, and to adjust parental control
settings. Highlight region 172 may be used to select between these
various options. Parental control features that may be provided by
the program guide include personal identification number (PIN)
features such as activating or deactivating a PIN for a profile,
selecting whether changes to preference levels requires a PIN,
etc.
[0097] The preference criteria selected by a user (e.g., in the
form of a preference profile) may be used by the program guide in a
number of ways. For example, the program guide may use the
preference criteria in a profile to restrict the number of program
listings that are presented to the user, regardless of what type of
display format the user has chosen to view (e.g., a by-time listing
format, a by-channel listing, etc.). This approach may also be used
by the program guide to restrict the channels or programs to which
the user may tune (either directly or when tuning using a special
program guide feature such as a browse feature or a flip feature).
Alternatively, the program guide may only use the user's
preferences to provide a special "favorites" program list. Another
possibility is that the program guide use the preferences in all
modes, but only to restrict the movement of the highlight region on
the screen, not to eliminate program listings from the user's
view.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 17, the program guide may provide the user
with an opportunity to select a dedicated favorites display format
option at step 174. The dedicated favorites display format may be,
e.g., a time-ordered list of programs that meet the criteria set
forth in the currently active profile. At step 176, the program
guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select the
favorites always-on display mode in which all display formats and
tuning modes are restricted to the programs and channels that
satisfy the user's preferences. At step 178, the program guide
provides the user with the opportunity to select a display mode in
which all programs are displayed, but in which highlight movement
is restricted to programs satisfying the user's preferences in the
active profile. Alternatively, the display format may be fixed by
the program guide and the user not provided with options 174, 176,
or 178.
[0099] An illustrative arrangement for providing the dedicated
favorites display format option is shown in FIG. 18. In the FIG. 18
arrangement, dedicated favorites option 180 is offered as a
clickable option at the bottom of a column of display format
options 182 in a navigator menu 184. Other options available in
navigator menu 184 include special features options 186 (listing of
pay-per-view programs organized by time, by title, etc.) and viewer
services options 188.
[0100] The type of program listings display that may be provided by
the program guide when option 180 is selected is shown in FIG. 19
(i.e., following step 174 of FIG. 17). By-time favorites list 190
contains all programs that satisfy the preferences set forth in the
current profile organized in a time-ordered list. The user may
select another profile using left and right cursors when highlight
region 192 is on profile name region 194. The user may modify the
current preference scope using scope option 196.
[0101] When the user selects the always-on mode option provided at
step 176 of FIG. 17, all of the program listings display formats
such as those invoked by options 182 of FIG. 18 are modified to
display only those programs that satisfy the user's preferences.
For example, selecting by-time option 182 when the always-on mode
has been selected results in a by-time favorites display of the
type shown in FIG. 19.
[0102] In addition, the programs and channels to which the program
guide allows the user to tune with set-top box 44 (FIG. 1) are
restricted to the programs and channels that satisfy the user's
preferences when the always-on mode has been selected. The programs
and channels to which the user may tune are also restricted when
the user is using special tuning features. For example, the program
guide may provide a special "flip" tuning feature. As shown in FIG.
20, when the user invokes the flip mode, flip display 196 is
provided over a portion of a channel 198 (i.e., channel 4) that the
user is currently tuned to and is watching on display screen 200.
Flip display 196 contains information on programs 202 appearing on
channel 204. Channel 204 is the same channel (channel 4) as the
channel 198 (channel 4) to which the set-top box 44 is currently
tuned. The user may change channel 204, e.g., using channel up and
down keys on the remote control, which also changes the channel
198. When the always-on mode has been selected, the channels to
which the user may flip are generally restricted to the channels
204 containing programs 202 that satisfy the user's preferences. If
desired, the user may be provided with access to any channel, e.g.,
by allowing the user to enter channel numbers directly.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 21, when the user invokes the browse mode,
browse display 206 is provided over a portion of a channel 208
(i.e., channel 9) which the user is currently tuned to and is
watching on display screen 210. Browse display 206 contains
information on programs 212 appearing on different channels 214.
The user may change channels 214 using up and down cursor keys
without changing channel 208. When the always-on mode has been
selected, the channels 214 which the user may browse to are
generally restricted to the channels 214 containing programs 212
that satisfy the user's preferences. If desired, the user may be
provided with access to any channel, e.g., by allowing the user to
enter channel numbers directly.
[0104] The restricted highlight movement mode option provided at
step 178 of FIG. 17 may be used when the user is viewing a program
listings screen such as screen 216 of FIG. 22 by pressing a key
such as the favorites key to move highlight region 218 from one
program that satisfies the user's preferences (e.g., Dante's Peak)
to the next program that satisfies the user's preferences (e.g.,
ER). The user may be provided with access to all displayed
programming (e.g., by allowing the user to press regular up and
down cursors to access programs that do not satisfy the user's
preferences).
[0105] If desired, the favorites key may be used in the flip and
browse modes to advance to the next program satisfying the active
profile.
[0106] FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating steps performed by the
program guide for each of the FIG. 17 options that may be selected
by the user. If option 174 of FIG. 17 is selected, the program
guide displays a list of programs that satisfy the criteria in the
user's profile in a dedicated favorites by-time ordered list at
step 220. If option 176 of FIG. 17 is selected, the program guide
restricts the listings and tuning options provided to the user to
those programs that satisfy the user's profile, regardless of the
particular display mode (e.g., by-time, by-channel, etc.) or tuning
mode (e.g., browse, flip, etc.) of the guide at step 222. If option
178 of FIG. 17 is selected, the program guide displays all programs
in the desired listings format selected by the user, but restricts
highlight movement within those listings to programs that satisfy
the user's preferences at step 224.
[0107] To accommodate multiple active profiles, the program guide
may list programs using different colors, patterns, icons, etc. to
distinguish which programs satisfy which profiles. For example, in
the by-time listings display of FIG. 24, the programs Seinfeld,
Dante's Peak, and ER satisfy the preference criteria in Mike's
profile, as indicated by the "M" icons and the use of the red color
and first distinct pattern for the cells of the grid for those
listings. The programs ER and Football satisfy the preferences in
John's profile, as indicated by the "J" icons and the use of the
green color and second distinct pattern for the cells of the grid
for those listings. The ER cell contains two colors, two patterns,
and two icons indicating that the program ER satisfies the criteria
in both Mike's profile and John's profile. Icons, color-coding, and
patterns are merely illustrative examples of suitable visual
indicators for distinguishing which programs satisfy which
profiles. These approaches may be used in any suitable combination
or any other suitable approach may be used to distinguish the
results satisfying different profiles.
[0108] As shown in FIG. 25, a hot list 226 may be provided that
contains programs that match the attributes of the active profile.
Hot list 226 may be displayed on top of the channel 228 (e.g.,
channel 7) on display 230 to which the user is currently tuned.
[0109] The program guide may allow the user to display hot list 226
by pressing a single key on the remote control (e.g., an "OK" key)
while watching television. Any programs for which active
(non-expired) reminders have been set may be added to the hot list.
In the example of FIG. 25, a reminder was set for the 11:00 news,
as indicated by reminder icon 232, so the 11:00 news was included
in hot list 226. Hot list 226 may be organized in start-time order
or any other suitable order. Priority may be given to pay-per-view
listings.
[0110] For example, the program Terminator appears before the
program Seinfeld in the hot list arrangement of FIG. 25, because
the program Terminator appears on a pay-per-view channel (REQ
1).
[0111] After hot list 226 is displayed, the program guide may allow
the user to remove hot list 226 by pressing a single key. The
program guide also allows the user to select any of the displayed
programs in the list (e.g., using a highlight region) and tunes
set-top box to the appropriate channel for the selected program.
When there are more programs that satisfy the user's preference
profile criteria than will fit on the lower portion of the display,
the program guide may allow the user to scroll through the hot list
entries. The program guide may remove programs from hot list 226
when they are no longer viewable. Programs may be added to hot list
226 by the program guide when the programs start, or at a specified
length of time (e.g., five minutes) prior to the scheduled start
time of the program. The program guide may provide the user with an
opportunity to select the option of displaying the hot list a short
time (e.g., one minute) before the scheduled broadcast time of
programs on the list and to adjust this length of time at step 234
of FIG. 26.
[0112] If the user chooses to display the hot list sorted by start
time, the program guide displays the list in this fashion at step
236 of FIG. 27. If the user chooses to display the hot list sorted
by channel, the program guide displays a channel-ordered hot list
at step 238. If the user chooses to display the hot list sorted by
priority (e.g., with pay-per-view programs listed first), the
program guide displays this type of listing at step 240.
[0113] Any profile may be assigned a PIN. As shown in FIG. 28, the
program guide may provide a personal identification number setup
screen 242 that contains a number of user-selectable options
regarding PIN usage. For example, PIN setup screen 242 provides an
option 244 that allows the user to indicate which profile is being
modified. If a PIN has already been established for that profile,
the user may be required to enter that PIN at option 246 to
continue. If no PIN exists, option 246 may be used to create a new
PIN.
[0114] Option 248 allows the user to specify whether the PIN is
required to activate the profile (e.g., to activate the profile for
Joey in the example of FIG. 28). Option 250 allows the user to
specify whether the PIN is required for deactivating the profile.
Option 252 allows the user to specify whether the PIN is required
for viewing profile attributes. Option 254 allows the user to
specify whether the PIN is required for adding, deleting, or
changing illegal attributes. Option 256 allows the user to specify
whether the PIN is required for adding deleting or changing
mandatory attributes. Option 258 allows the user to specify whether
the PIN is required for adding deleting, or changing likes and
dislikes. The options shown in setup screen 242 are illustrative
only. For example, if other preference levels are used, options
regarding PIN usage for those levels may be provided using screen
242. Any other suitable arrangement may be used by the program
guide to allow the user to adjust PIN control levels, if
desired.
[0115] The arrangement of FIG. 28 allows the user to use PIN
controlled profiles for parental control. For example, a parent can
set up a child's profile with a restrictive set of preference
attributes (e.g., with a mandatory G rating and a preference level
of illegal associated with the genre cartoons). By requiring that a
PIN be used to deactivate the profile or to change the preference
level attributes, the parent can ensure that the child will only be
able to watch G-rated programming and no cartoons when the child's
profile is active. A different profile may be created for use when
the child's viewing is being closely supervised.
[0116] Particularly in situations in which parents wish to set
limits on the viewing of their children, it may be desirable to use
a master profile that contains settings that override the settings
in all other profiles. As shown in FIG. 29, such a master profile
may contain illegal preference attributes (e.g., illegal ratings)
and mandatory preference attributes. The master profile may also
contain other preference settings (e.g., with various preference
levels of like, dislike, etc.) The illegal and mandatory attributes
of the master profile are controlling. Accordingly, even if profile
Joey contains a mandatory R rating setting, the illegal R rating
setting in the master profile of FIG. 29 dictates that no R rated
programs will be allowed. Similarly, the mandatory English setting
in the master profile dictates that English is a required
attribute, regardless of the language setting in other profiles.
Conflicts between the master profile and other profiles with
respect to attributes other than mandatory and illegal attributes
may also be resolved in favor of the master profile if desired.
[0117] Steps involved in using master profiles are shown in FIG.
30. At step 260, the program guide provides the user with an
opportunity to create or modify a master profile. Step 260
typically involves setting up a master PIN that may be used for
parental control. At step 262, the program guide may provide the
user with an opportunity to activate the master profile. One or
more other profile may also be activated at step 262. Typically,
the master PIN is used to activate the master profile. Because the
master PIN is generally not known by children, the master PIN
provides parents with global control over programming. If desired,
once the master PIN has been set up in the system, entering the
master PIN may allow the user to modify the profiles of their
children.
[0118] As step 264, the program guide resolves conflicts between
the preference criteria in the various profiles in favor of the
master profile. After (or at the same time) such conflicts are
resolved, the program guide may display a list of programming or
allow tuning to certain channels based on the criteria in the
active profiles at step 266.
[0119] If desired, the program guide may provide an opportunity for
the user to select whether the program titles, descriptions, etc.
for programs that do not satisfy a given preference profile should
be hidden from view. This feature is useful in situations in which
a parent not only wishes to restrict the viewing options of a
child, but also wishes to prevent the child from being able to view
information on programming that does not satisfy a given profile
(e.g., the master profile). When the user directs the program guide
to block the titles and descriptions for programs that do not
satisfy the profile, the program guide may display a message such
as "restricted" on various program guide display screens in place
of the program listings for the blocked programs. The option of
replacing non-favorite program listings with a "restricted" message
may be placed inder master PIN control.
[0120] Another feature provided by the program guide relates to
profile settings for non-program items. For example, a profile
setting may be used to define various audio settings 268 for user
television equipment 40 (stereo, mono, Dolby on/off, bass and
treble settings, etc.), as shown in FIG. 31. Display settings 270
such as brightness, contrast, the language of the text displayed in
the program guide, etc. may also be associated with a given profile
(e.g., the profile "Mike"). Audio settings 268 and display settings
270 are examples of non-program settings that may be associated
with a profile. If desired, other suitable non-program settings may
also be associated with a profile.
[0121] As shown in FIG. 32, the program guide may provide the user
with an opportunity for setting program settings (preference
attributes, preference levels, preference scope, etc.) for a given
profile at step 272. At step 274, the program guide may provide the
user with an opportunity to set non-program settings associated
with that profile. At step 276, the program guide may provide an
opportunity to activate the profile. At step 278, the user
television equipment and the program guide are operated using the
non-program settings.
[0122] Because the program guide knows which profile is active
(e.g., Mike or Joey, etc.) at a given time, the program guide may
use this information in providing various services. For example,
the program guide may provide access to a program guide e-mail
service or other messaging service using information about which
profile is currently active (step 280). This allows a user to
access e-mail, for example, without having to separately log into
the e-mail service. If Mike's profile is currently active, the
program guide can retrieve messages addressed to Mike. If Joey's
profile is active, the program guide can provide access to Joey's
messages. If more than one profile is active, the program guide can
provide access to the messaging service to the users of all active
profiles or may require that each user log in separately.
[0123] The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of
this invention and various modifications can be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of
the invention.
* * * * *