U.S. patent application number 15/661555 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-16 for automatically loading user profile to show recently watched channels.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nagravision S.A.. Invention is credited to Amudha Kaliamoorthi, Srinivasan Kannan, Siddalinga Swamy.
Application Number | 20170332143 15/661555 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57017950 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170332143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kannan; Srinivasan ; et
al. |
November 16, 2017 |
AUTOMATICALLY LOADING USER PROFILE TO SHOW RECENTLY WATCHED
CHANNELS
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclose involve a method, a device, and
a system comprising a processor and a machine-readable storage
medium storing at a set of instructions for identification and
authentication of user profiles associated with a digital
television system and displaying information related thereto. In
example embodiments, the method includes identifying a user profile
registered with a content presentation device based on received
identification data that includes biometric data. The method
further includes receiving, from a server, identifiers of a set of
recently watched channels associated with the user profile and
causing presentation of a recent channels interface that includes
selectable elements corresponding to the set of recently watched
channels.
Inventors: |
Kannan; Srinivasan;
(Bangalore, IN) ; Swamy; Siddalinga; (Bangalore,
IN) ; Kaliamoorthi; Amudha; (Bangalore, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nagravision S.A. |
Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
57017950 |
Appl. No.: |
15/661555 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14841552 |
Aug 31, 2015 |
9729925 |
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15661555 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/41 20130101;
H04N 21/4332 20130101; H04N 21/441 20130101; H04N 21/466 20130101;
H04N 21/44204 20130101; H04N 21/251 20130101; H04N 21/4662
20130101; H04N 21/6582 20130101; H04N 21/422 20130101; H04N
21/44222 20130101; H04N 21/44218 20130101; H04N 21/4667 20130101;
H04N 21/258 20130101; H04N 21/25891 20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101;
H04N 21/42201 20130101; H04N 21/4532 20130101; H04N 21/4415
20130101; H04N 21/42203 20130101; H04N 21/25 20130101; H04N
21/25875 20130101; H04N 21/4223 20130101; H04N 21/252 20130101;
H04N 21/4668 20130101; H04N 21/4586 20130101; H04N 21/442
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/45 20110101
H04N021/45; H04N 21/25 20110101 H04N021/25; H04N 21/466 20110101
H04N021/466; H04N 21/466 20110101 H04N021/466; H04N 21/466 20110101
H04N021/466; H04N 21/466 20110101 H04N021/466; H04N 21/458 20110101
H04N021/458; H04N 21/442 20110101 H04N021/442; H04N 21/442 20110101
H04N021/442; H04N 21/442 20110101 H04N021/442; H04N 21/442 20110101
H04N021/442; H04N 21/4415 20110101 H04N021/4415; H04N 21/441
20110101 H04N021/441; H04N 21/433 20110101 H04N021/433; H04N
21/4223 20110101 H04N021/4223; H04N 21/422 20110101 H04N021/422;
H04N 21/422 20110101 H04N021/422; H04N 21/422 20110101 H04N021/422;
H04N 21/41 20110101 H04N021/41; H04N 21/258 20110101 H04N021/258;
H04N 21/258 20110101 H04N021/258; H04N 21/258 20110101 H04N021/258;
H04N 21/25 20110101 H04N021/25; H04N 21/25 20110101 H04N021/25;
H04N 21/482 20110101 H04N021/482; H04N 21/658 20110101
H04N021/658 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: receiving, from a server, recent service
data associated with a user profile, the recent service data
including identifiers of a set of recently watched channels
associated with the user profile; causing presentation of a recent
channels interface in conjunction with programming provided by a
content provider system, the recent channels interface including
selectable elements corresponding to the set of recently watched
channels; transmitting, to the server, an identifier of a current
channel accessed by the content presentation device in response to
determining a threshold time period has elapsed while the current
channel is being accessed by the content presentation device;
receiving, from the server, updated recent service data associated
with the user profile, the updated service data including the
identifier of the current channel and the identifiers of the set of
recently watched channels; and in response to receiving the updated
recent service data from the server, updating the recent channels
interface to include an additional selectable element corresponding
to the current channel.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the user
profile from among a plurality of user profiles registered with a
content presentation device based on received identification
data.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifying of the user
profile includes: comparing the received identification data with
stored authentication data associated with the plurality of user
profiles registered with the content presentation device; and
identifying the user profile from among the plurality of user
profiles registered with the content presentation device based on
the received identification data matching authentication data
associated with the user profile.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifying of the user
profile includes comparing image data included in the received
identification data with stored image data associated with the
plurality of user profiles.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifying of the user
profile includes comparing fingerprint data included in the
identification data with stored fingerprint data associated with
the plurality of user profiles
6. The method of claim 2, further comprising obtaining, via an
input device, the identification data.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the input device is
communicatively coupled to the content presentation device and is
selected from a group comprising an image capture device, a
microphone, a retinal scanner, or a fingerprint reader
8. The method of claim 2, further comprising: identifying, using
the one or more processors, an additional user profile from among
the plurality of user profiles registered with the content
presentation device based on received identification data; and
responsive to identifying the additional user profile, updating the
presentation of the recent channels interface to include an
additional set of recently watched channels associated with the
additional user profile.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: retrieving, from the
server, additional recent service data associated with the
additional user profile, the additional recent service data
including identifiers of the additional set of recently watched
channels associated with the additional user profile.
10. The method of claim 2, wherein the content presentation device
is one of a plurality of presentation devices registered with an
account maintained by a content provider.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of recently watched
channels includes a plurality of channels accessed during a
previous content viewing session of the user profile.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of recently watched
channels includes at least one channel accessed using an additional
content presentation device.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying current
channel being accessed by a content presentation device;
determining threshold time period has elapsed while the current
channel is being accessed by the content presentation device; and
saving the current channel as a recently watched channel.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the selectable elements
includes an identifier of a recently watched channel and an image
associated with the recently watched channel.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification data includes
image data or fingerprint data.
16. A content presentation device comprising: a machine-readable
storage unit to store a plurality of user profiles registered with
the content presentation device; a communication module configured
to receive, from a server, recent service data associated with a
user profile, the recent service data including identifiers of a
set of recently watched channels associated with the user profile;
an interface module configured to present a recent channels
interface in conjunction with programming provided by a content
provider system, the recent channels interface including selectable
elements corresponding to the set of recently watched channels; the
communication module further configured to transmit, to the server,
an identifier of a current channel accessed by the content
presentation device in response to determining a threshold time
period has elapsed while the current channel is being accessed by
the content presentation device; the communication module further
configured to receive, from the server, updated recent service data
associated with the user profile, the updated service data
including the identifier of the current channel and the identifiers
of the set of recently watched channels; the interface module
further configured to update the recent channels interface to
include an additional selectable element corresponding to the
current channel.
17. The content presentation device of claim 16, wherein the
identification module is configured to identify the user profile by
performing operations comprising: comparing the received
identification data with stored authentication data associated with
the plurality of user profiles; and identifying the first user
profile from among the plurality of user profiles based on the
received identification data matching authentication data
associated with the first user profile.
18. The content presentation device of claim 17, wherein the set of
recently watched channels include a plurality of channels accessed
during a previous content viewing session of the user profile.
19. The content presentation device of claim 16, further
comprising: a detection module configured to perform operations
comprising: identifying the current channel being accessed by the
content presentation device; determining the threshold time period
has elapsed while current channel is being accessed by the content
presentation device; and saving the current channel as a recently
watched channel.
70. A system comprising: at least one processor of a machine; and a
non-transitory machine-readable storage medium embodying
instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a
machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a server, recent service data associated with a
user profile, the recent service data including identifiers of a
set of recently watched channels associated with the user profile;
causing presentation of a recent channels interface in conjunction
with programming provided by a content provider system, the recent
channels interface including selectable elements corresponding to
the set of recently watched channels; transmitting, to the server,
an identifier of a current channel accessed by the content
presentation device in response to determining a threshold time
period has elapsed while the current channel is being accessed by
the content presentation device; receiving, from the server,
updated recent service data associated with the user profile, the
updated service data including the identifier of the current
channel and the identifiers of the set of recently watched
channels; and in response to receiving the updated recent service
data from the server, updating the recent channels interface to
include an additional selectable element corresponding to the
current channel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/841,552, filed on Aug. 31, 2015, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to
digital television systems. In particular, example embodiments
relate to identification and authentication of user profiles
associated with a digital television system and display of
information related thereto.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Digital television systems are available that provide
programming, advertisements, or other commercial messages to users.
Typically, digital television communication involves the use of a
set-top box (STB), which receives broadcast content and connects to
a television set. Users generally control the selection of
programming or other content through the STB. The STB runs software
referred to as middleware, consisting of computer programs which
control the flow of broadcast programs and internet traffic as well
as data from users,
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Various ones of the appended drawings merely illustrate
example embodiments of the present inventive subject matter and
cannot be considered as limiting its scope.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating a networked system
configured to provide programming to one or more content viewing
devices, according to some example embodiments.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating various functional
components of a content presentation service executable by one or
more content viewing devices to facilitate a content viewing
session, according to some example embodiments.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a swim lane flow chart illustrating a method for
registering a user profile with a content viewing device, according
to some example embodiments.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a high-level entity-relationship diagram,
illustrating various records that may be maintained within a
database of the networked system, according to some example
embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a data flow diagram illustrating a flow of data
involved in displaying a recent channel interface associated with a
particular user profile, according to some example embodiments.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a data flow diagram illustrating a flow of data
involved in displaying an updated recent channel interface
associated with a particular user profile, according to some
example embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method for
presenting a recent channel interface, according to some example
embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method for
identifying a user profile, according to some example
embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method for
updating recent service data, according to some example
embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 10 is an interface diagram illustrating a recent
channel interface associated with a first user, according to some
example embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 11 is an interface diagram illustrating a recent
channel interface associated with a second user, according to some
example embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the
example form of a computer system within which a set of
instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or more of
the methodologies discussed herein may be executed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to specific example
embodiments for carrying out the inventive subject matter. Examples
of these specific embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, and specific details are set forth in the following
description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
subject matter. It will be understood that these examples are not
intended to limit the scope of the claims to the illustrated
embodiments. On the contrary, they are intended to cover such
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included
within the scope of the disclosure.
[0018] Aspects of the present disclosure involve identification and
authentication of user profiles associated with a digital
television system and displaying information related thereto.
Example embodiments involve identifying and authenticating user
profiles using identification data obtained by a content viewing
device (e.g., a STB, a laptop, a tablet computer, or a smart
phone). The identification data may, for example, include biometric
data such as an image of the user (e.g., for purposes of facial or
iris recognition) or a fingerprint of a user, or the identification
data may include a username and password combination. The
identification data obtained by the content viewing device is
compared to stored authentication data of the same form (e.g.,
fingerprint or image) to authenticate the identity of the user
before beginning a content viewing session using the content
viewing device. Based on the comparison, a corresponding user
profile is identified and the content viewing device loads the
identified user profile to begin a content viewing session.
[0019] Once the user profile is loaded by the content viewing
device, recent service data is fetched from a server. The recent
service data includes a set of identifiers (e.g., channel number,
service name, or service identifier) corresponding to recently
watched channels associated with the user profile. For purposes of
this disclosure, the term "channel" is intended to include both
physical and virtual channels over which curated content (e.g.,
audio, video, or combinations thereof) is communicated (e.g.,
broadcast or streamed) to a content viewing device (e.g., a STB, a
laptop, a tablet computer, or a smart phone) via any network and is
intended to include communications via the Internet. The recently
watched channels include channels accessed during a previous
viewing session of the user profile on the content viewing device
or a different content viewing device associated with the user
profile. The content viewing device displays the recently watched
channels in a specialized interface displayed in conjunction with
live or recorded programming. By having recent service data
associated with user profiles (as opposed to devices) in this
manner, multiple users may utilize the recently watched channels
interface feature on a single device.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating a network system
100 configured to provide programming to one or more content
viewing devices, according to some example embodiments. To avoid
obscuring the inventive subject matter with unnecessary detail,
various functional components that are not germane to conveying an
understanding of the inventive subject matter have been omitted
from FIG. 1. However, a skilled artisan will readily recognize that
various additional components may be included in the network system
100 to facilitate additional functionality that is not specifically
described herein. Furthermore, it shall be appreciated that while
the components of FIG. 1 are discussed in the singular sense, in
other embodiments, multiple instances of one or more of the
components may be employed.
[0021] As shown, the network system 100 includes a content
presentation device 102 and companion presentation device 104 in
communication with a content provider system 106 over a network
108. The content provider system 106 maintains a plurality of
accounts for subscribers of the services provided thereby. The
services provided by the content provider system 106 include
providing access to curated, on-demand, and/or recorded content.
Such content may be broadcast, streamed, or otherwise provided by
one or more content channels (also referred to herein simply as
"channels"). Thus, in some embodiments, the content provider system
106 provides registered account holders and associated users with
access to content channels. Multiple devices may be registered to
each account, and multiple user profiles may be registered to each
registered device. The content presentation device 102 and the
companion presentation device 104 are examples of devices that may
be registered with an account maintained by the content provider
system 106, and used to access content made available or provided
by the content provider system 106. The content presentation device
102 and the companion presentation device 104 may be any one of a
variety of devices that include a processor and communication
capabilities that provide access to the network 108 and that are
coupled to or include an embedded display. Accordingly, the content
presentation device 102 and the companion presentation device 104
may, for example, be a STB coupled to a television, a desktop
computer coupled to a monitor, a laptop, a tablet computer, a smart
phone or the like.
[0022] In some instances, the content presentation device 102 is
used as primary viewing device such as an STB communicatively
coupled to a television or other display that is used to access
content while the companion presentation device 104 is a used as a
secondary viewing device or complementary viewing device such as a
tablet computer. However, it shall be appreciated that the content
presentation device 102 and the companion presentation device 104
are not intended to be limited to such configurations and, in some
embodiments, the companion presentation device 104 may be another
instance of the content presentation device 102 that is used to
view and access content provided or made available by the content
provider system 106.
[0023] A controller 122 is used to control certain functionality of
the content presentation device 102. For example, a user may user
the controller 122 to tune the content presentation device 102 to a
particular channel. Accordingly, the controller 122 includes one or
more buttons or other input mechanisms (e.g., a touch screen,
microphone, etc.) to allow users to input commands to control the
content presentation device 102. In some embodiments, the
controller 122 is embedded in the content presentation device 102.
In some embodiments, the controller 122 is separate from the
content presentation device 102 though still able to remotely
transmit commands to the content presentation device 102. For
example, the controller 122 may be an infrared (IR) remote
controller capable of transmitting command signals to an IR
receiver (not shown) embedded in the content presentation device
102.
[0024] The content provider system 106 communicates and exchanges
data (e.g., content) with the content presentation device 102 and
companion presentation device 104 that pertains to various
functions and aspects associated with the network system 100 and
its users. Likewise, the content presentation device 102 and the
companion presentation device 104 may be operated by a user (e.g.,
a person) of the network system 100 to exchange data with the
content provider system 106 over the network 108.
[0025] The content presentation device 102 and the companion
presentation device 104 communicate with the network 108 via a
wired or wireless connection. For example, one or more portions of
the network 108 may comprise an ad hoc network, an intranet, an
extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network
(LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless
WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the
Internet, a portion of the public switched telephone network
(PSTN), a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a
Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi.RTM.) network, a Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) network, a cable
network, a terrestrial network, or any suitable combination
thereof.
[0026] Turning specifically to the content provider system 106, a
server 110 is coupled to the network 108 (e.g., via wired or
wireless interfaces) and a database 112. The server 110 hosts a
user preference service 114, a client registration module 116, a
content management system 118, and an account control and
subscription module 120. It shall be appreciated that, although the
user preference service 114, the client registration module 116,
the content management system 118, and the account control and
subscription module 120 are all illustrated as being hosted by a
single server, these components may be deployed on various other
hardware configurations and are not intended to be limited to the
server 110. For example, each of the user preference service 114,
the client registration module 116, the content management system
118, and the account control and subscription module 120 may reside
on a single server 110 or may be distributed across several sever
computers in various arrangements.
[0027] The user preference service 114 is responsible for
receiving, processing, and storing user information. For example,
the user preference service 114 receives user information from the
content presentation device 102, and uses the user information to
validate the identity of the user for use in tracking user activity
during a content viewing session, which the user preference service
114 uses to infer user preferences. The user preference service 114
stores user preferences in the database 112. In some instances, the
user preferences are based on services utilized by a user during a
content viewing session, and thus, the stored user preferences may
include recent service data. As an example, the user preference
service 114 tracks the channels watched by a user during a content
viewing session, which are logged as recently watch channels. The
user preference service 114 may then work in conjunction with the
content presentation device 102 to provide the user with an
interface to view and select from a list of recently watched
channels.
[0028] The client registration module 116 is configured to register
new content viewing devices with an account, and to register user
profiles with registered content viewing devices. The client
registration module 116 receiver user profile data from the content
presentation device 102 and stores the user profile data in a user
profile record in the database 112. The user profile record is
linked to the content presentation device 102, which is linked to
the account.
[0029] The content management system 118 provides the content
presentation device 102 and companion presentation device 104 with
information (e.g., metadata) about content. The information can
include titles, descriptions, dates, images, or other attribution
information related to the staff involved in production of content,
and other such information about the content.
[0030] The account control and subscription module 120 may be used
by users through interaction with the content presentation device
102) to configure and adjust aspects of their accounts. For
example, the account control module 120 may be used to add or
remove program offerings (e.g., packaged channels) from an account.
The account control module 120 may further be used to control
content access permissions associated with user profiles linked to
the account.
[0031] The database 112 stores data pertaining to various functions
and aspects associated with the network system 100 and its users.
For example, the database 112 stores a plurality of account records
corresponding to accounts maintained by the content provider system
106. Each account record includes information about the account,
including an account identifier (e.g., account number) and
information related to the services subscribed to by the account.
Each account record may be linked to one or more device records
which may in turn be linked to one or more user profile records.
The database 112 further stores recent service data associated with
each user profile record. The recent service data includes
information related to recent services utilized by the user profile
such as a list of recently watched channels for the user
profile.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating various functional
components of a content presentation service 200 executable by one
or more content viewing devices to facilitate a content viewing
session, according to some example embodiments. To avoid obscuring
the inventive subject matter with unnecessary detail, various
functional components (e.g., modules and engines) that are not
germane to conveying an understanding of the inventive subject
matter have been omitted from FIG. 2. However, a skilled artisan
will readily recognize that various additional functional
components may be supported by the content presentation service 200
to facilitate additional functionality that is not specifically
described herein.
[0033] The various functional components depicted in FIG. I may
reside on the content presentation device 102, the companion
presentation device 104, or both. As is understood by skilled
artisans in the relevant computer arts, the modules illustrated in
FIG. 1 represent a set of executable software instructions and the
corresponding hardware (e.g., memory and processor) for executing
the instructions. Moreover, it shall be appreciated that, while the
functional components (e.g., modules) of FIG. 2 are discussed in
the singular sense, in other embodiments, multiple instances of one
or more of the modules may be employed.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the content presentation service
200 includes an interface module 202, a communication module 204,
an identification module 206, and a detection module 208, all
configured to be in communication with each other (e.g., via a bus,
a shared memory, a network, or a switch) so as to allow information
to be passed between the functional components or so as to allow
the functional components to share and access common data.
Additionally, each of the functional components illustrated in FIG.
1 may access and retrieve data from a user database 210.
[0035] As shown, the content presentation service 200 is generally
based on a three-layer software architecture, consisting of a
front-end layer, an application layer, and a data layer, although
the inventive subject matter is by no means limited to such
architecture. The presentation layer consists of the interface
module 202. The interface module 202 is responsible for presenting
information and handling user interactions related to the functions
of the content presentation service 200. Accordingly, the interface
module 202 may provide a number of interfaces to users (e.g.,
interfaces that are presented on a television or other display
coupled to or embedded in the content presentation device 102). The
interfaces provided by the interface module 202 may include one or
more graphical elements (e.g., buttons, toggles, switches,
drop-down menus, or sliders) that may be manipulated through user
input to perform various operations associated with a content
viewing session. For example, the interface module 202 provides a
recent channels interface that allows users to view recently
watched channels and tune the content presentation device 102 to
one of those channels. Further details of the recent channels
interface, according to some example embodiments, are discussed
below in reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.
[0036] The application layer of the content presentation service
200 includes the communication module 204, the identification
module 206, and the detection module 208. The communication module
204 is responsible for handling communication with the server 110.
Accordingly, the communication module 204 may exchange (e.g.,
transmit and receive) data with the server 110 to facilitate
content viewing sessions and other enhanced services related
thereto. For example, the communication module 204 transmits log in
requests to the server 110 to initiate content viewing sessions
associated with a particular user profile. The communication module
204 also retrieves (e.g., through appropriate API calls) recent
service data from the server 110 associated with particular user
profiles. In some embodiments, the communication module 204 may
transmit identification data to the server 110 for processing
(e.g., to identify and authenticate a user profile), and in turn,
receive user profile information from the server 110.
[0037] The identification module 206 is responsible for identifying
and loading user profiles, which are used to provide personalized
content presentation services. The identification module 206
identifies user profiles using received identification data. More
specifically, the identification module 206 identifies user
profiles by comparing the received identification data to stored
authentication data associated with user profiles registered with
the content presentation device 102. in comparing received
identification data to stored authentication data the
identification module 206 attempts to match the received
identification data with authentication data associated with a
particular user profile. In response to identifying a matching user
profile, the identification module 206 loads the user profile and
causes the user profile to be logged in to the server 110 to
initiate a content viewing session for the user profile.
[0038] The identification module 206 may further work in
conjunction with the communication module 204 to obtain recent
service data associated with the loaded user profile from the
server 110 using an identifier of the user profile. The recent
service data includes identifiers of a set of channels accessed
during a previous viewing session of the user profile (also
referred to herein as "recently watched channels").
[0039] In some embodiments, the identification data may include
biometric data such as, for example, an image of a user or a
fingerprint of the user. Depending on the form of the
identification data, the identification module 206 may obtain the
identification data from an input device such as an image capture
device (e.g., a camera), microphone, retinal scanner, or
fingerprint reader communicatively coupled to or included in the
content presentation device 102 or the companion presentation
device 104. The stored authentication data, which is obtained from
a similar source as the identification data (e.g., an image capture
device or a fingerprint reader), is created upon registering the
user profile with the content viewing device.
[0040] The detection module 208 is responsible for identifying
recently watched channels associated with user profiles. To this
end, the detection module 208 is configured to identify channels
viewed during a content viewing session. Instead of logging each
channel to which the content presentation device 102 is tuned
during a content viewing session, the detection module 208 logs
channels to which the content presentation device 102 is tuned for
a predetermined time period (e.g., 5 minutes) to ensure that these
channels are channels actually watched by the user, and therefore,
of possible interested to the user, as opposed to channels the user
briefly tuned into before tuning in to another channel (e.g., by a
process known as "channel surfing"). After the detection module 208
determines a channel has been watched (e.g., by virtue of the
content presentation device 102 being tuned to the channel for a
predefined period of time), the detection module 208 works in
conjunction with the communication module 204 to transmit an
identifier of the channel (e.g., a channel number) to the server
110 for inclusion in the list of most recent channels included in
the recent service data associated with the user profile.
[0041] The data layer of the content presentation service 200
includes the user database 210. The user database 210 is a
machine-readable storage unit that stores a plurality of user
profile records corresponding to user profiles registered with the
content presentation device 102. The user profile records include a
user profile identifier and user profile data that includes user
personal data obtained during user profile registration.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a swim lane flow chart illustrating a method 300
for registering a user profile with the content viewing device,
according to some example embodiments. The method 300 may be
embodied in machine-readable instructions for execution by a
hardware component (e.g., a processor) such that the operations of
the method 300 may be performed by the content presentation device
102 and the server 110; accordingly, the method 300 is described
below, by way of example with reference thereto. However, it shall
be appreciated that the method 300 may be deployed on various other
hardware configurations and is not intended to be limited to the
content presentation device 102 and the server 110. For example,
although FIG. 2 illustrates a number of operations being performed
by the content presentation device 102, it shall be appreciated
that, in other embodiments, these operations may be performed by
the companion presentation device 104.
[0043] At operation 305, the content presentation device 102
receives user personal data corresponding to an unregistered user.
The user personal data may be received via user input entered, via
a controller 122, into a user interface displayed by the content
presentation device 102. The user personal data may include a user
name, a profile name, an account identifier, and demographic
information about the user (e.g., gender, birthdate, location,
etc.).
[0044] At operation 310, the content presentation device 102
obtains user authentication data for use in authenticating the
identity of the user in subsequent sessions. The authentication
data may include a fingerprint, an image of the user, or both.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the obtaining of the
authentication data may include receiving raw fingerprint data from
a fingerprint reading communicatively coupled to or embedded in the
content presentation device 102. Further, in some embodiments, the
obtaining of the authentication data may include receiving image
data from an image capture device (e.g., a camera) communicatively
coupled to or embedded in the content presentation device 102, In
some embodiments, the obtaining of the authentication data may
include receiving audio data from a microphone communicatively
coupled to or embedded in the content presentation device 102
[0045] At operation 315, the content presentation device 102
creates a user profile record in the user database 210. The user
profile record comprises a user profile identifier and user profile
data. The user profile data comprises the user personal data and
the user authentication data (e.g., fingerprint data, image data,
audio data, etc.). The user profile record may be stored with
multiple other user profile records in the user database 210.
[0046] At operation 320, the content presentation device 102
transmits the user profile record to the server 110, and at
operation 325, the user profile record is received by the server
110. At operation 330, the server 110 stores the user profile
record with a linkage to an account record and a corresponding
registered content presentation device 102. For example, FIG. 4 is
a high-level entity-relationship diagram, illustrating various
records that may be maintained within the database 112, according
to some example embodiments.
[0047] An account record 400 contains a record of an account with
the content provider system 106 that, for example, provides the
programming to the content presentation device 102, the companion
presentation device 104, and other such devices. The account record
400 includes an account identifier along with service data that
includes information related to the services (e.g., programming)
available to (e.g., by virtue of a subscription thereto) to users
associated with the account.
[0048] As shown, the account record 400 is linked to device records
401-404 so as to maintain an association of multiple content
viewing devices registered with an account. Each of device records
401-404 corresponds to a content viewing device (e.g., content
presentation device 102 or companion presentation device 104)
registered with the account corresponding to the account record
400. Accordingly, each device record 401-404 includes an identifier
of the device along with other information about the device.
[0049] As shown, each device record 401-404 is linked to one or
more user profile records so as to maintain an association between
devices and user profiles. For example, device record 401 is linked
to user profile records 405-407, device record 402 is linked to
user profile record 406, device record 403 is linked to user
profile record 405, and device record 404 is linked to user profile
records 405 and 406. Thus, because users may utilize multiple
different content viewing devices, user profile records may be
linked to multiple device records. Further, because each of the
device records 401-404 are linked to the account record 400, the
linkage of the device records 401-404 to the user profile records
405-407 also serves to maintain a linkage between the user profile
records 405-407 and the account record 400. Each user profile
record 405-407 may further include or be linked to recent service
data that includes services recently utilized during a viewing
session of the user profile (e.g., recently watched channels).
[0050] FIG. 5 is a data flow diagram illustrating a flow of data
involved in displaying a recent channel interface associated with a
particular user profile, according to some example embodiments. As
shown, the flow of data begins with the content presentation device
102 receiving user identification data 500 as input. The
identification data 500 may, for example, include login credentials
(e.g., user name and/or password), fingerprint data, audio data, or
image data depending on the form of authentication data used in
establishing the user profile. In instances in which the
authentication data includes fingerprint data, the identification
data 500 is received via a fingerprint reader communicatively
coupled to or embedded in the content presentation device 102. In
instances in which the authentication data includes image data, the
user identification data 500 is received via an image capture
device communicatively coupled to or embedded in the content
presentation device 102. In instances in which the authentication
data includes audio data, the identification data 500 is received
via a microphone communicatively coupled to or embedded in the
content presentation device 102.
[0051] Once the identification data 500 is obtained by the content
presentation device 102, the content presentation device 102
processes the identification data 500 to identify a corresponding
user profile. More specifically, the content presentation device
102 compares the identification data 500 with authentication data
stored in one or more user profile records stored in the user
database 210 to identify a match. For example, in instances in
which the authentication data and identification data 500 include
fingerprint data, the content presentation device 102 compares
received fingerprint data with stored fingerprint data associated
with one or more user profile records to identify a matching user
profile. As another example, in instances in which the
authentication data and the identification data 500 includes an
image, the content presentation device 102 compares a received
image with stored images associated with one or more user profile
records to identify a matching user profile. Once the content
presentation device 102 identifies matching authentication data,
the content presentation device 102 loads the corresponding user
profile.
[0052] Once the corresponding user profile is identified, the
content presentation device 102 transmits an identifier of the user
profile to the server 110 to obtain access the content provided by
the content provider system 106, It shall be appreciated that, in
some embodiments, the identification data 500 is transmitted
directly from the content presentation device 102 to the server 110
for authentication processing at the server 110. In these
embodiments, once the server 110 identifies the user profile, the
server 110 transmits the user profile data to the content
presentation device 102 so that the content presentation device 102
may load the user profile.
[0053] Once the user profile is loaded on the content presentation
device 102, the content presentation device 102 retrieves recent
service data from the server 110 The recent service data includes
identifiers of recently watched channels of the user profile. The
identifiers of the recently watched channels are then displayed in
a recently watched channels interface displayed in conjunction with
other live or recorded programming.
[0054] FIG. 6 is a data flow diagram illustrating a flow of data
involved in displaying an updated recent channel interface
associated with a particular user profile, according to some
example embodiments. The flow of data illustrated in FIG. 6 occurs
once a user profile has been loaded, but may occur at any point
during a viewing session. As shown, the flow of data begins with
the content presentation device 102 receiving a channel change
command 600 from the controller 122. The channel change command 600
causes the content presentation device 102. to be tuned to a new
channel which, in this example, causes the content presentation
device 102 to be tuned to channel 101. Once the content
presentation device 102 determines the new channel has been tuned
into for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 5 minutes), the
content presentation device 102 transmits an identifier of the
channel (e.g., the channel number) to the server 110 for inclusion
in the recent service data. Upon receiving the identifier of the
new channel from the content presentation device 102, the server
110 updates the recent service data by adding the identifier of the
channel, and then transmits the updated recent service data back to
the content presentation device 102. The content presentation
device 102 may display an updated list of recently watched channels
(e.g., updated to add, delete, replace, or modify a channel
identifier) in the recent channel interface in response to
applicable user input (e.g., user selection of the recent channel
interface).
[0055] FIG. 7 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method 700 for
presenting a recent channel interface, according to some example
embodiments. The method 700 may be embodied in machine-readable
instructions for execution by a hardware component (e.g., a
processor) such that the operations of the method 700 may be
performed by the content presentation device 102. In particular,
the operations of the method 700 may be performed in part or in
whole by the functional components of the content presentation
device 102; accordingly, the method 700 is described below, by way
of example with reference thereto. However, it shall be appreciated
that the method 700 may be deployed on various other hardware
configurations and is not intended to be limited to the content
presentation device 102. For example, in other embodiments, the
method 700 may be executed by the companion presentation device
104.
[0056] At operation 705, the identification module 206 receives
identification data. The identification data includes biometric
data such as an image data including an image of the user or
fingerprint data including a fingerprint of the user. Depending on
the form of the identification data, the identification module 206
may receive the identification data from an input device such as an
image capture device (e.g., a camera), a microphone, retinal
scanner, or fingerprint reader communicatively coupled to or
included in the content presentation device 102.
[0057] At operation 710, the identification module 206 identifies a
user profile based on received identification data. The user
profile may be identified from a plurality of user profiles
registered with the content presentation device 102. The
identifying of the user profile includes comparing the received
identification data to stored authentication data. Further details
of the operation 710 are discussed below in reference to FIG. 8. At
operation 715, the identification module 206 loads the identified
user profile.
[0058] At operation 720, the communication module 204 transmits a
login request for the user profile to the server 110. The login
request is to login with the user profile at the server 110 to
initiate a viewing session with the user profile on the content
presentation device 102. The login request includes an identifier
of the user profile along with an identification of the successful
authentication of the user profile.
[0059] At operation 725, the communication module 204 receives,
from the server 110, recent service data associated with the user
profile. The recent server data includes identifiers of a set of
recently watched channels for the user profile. The recently
watched channels include channels accessed during a previous
viewing session of the user profile for a threshold period of time.
Further details regarding the inclusion of a channel in the set of
recently watched channels are discussed below in reference to FIG.
9, according to some example embodiments.
[0060] At operation 730, the interface module 202 presents a recent
channels interface on the content presentation device 102. The
recent channels interface includes graphical display elements for
each of the recently watched channels, each of which may selected
(e.g., via appropriate user input entered using the controller 122)
to tune the content presentation device 102 to the corresponding
channel.
[0061] FIG. 8 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method 800 for
identifying a user profile, according to some example embodiments.
The method 800 may be embodied in machine-readable instructions for
execution by a hardware component (e.g., a processor) such that the
operations of the method 800 may be performed by the content
presentation device 102. In particular, the operations of the
method 800 may be performed in part or in whole by the functional
components of the content presentation device 102; accordingly, the
method 800 is described below, by way of example with reference
thereto. However, it shall be appreciated that the method 800 may
be deployed on various other hardware configurations and is not
intended to be limited to the content presentation device 102. For
example, in other embodiments, the method 800 may be executed by
the server 110 or the companion presentation device 104.
[0062] At operation 805, the identification module 206 compares the
received identification data to authentication data stored in one
or more user profile records stored in the user database 210 to
identify a matching user profile record. As an example, the
identification module 206 may compare a received image of a user to
stored images of a plurality of users with registered user profiles
on the content presentation device 102 (e.g., users having a
corresponding user profile record). In some embodiments, the
comparing of the images may include performing facial recognition
techniques on the received and stored images to identify a matching
user profile record. In some embodiments, the comparing of the
images may include performing iris recognition techniques on the
received and stored images to identify a matching user profile
record.
[0063] As another example, the identification module 206 may
compare received fingerprint data (e.g., received from a
fingerprint reader communicatively coupled to or embedded in the
content presentation device 102) with stored fingerprint data of a
plurality of users with registered user profiles on the content
presentation device 102 (e.g., users having a corresponding user
profile record). In comparing the received fingerprint data to the
stored fingerprint data, the identification module 206 employs
known fingerprint identification and matching techniques to
identify a matching user profile record.
[0064] At operation 810, the identification module 206 determines
if the identification data is valid based on whether a matching
user profile record is identified during operation 805. If the
identification module 206 identifies a matching user profile record
then the identification data is determined to be valid, and the
method 800 proceeds to operation 815 where the identification
module 206 determines an identifier of the user profile associated
with the matching user profile record.
[0065] If the identification module 206 does not identify a
matching user profile record then the identification data is
determined to be invalid, and the method 800 proceeds to operation
820 wherein the communication module 204 reports an unknown user to
the server 110. At operation 825, the interface module 202 displays
a prompt on the content presentation device 102 for the unknown
user to create a user profile. In some embodiments, the method 300
may commence subsequent to the operation 825.
[0066] FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method for
updating recent service data, according to some example
embodiments. The method 900 may be embodied in machine-readable
instructions for execution by a hardware component (e.g., a
processor) such that the operations of the method 900 may be
performed by the content presentation device 102. In particular,
the operations of the method 900 may be performed in part or in
whole by the functional components of the content presentation
device 102; accordingly, the method 900 is described below, by way
of example with reference thereto. However, it shall be appreciated
that the method 700 may be deployed on various other hardware
configurations and is not intended to be limited to the content
presentation device 102.
[0067] At operation 905, the detection module 208 identifies a
current channel being accessed by the content presentation device
102 (e.g., the channel to which the content presentation device 102
is tuned) during a content viewing session associated with a
currently logged-in user profile. The identifying of the current
channel includes determining an identifier of the current channel
(e.g., a channel number).
[0068] At operation 910, the detection module 208 determines that
the content presentation device 102 has continued to access (e.g.,
has remained tuned. to) the current channel for a threshold time
period (e.g., 5 minutes). The threshold time period may be a
pre-established value, or may be set based on user preferences.
[0069] In response to determining the content presentation device
102 has remained tuned to the current channel for the threshold
time period, the detection module 208, at operation 915, saves the
current channel as a recently watched channel. More specifically,
in saving the current channel, the detection module 208 causes the
recent service data to be updated with an identifier of the current
channel. To add the channel, the detection module 208 works in
conjunction with the communication module 204 to transmit an
identifier of the current channel to the server 110 where the
identifier is used to update recent service data stored in the
database 112.
[0070] FIG. 10 is an interface diagram illustrating a recent
channel interface 1000 associated with a first user profile,
according to some example embodiments. As shown, the recent channel
interface 1000 is presented on the content presentation device 102.
The recent channel interface 1000 is presented on the content
presentation device 102 in conjunction with live programming 1002.
More specifically, as illustrated, the recent channel interface
1000 includes a banner displayed above the live programming 1002,
The recent channel interface 1000 may be displayed (e.g., in
response to user selection) once the content presentation device
102 identifies and authenticates the first user profile using, for
example, biometric data.
[0071] The recent channel interface 1000 includes selectable
elements 1004-1008, each of which includes an identifier (e.g., a
channel number, service name, or service identifier) of a recently
watched channel (e.g., a channel watched during a previous viewing
session for a threshold period of time) associated with the first
user profile. A user may select (e.g., through appropriate input
entered using the controller 122) any one of the selectable
elements 1004-1008 to cause the content presentation device 102 to
be tuned to the channel corresponding to the selectable element. In
some embodiments, the selectable elements 1004-1008 may include a
thumbnail image associated with the channel such as a logo or
content related to the programming provided by the channel.
[0072] FIG. 11 is an interface diagram illustrating a recent
channel interface 1100 associated with a second user, according to
some example embodiments. As shown, the recent channel interface
1100 is displayed in a similar fashion to the recent channel
interface 1000 the recent channel interface 1100 is displayed on
the content presentation device 102 in conjunction with live
programming 1102.
[0073] Likewise, the recent channel interface 1100 includes similar
elements to that of recent channel interface 1000--the recent
channel interface 1100 includes selectable elements 1104-1108 that
correspond to recently watched channels and may be used to tune the
content presentation device 102 to respective recently watched
channels. However, the particular channels that correspond to the
selectable elements 1104-1108 are instead associated with a second
user profile, and are, therefore, a different set of channels than
those included in the recent watched channel interface 1000.
Accordingly, the recent channel interface 1100 may be displayed
(e.g., in response to user selection) once the content presentation
device 102 identifies and authenticates the second user profile
using, for example, biometric data. The second user profile may be
identified and authenticated as long as no other user profiles are
already logged in (e.g., the first user profile has been logged
off).
[0074] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating components of a
machine 1200, according to some example embodiments, able to read
instructions from a machine-readable medium (e.g., a
machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the
methodologies discussed herein. Specifically, FIG. 12 shows a
diagrammatic representation of the machine 1200 in the example form
of a system, within which instructions 1202 (e.g., software, a
program, an application, an applet, an app, a driver, or other
executable code) for causing the machine 1200 to perform any one or
more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. For
example, the instructions 1202 include executable code that causes
the machine 1200 to execute the methods 300, 700, 800, and 900. In
this way, these instructions transform the general, non-programmed
machine into a particular machine programmed to carry out the
described and illustrated functions of the content presentation
device 102 in the manner described herein. The machine 1200 may
operate as a standalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked)
to other machines.
[0075] By way of non-limiting example, the machine 1200 may
comprise or correspond to a television, a computer (e.g., a server
computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet
computer, a laptop computer, or a netbook), a set-top box (STB), a
personal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system
(e.g., an audio/video receiver), a cellular telephone, a smart
phone, a mobile device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch), a
portable media player, or any machine capable of outputting audio
signals and capable of executing the instructions 1202,
sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to be taken by
machine 1200. Further, while only a single machine 1200 is
illustrated, the term "machine" shall also be taken to include a
collection of machines 1200 that individually or jointly execute
the instructions 1202 to perform any one or more of the
methodologies discussed herein.
[0076] The machine 1200 may include processors 1204, memory 1206,
storage unit 1208 and 110 components 1210, which may be configured
to communicate with each other such as via a bus 1212. In an
example embodiment, the processors 1204 (e.g., a central processing
unit (CPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a
complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a graphics
processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio-frequency
integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor, or any suitable
combination thereof) may include, for example, processor 1214 and
processor 1216 that may execute instructions 1202. The term
"processor" is intended to include multi-core processors that may
comprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to
as "cores") that may execute instructions contemporaneously.
Although FIG. 12 shows multiple processors, the machine 1200 may
include a single processor with a single core, a single processor
with multiple cores (e.g., a multi-core process), multiple
processors with a single core, multiple processors with multiples
cores, or any combination thereof.
[0077] The memory 1206 (e.g., a main memory or other memory
storage) and the storage unit 1208 are both accessible to the
processors 1204 such as via the bus 1212. The memory 1206 and the
storage unit 1208 store the instructions 1202 embodying any one or
more of the methodologies or functions described herein. In some
embodiments, the user database 210 resides on the storage unit
1208. The instructions 1202 may also reside, completely or
partially, within the memory 1206, within the storage unit 1208,
within at least one of the processors 1204 (e.g., within the
processor's cache memory), or any suitable combination thereof,
during execution thereof by the machine 1200. Accordingly, the
memory 1206, the storage unit 1208, and the memory of processors
1204 are examples of machine-readable media.
[0078] As used herein, "machine-readable medium" means a device
able to store instructions and data temporarily or permanently and
may include, but is not be limited to, random-access memory (RAM),
read-only memory (ROM), buffer memory, flash memory, optical media,
magnetic media, cache memory, other types of storage (e.g.,
erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) and/or any
suitable combination thereof. The term "machine-readable medium"
should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g.,
a centralized or distributed database, or associated caches and
servers) able to store instructions 1202. The term
"machine-readable medium" shall also be taken to include any
medium, or combination of multiple media, that is capable of
storing instructions (e.g., instructions 1202) for execution by a
machine (e.g., machine 1200), such that the instructions, when
executed by one or more processors of the machine 1200 (e.g.,
processors 1204), cause the machine 1200 to perform any one or more
of the methodologies described herein (e.g., method 300, 700, 800
and 900). Accordingly, a "machine-readable medium" refers to a
single storage apparatus or device, as well as "cloud-based"
storage systems or storage networks that include multiple storage
apparatus or devices. The term "machine-readable medium" excludes
signals per se.
[0079] Furthermore, the "machine-readable medium" is non-transitory
in that it does not embody a propagating signal. However, labeling
the tangible machine-readable medium as "non-transitory" should not
be construed to mean that the medium is incapable of movement--the
medium should be considered as being transportable from one
real-world location to another. Additionally, since the
machine-readable medium is tangible, the medium may be considered
to be a machine-readable device.
[0080] The 110 components 1210 may include a wide variety of
components to receive input, provide output, produce output,
transmit information, exchange information, capture measurements,
and so on. The specific 110 components 1200 that are included in a
particular machine will depend on the type of machine. For example,
portable machines such as mobile phones will likely include a touch
input device or other such input mechanisms, while a headless
server machine will likely not include such a touch input device.
It will be appreciated that the I/O components 1210 may include
many other components that are not specifically shown in FIG. 12.
The I/O components 1210 are grouped according to functionality
merely for simplifying the following discussion and the grouping is
in no way limiting. In various example embodiments, the I/O
components 1210 may include input components 1218 and output
components 1220. The input components 1218 may include alphanumeric
input components (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to
receive alphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other
alphanumeric input components), point based input components (e.g.,
a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or
other pointing instrument), tactile input components (e.g., a
physical button, a touch screen that provides location and/or force
of touches or touch gestures, or other tactile input components),
audio input components, and the like. The output components 1220
may include visual components (e.g., a display such as a plasma
display panel (PUP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid
crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)),
acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., a
vibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signal generators,
and so forth.
[0081] Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of
technologies. The I/O components 1210 may include communication
components 1222 operable to couple the machine 1200 to a network
1224 or devices 1226 via coupling 1228 and coupling 1230
respectively. For example, the communication components 1222 may
include a network interface component or other suitable device to
interface with the network 1224. In further examples, communication
components 1222 may include wired communication components,
wireless communication components, cellular communication
components, near field communication (NFC) components,
Bluetooth.RTM. components (e.g., Bluetooth.RTM. Low Energy),
Wi-Fi.RTM. components, and other communication components to
provide communication via other modalities. The devices 1226 may be
another machine or any of a wide variety of peripheral devices
(e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a Universal Serial Bus (USB)
or the content presentation device controller 122).
Modules, Components and Logic
[0082] Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic
or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may
constitute either software modules code embodied on a
machine-readable medium or in a transmission signal) or hardware
modules. A hardware module is a tangible unit capable of performing
certain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain
manner. In example embodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g.,
a standalone, client, or server computer system) or one or more
hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group
of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application
or application portion) as a hardware module that operates to
perform certain operations as described herein.
[0083] In various embodiments, a hardware module may be implemented
mechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module may
comprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently
configured (e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a
field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific
integrated circuit (ASIC)) to perform certain operations. A
hardware module may also comprise programmable logic or circuitry
(e.g., as encompassed within a general-purpose processor or other
programmable processor) that is temporarily configured by software
to perform certain operations. It will be appreciated that the
decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, in dedicated
and permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configured
circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and
time considerations.
[0084] Accordingly, the term "hardware module" should be understood
to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is
physically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) or
temporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain
manner and/or to perform certain operations described herein,
Considering embodiments in which hardware modules are temporarily
configured (e.g., programmed), each of the hardware modules need
not be configured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For
example, where the hardware modules comprise a general-purpose
processor configured using software, the general-purpose processor
may be configured as respective different hardware modules at
different times. Software may accordingly configure a processor,
for example, to constitute a particular hardware module at one
instance of time and to constitute a different hardware module at a
different instance of time.
[0085] Hardware modules can provide information to, and receive
information from, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the
described hardware modules may be regarded as being communicatively
coupled. Where multiple of such hardware modules exist
contemporaneously, communications may be achieved through signal
transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses that
connect the hardware modules). In embodiments in which multiple
hardware modules are configured or instantiated at different times,
communications between such hardware modules may be achieved, for
example, through the storage and retrieval of information in memory
structures to which the multiple hardware modules have access. For
example, one hardware module may perform an operation and store the
output of that operation in a memory device to which it is
communicatively coupled.
[0086] A further hardware module may then, at a later time, access
the memory device to retrieve and process the stored output.
Hardware modules may also initiate communications with input or
output devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection
of information).
[0087] The various operations of example methods described herein
may be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors
that are temporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently
configured to perform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily
or permanently configured, such processors may constitute
processor-implemented modules that operate to perform one or more
operations or functions. The modules referred to herein may, in
some example embodiments, comprise processor-implemented
modules.
[0088] Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least
partially processor-implemented. For example, at least some of the
operations of a method may be performed by one or more processors
or processor-implemented modules. The performance of certain of the
operations may be distributed among the one or more processors, not
only residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number
of machines. In some example embodiments, the processor or
processors may be located in a single location (e.g., within a home
environment, an office environment, or a server farm), while in
other embodiments the processors may be distributed across a number
of locations.
[0089] The one or more processors may also operate to support
performance of the relevant operations in a "cloud computing"
environment or as a "software as a service" (SaaS). For example, at
least some of the operations may be performed by a group of
computers (as examples of machines including processors), with
these operations being accessible via a network (e.g., the
Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces (e.g.,
APIs).
Electronic Apparatus And System
[0090] Example embodiments may be implemented in digital electronic
circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, or software, or in
combinations of them. Example embodiments may be implemented using
a computer program product, for example, a computer program
tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for example, in a
machine-readable medium for execution by, or to control the
operation of, data processing apparatus, for example, a
programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers.
[0091] A computer program can be written in any form of programming
language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can
be deployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a
module, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing
environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on
one computer or on multiple computers at one site, or distributed
across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication
network.
[0092] In example embodiments, operations may be performed by one
or more programmable processors executing a computer program to
perform functions by operating on input data and generating output.
Method operations can also be performed by, and apparatus of
example embodiments may be implemented as, special purpose logic
circuitry (e.g., an FPGA or an ASIC).
[0093] The computing system can include clients and servers. A
client and server are generally remote from each other and
typically interact through a communication network. The
relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer
programs running on the respective computers and having a
client-server relationship to each other. In embodiments deploying
a programmable computing system, it will be appreciated that both
hardware and software architectures merit consideration.
Specifically, it will be appreciated that the choice of whether to
implement certain functionality in permanently configured hardware
(e.g., an ASIC), in temporarily configured hardware (e.g., a
combination of software and a programmable processor), or in a
combination of permanently and temporarily configured hardware may
be a design choice. Below are set out hardware (e.g., machine) and
software architectures that may be deployed, in various example
embodiments.
Language
[0094] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been
described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will
be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to
these embodiments without departing from the broader scope of the
inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the specification and
drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a
restrictive sense. The accompanying drawings that form a part
hereof show by way of illustration, and not of limitation, specific
embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. The
embodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed
herein. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, such
that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made
without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed
Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and
the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended
claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such
claims are entitled.
[0095] Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be
referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term
"invention" merely for convenience and without intending to
voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single
invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact
disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been
illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any
arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be
substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is
intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various
embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other
embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent, to
those of skill in the art, upon reviewing the above
description.
[0096] All publications, patents, and patent documents referred to
in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the
event of inconsistent usages between this document and those
documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the
incorporated references should be considered supplementary to that
of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in
this document controls.
[0097] In this document, the terms "a" or "an" are used, as is
common in patent documents, to include one or more than one,
independent of any other instances or usages of "at least one" or
"one or more." In this document, the term "or" is used to refer to
a nonexclusive or, such that "A or B" includes "A but not B," "B
but not A," and "A and B," unless otherwise indicated. In the
appended claims, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as
the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising"
and "wherein." Also, in the following claims, the terms "including"
and "comprising" are open-ended; that is, a system, device,
article, or process that includes elements in addition to those
listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within
the scope of that claim.
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