Systems and methods for improved audience measuring.
16 claims: 2 independent, 14 dependent
- 1Un método para proporcionar índices de popularidad de contenido de medios, el método comprende:recuperar, con el uso de circuitería de control, por medio de Internet, indicaciones de las acciones del usuario desde una base de datos, las acciones del usuario se llevan a cabo con relación a un programa;recuperar, desde la memoria, información de calidad que indica los índices para asignar las acciones del usuario para calcular la popularidad del programa;asignar, con base en la información de calidad, un primer índice para una primera acción del usuario de las acciones del usuario con base en un tipo de la primera acción del usuario, en donde la primera acción del usuario es una acción diferente a ver el programa;asignar, con base en la información de calidad, un segundo índice para una segunda acción del usuario de las acciones del usuario con base en el tipo de la segunda acción del usuario, en donde la segunda acción del usuario es una acción para reproducir el programa y en donde el segundo índice es diferente al primer índice;calcular una indicación de popularidad para el programa al combinar el primer índice y el segundo índice;generar para el despliegue, una pluralidad de identificadores de contenido multimedia, en donde la pluralidad de identificadores de contenido multimedia incluye un identificador para el programa;y generar para el despliegue, una representación gráfica de la indicación calculada sobre la popularidad del programa.
- 2El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, en donde la primera acción del usuario se selecciona de un grupo que comprende:avance rápido, rebobinar, detener, pausar, grabar, reproducir, ver información adicional acerca de un siguiente elemento de medios, comprar el siguiente elemento de medios por adelantado, ajustar un recordatorio del siguiente elemento de medios, o programar para grabar el siguiente elemento de medios. donde la indicación de popularidad incluye información acerca del usuario quien llevó a cabo las acciones del usuario.
- 35. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 4, en donde la información acerca de un usuario quien llevó a cabo las acciones del usuario incluye información demográfica.
- 46. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, que también comprende:determinar un grupo de un usuario quien llevó a cabo las acciones del usuario;y filtrar las acciones del usuario con base en el grupo del usuario quien llevó a cabo las acciones del usuario.
- 57. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 6, en donde calcular la indicación de popularidad para el programa comprende:calcular la indicación de popularidad para el programa con base en las acciones del usuario filtradas.
- 68. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, en donde las acciones del usuario son recibidas en tiempo real.
- 79. Un sistema para proporcionar índices de popularidad de contenido de medios, el sistema comprende:circuitería de control configurada para: recuperar, por medio de Internet, indicaciones de las acciones del usuario desde una base de datos, las acciones del usuario se llevan a cabo con relación a un programa;recuperar, desde una memoria, información de calidad que indica los índices para asignar a las acciones del usuario para calcular la popularidad para el programa;asignar, con base en la información de calidad, un primer índice para una primera acción del usuario de las acciones del usuario con base en un tipo de primera acción del usuario, en donde la primera acción del usuario es una acción diferente a ver el programa;asignar, con base en la información de calidad, un segundo índice para una segunda acción del usuario de las acciones del usuario con base en el tipo de segunda acción del usuario, en donde la segunda acción del usuario es una acción para reproducir el programa, y en donde el segundo índice es diferente del primer índice;calcular una indicación de popularidad para el programa al combinar el primer índice y el segundo índice;generar para el despliegue, una pluralidad de identificadores de contenido multimedia, en donde la pluralidad de identificadores de contenido multimedia incluye un identificador para el programa;y generar para el despliegue, una representación gráfica de la indicación calculada de la popularidad del programa.
- 810. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 9, en donde la primera acción del usuario se selecciona de un grupo que comprende:avance rápido, rebobinar, detener, pausar, grabar, reproducir, ver información adicional acerca de un siguiente elemento de medios, comprar el siguiente elemento de medios por donde la indicación de popularidad incluye información acerca de un usuario quien llevó a cabo las acciones del usuario.
- 913. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 12, en donde la información acerca del usuario quien llevó a cabo las acciones del usuario incluye información demográfica.
- 1014. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 9, en ' 'Í! donde la circuitería de control también está configurada para:determinar un grupo de un usuario quien llevó a cabo las acciones del usuario;y filtrar las acciones del usuario con base en el grupo del usuario quien llevó a cabo las acciones del usuario.
- 1115. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 14, en donde la circuitería de control está configurada para calcular la indicación de popularidad para el programa al calcular la indicación de popularidad para el programa con base en las acciones del usuario filtradas.
- 1216. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 9, en donde las acciones del usuario son recibidas en tiempo real.
- 1317. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, en donde la primera acción del usuario es una acción para grabar el programa.
- 1418. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 9, en donde la primera acción del usuario es una acción para grabar el programa.
- 1519. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, que también comprende:determinar si la segunda acción del usuario es una acción para reproducir el programa por una primera vez o por una segunda vez;en donde, en respuesta a determinar que la segunda acción es una acción para reproducir el programa por primera vez, asignar un segundo índice para la segunda acción del usuario que comprende asignar un alto índice para la segunda acción del usuario;y en donde, en respuesta a determinar que la segunda acción del usuario es una acción para reproducir el programa por segunda vez, asignar el segundo índice para la segunda acción del usuario que comprende asignar un índice bajo para la segunda acción del usuario.
- 1620. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 9, en donde la circuitería de control también está configurada para:determinar si la segunda acción del usuario es una acción para reproducir el programa por una primera vez o por una segunda vez;en donde, en respuesta a determinar que la segunda acción del usuario es una acción para reproducir el programa por primera vez, cuando se asigna un segundo índice para la segunda acción del usuario, la circuitería de control también está configurada para asignar un alto índice para la segunda acción del usuario;y en donde, en respuesta a determinar que la segunda acción del usuario es una acción para reproducir el programa por segunda vez, cuando se asigna el segundo índice a la segunda acción del usuario, la circuitería de control está configurada para asignar un bajo índice para la segunda acción del usuario. información de audiencia de programas. Se describen sistemas y métodos para proporcionar la información de audiencia a usuarios de aplicaciones de televisión interactiva.
Independent claims16
245 paragraphs in 14 sections, as filed
The present invention relates to a television audience measurement system and, more particularly, to audience measurement systems for personal video recording systems.
Video and audio media such as television programs, pay-per-view programs, video on demand almost immediate response (NVOD) programs, video on demand (VOD) programs, music, promotional material, or
Well, other types of media are typically distributed to viewers through wired and wireless networks. Today, audience measurement systems measure the size of the audience based only on the medium being viewed or recorded as it is disseminated.
However, viewers and listeners of such media typically record such media on videocassette, audiocassette and other storage media. More recently, products have been developed that allow users to handle
I their experiences as viewers and record media with unprecedented flexibility. Personal video recorders (PVRs), such as those offered by TIVO<sup>-</sup>^ and REPLAY ”<sup>r</sup>, record programs on hard drives or other digital storage devices. Users can schedule the recording of programs and play them later. These systems also record what users are seeing in real time, allowing users to pause programs in real time, for example when the user must leave the room. Users can resume the action of watching the program when they return, where they left it, and can move the fast-moving device forward in the commercials until they reach the point where the program is currently. Users can also return the programs. The user can also watch or listen to one medium while simultaneously recording another.
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With the emergence of these technologies and other ideas
Novel technologies, the traditional methods of measuring the audience are no longer optimal for measuring the size of the audience since they measure the size of the audience only in relation to the people who are watching or recording it when it is being broadcast. Such approaches do not take into account the audiences that will see the program in the future from personal recordings. In addition, it may be desirable to provide audience measurements to users to guide them in their media selection.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to offer systems and methods for measuring audience sizes and for providing audience size information to users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object as well as other objects of the present invention are achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention by measuring audience size and providing said audience size information to the users, various modalities and characteristics of the present invention are described. , for example, in the US provisional patent application No. 60 / 193,952, filed on March 31, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Certain embodiments of the present invention may offer to>
users audience information jbara programs with the l
object of indicating the popularity of the imedios. Programs may include television programs, pay-per-view (PPV) programs, video programs on demand almost immediately (NVOD), video on demand (VOD) programs, music / ads / promotional materials / any other means of video or audio, or any suitable combination thereof. The audience information may include, for example, audience evaluations, audience size or audience participation for a particular program, market share of a particular program, or any other suitable information. Audience information can be obtained by conventional means or in response to media playback or recording.
Certain embodiments of the present invention may place the audience information in a deployment, such as the program the user is watching, an application deployment, or another suitable deployment. Audience information can be displayed for example when a user selects a media list from a guide application, as the user browses through the program lists, or it can be displayed when a user selects media registered for playback. For example, the audience information may present to the user the audience size of a program that is being
I currently watching, or that is currently being recorded or a combination thereof, in real time. Audience information can be presented using any of the following to the extent that they are appropriate: passive or interactive text, graphics, animations, video, audio, proper combination thereof or any other suitable content. In such modes, the audience information may be displayed for a predefined period of time when the user has access to the deployment first, and then the audience information may disappear (for example, fade away). Some embodiments of the present invention may offer audience information only in response to a user request. In some embodiments, audience information may be provided through audio media.
Certain embodiments of the present invention may track advertisements (commercial or other promotional material) in order to determine the attractiveness of the advertisements to users and may provide ad audience information. Ad audience information may include, for example, ad audience evaluations, the audience size for the ad, the market share of the ad, or any other appropriate information related to the ad or its audience. Ad audience information can be placed in the »
Announcement may be displayed when a user selects the advertisement, may be displayed as the user browses the advertisements, may be displayed when a user selects a medium registered for reproduction, or using any other suitable approach. Ad audience information may be provided using any of the following suitable for this purpose: passive or interactive text, graphics, animations, video, audio, an appropriate combination thereof, or any other suitable content.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, the measurement of the audience and the provision of audience information to users can be carried out through an interactive television application such as an interactive television program guide or another application of 5 proper guide. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the deployment may, for example, offer users the opportunity to browse media lists for programs (current or recorded) and offer users audience measurements.
Audience information can be distributed to the user's team using any suitable approach. Hearing information may be distributed, for example, automatically to all or a subset of media as it is disseminated. Audience information can be provided with the program (for example, in the interval
J vertical erase (VBI) or in a digital field), or it can be provided separately from the program. In certain modalities, audience information may be requested from a server as required for deployment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The aforementioned objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent when considering the following detailed description, in combination with the attached drawings, where numbers of
Ί similar references refer to similar parts throughout the description, where:
Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 2A-2E show illustrative arrangements for the interactive application equipment of Figure 1 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 3 is an illustrative schematic blp diagram of user television equipment of Figures 2Ά-2Ε, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions of the user television equipment »
illustrative of Figure 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application when the user tunes to a channel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is an illustrative display presenting the audience information to the user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application when the user browses programs, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application when the user browses media lists, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application to provide the user with additional information for media, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application to provide the user with an additional audience information menu, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application when the user selects means to compare audience information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application to provide comparison of audience information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application to provide audience information for program portions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application to provide audience information for program genres, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 15 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application to provide audience information for programs according to time segment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
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Figure 16 is an illustrative display that can be deployed by the interactive television application to provide user-based audience information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 17 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing the user with audience information based on the tuning of a program or recording of a program, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 18 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing the user with information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 19 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in the determination and distribution of audience information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 20 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing the user with audience information for upcoming programs, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The interactive television application of the present invention can be based on numerous different equipment platforms. Suitable equipment that can be used to implement the program guide includes equipment such as satellite receivers, personal television televisions (PV / TVS), personal computers (for example, with television tuner cards), cable television boxes, or Any other suitable equipment. In some embodiments, the interactive television application may be an audience measurement application that can measure audience information or provide audience information. In some modalities the application in interactive television can be an interactive television program guide. Illustrative interactive television guide systems are described, for example, in
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Knee et al., US Patent No. 5,589,892 Ύ Knudson et al. US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 357,941, filed on July 16, 1999, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Client-server program guidance systems are described, for example, in Ellis et al. US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 374,043, filed on August 13, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Online program guidance systems are described, for example, in Boyer et al., US Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 938,028, filed
I on September 18, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The interactive program guideline or another application of t
interactive television can 'allow users to record »
programs on digital or analog storage devices (for example, cassettes, hard drives, soft drives, instant memory, recordable compact discs (CDS), recordable digital versatile discs (DVDs), or any other type of storage). Interactive program guides that have digital storage are described, for example, in Hassell et al., US Patent Application No. Series 09 / 157,256, filed on September 17, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Media registration can also be done through a program guide or another server. Client-server-based program guides with remote server recording are described, for example, in Ellis et al., US Patent Application No. Series 09 / 332,244, filed on June 11, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Online program guides can also record programs or instruct a user's computer to record programs.
An illustrative system 100 in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. A
I main installation 120 provides application data from an application data source of 160 to an interactive application equipment 130 via a link of
I communications 110. There may be several sources of application data but only one source is shown in order to avoid an excessive complication of the drawing. If desired, application data sources can be located in separate facilities of the main installation 120, such as in. local information service 150, and having their data provided to the main facility 120 for location and distribution. The application data source 160 may be any suitable computer or computer-based system for obtaining data (for example, manually from an operator, electronically through a computer network, or another connection, or through of storage media) and placing the data in electronic form for distribution by the main facility 120. Link 110 may be a satellite link, a link through a telephone network, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of these links, or any other suitable communications link. Video signals can also be transmitted through link 110 if desired.
A local information service 150 may be any facility suitable for obtaining particular data from a localized region and providing the data to a main installation 120 through communications link 140. A local information service 150 may be, for example, a local meteorological station that measures weather data, a local newspaper that obtains local information from local sporting events of universities and high schools, or another suitable information provider. A local information server 150 may be a local business with a computer to provide the main facility 120, for example, local reports of skiing activities, fishing conditions, menus, etc. c well any other suitable information provider. A link 140 may be a satellite link, a link through a telephone network.
a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link.
The requested data transmitted by the main installation 120 to an interactive application equipment 130 may include television programming data (eg, program identifiers, schedules, channels, titles and descriptions) as well as other data for services other than lists of services. television programs (eg text, help, payment information per event, weather information, sports information, music channel information, links associated with the Internet network, associated equipment, etc.). There are numerous parts or facilities of »
interactive application equipment 130, even when only one is shown in Figure 1 in order to avoid an i
excessive complication of the drawing.
Application data, for example, program guide data may be transmitted by a main installation 120 to an interactive television program guide equipment 130 using any suitable approach. Data files may, for example, be encapsulated as transmitted objects using an appropriate Internet-based addressing scheme and protocol stack (for example, a stack that uses the user datagram protocol (UDP) and Internet protocol (IP)) . Systems in which data is transmitted from a main installation to television distribution facilities are described, for example, in Gollahon et al., US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 332,624, filed on June 11, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Application data may include audience information. In another approach, application data and audience information can be received separately (for example, periodic download of guide data and continuous reception of audience information).
An interactive television application is implemented in an interactive application team 130. Five arrangements
Illustrative examples for interactive application equipment 130 are shown in Figures 2A-2E. As shown, an interactive application equipment 130. may include a distribution equipment 170 located in a distribution facility 180, and a user television equipment 200.
The interactive television application, such as an interactive television program guide, can work entirely on a television set. of user 200 using the arrangements of Figures 2A and 2C, or it can work partially on the television equipment of the user 200 and partially on the interactive application equipment 130 using a suitable client-server or distributed processing arrangement, for example, what is illustrated in Figures 2B and 2D. A distribution installation 180 may be any suitable distribution installation (for example, a high frequency section of a cable system, a broadcast distribution installation, or any other suitable type of installation and distribution and may have a computer distribution 170).
The distribution equipment 170 of Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D is a suitable equipment for supplying application data to the User television equipment 200 in the communications guide 190. In Figure 2E, a distribution equipment 170 may provide application data, for example program guide data to a service system of
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Internet 220 for example through an appropriate computer network or Internet link. The distribution equipment 170 may include, for example, a transmission equipment suitable for distributing program guide data in a television channel sideband, in a vertical erase interval of a television channel, using a digital band signal , using an out-of-band digital signal, or through any other suitable technique to transmit data. Analog or digital video signals (eg, television programs) can also be distributed by distribution equipment 170 to a user television equipment 200 through communications channels 190 on multiple television channels. Alternatively, videos can be distributed to user television equipment 200 from another suitable installation and distribution such as a high frequency section of a cable system, broadcast installation and distribution, satellite television distribution installation, or Any other suitable type of television distribution installation.
The communication channels 190 may be any suitable communication means for distributing application data. Communication routes 190 may include, for example, a satellite link, a link through a telephone network / a cable or fiber optic link, a type link
I microwave, an Internet link, a cable data service interface (DOCSIS) link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communication link. Communication paths 190 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow distribution facility 180 or another distribution facility to distribute television programming to user television equipment 200. There are typically several parts of user television equipment 200 and multiple associated communication channels 190 even when only one part of user television equipment 200 and communication channel 190 is shown in Figures 2A-2D in order to avoid a complication Excessive drawings. If desired, television application and programming data can be offered on separate communication channels.
Figure 2B shows an illustrative arrangement for interactive application equipment 130 in a distributed or client-server-based interactive application system. As shown in Fig. 2B, the distribution equipment 170 may include a server 210. The server 210 may use any suitable combination of equipment and software to provide a client-server-based application. The server 210 can handle, for example, a suitable database engine · (eg Microsoft SQL server) and provide application data in response to requests »
generated by a client application implemented in the i
user television set 200. If desired, the
The server 210 may be located in a main installation 120, or another location, for example a high frequency section of a cable television system, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, or bi ' in any other suitable type of television distribution installation.
The application can retrieve application data from server 210 using any suitable client-server-based approach. The program guide may, for example, pass SQL requests as messages to server 210. In another suitable approach, the application can invoke remote procedures found on server 210 using one or more remote procedure calls. Server 210 can execute SQL statements for such invoked remote procedures. In another suitable approach, client objects executed by the application can communicate with server objects executed by server 210 using for example an object request broker (ORB). This may include the use, for example, of Microsoft Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) approach.
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The program guide implemented in interactive program guide television equipment 130 can communicate with the 'server 210' through communication guideline 190<sup>1</sup>
I using any suitable network and any protocol of>
<sup>1</sup> I suitable transport layer, if desired. They can communicate,
I for example, using a protocol stack that includes packet exchange layers in sequences / Internet packet exchange, transmission control protocol / Interhet protocol (TCP / IP) layers, protocol layers. of Appletalk transaction / Datagram delivery protocol (ATP / DDP), DOCSIS or any other suitable network and appropriate transport layer protocols.
Figures 2C and 2D show illustrative Internet-based interactive television application systems. The
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Installation and distribution 180 may include, for example, an Internet service system 220. An Internet system 220 may use any suitable combination of equipment and programmable capable of providing application data to the path using an Internet-based approach (for example, the Hypertext transfer protocol (http)). If desired, an Internet service system 220 may be located in an installation separate from distribution facility 180.
If the application is implemented in the user television equipment 200 of interactive application equipment 130 as
I shows in figure 2C, the Internet supply system 220 (or other suitable equipment in an installation of
I »
distribution 180 connected to an Internet service system 220) may provide application data to the * I user television equipment 200 through the Internet, or through a distribution equipment 170 using any appropriate Internet-based approach. For example, using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) through a link of the transmission control protocol / Internet protocol (TCP / IP). If the interactive television application implemented in the interactive application equipment 130 is a client-server guide as shown in Figure 2D, the server 210 can obtain application data from an Internet service system
220. The application can also obtain, however, application data from an Internet service system 220 through an Internet connection.
In another suitable arrangement, the distribution equipment 170 may include a computer or other suitable equipment in which a first portion or version of the interactive television application is implemented. A second portion or version of the application can be implemented in a user television set 200. The two versions or portions of the interactive program guide can communicate using any suitable peer-to-peer communication scheme (by »
for example, messaging, remote procedure calls, etc.) and perform interactive application functions distributively between distribution facilities 180 and
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user television equipment 200.
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Another suitable arrangement in which an online application, for example - an online program guide, is implemented in an interactive application equipment 130 is shown in Figure 2E. Online program guidance systems are described, for example, in Boyer et al., US Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 938,028, filed on September 18, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The user can have a personal computer (PC) 240 where a web browser or application client is implemented. The personal computer 240 may be connected to an Internet service system 220 via an Internet link 230. An Internet service system 220 may use any suitable combination of computer programmatic equipment that can be provided by an online server application or Good website. An Internet service system 220 is shown as obtaining application data from a distribution facility 180. In other suitable approaches, an Internet supply system 220 may obtain information from other systems, for example a main installation 120, a local information service 150, or any other suitable source of application data.
Application data may be related in cable TV box for use by the
I application. For example, data for two weeks »
TV show lists may be stored by the application. All or part of the application data can be supplied on request, either in a continuous or periodic data stream, or using any other suitable approach. Application data may include universal identifiers for programs.
The identifiers can be used by the application at the time of playback or recording to indicate to the system provider what programs are being played or recorded. The application data may include identifiers for commercials, scenes within programs, or any other medium or portion of the medium, to try to optimize the feedback feedback. The system provider may be a program guide provider, a television service provider, Internet service providers, application providers, cable system operators, satellite or broadcast television operators, etc. Application data may include audience information. However, application data and audience information can be received separately.
In some embodiments, a local information service 150 may be any suitable facility for measuring or receiving particular audience information for a localized region. An information service, local 150 can
I provide an audience information to a main installation 120 through a communication link 140 for accumulation in a distribution installation 180 (for example, a high frequency section of a cable television system). A local information service can be used to obtain, for example, national and local audience information.
The hearing information may be received by an audience detection team 155 or any other suitable equipment capable of measuring the audience information. An audience detection team 155 may collect audience information from one or more interactive application equipment 130, (e.g., the cable television box) via link 140. In certain embodiments, an audience detection equipment 155 may be part of an interactive application equipment 130, part of a main installation 120, or it may be separate. An audience information may be stored in an audience detection equipment 155, in an interactive application equipment 130, or in any other equipment suitable for storing information.
An interactive application team 130: can detect audience information according to the given approaches shown in Figures 2A-2E. Certain modalities of this l
The invention may obtain audience information from user television equipment 200. An audience information may be transmitted from each equipment of 'user television 200 to distribution facility 180 via communications link 190. Information of audience may be accumulated in installation and distribution: 180. A distribution facility 180 may distribute the accumulated audience information to user television equipment 200. In another suitable approach, an audience information may be accumulated by a main facility 160. An audience information stored in a distribution facility 180 may be transmitted to a main facility 160 for accumulation. A main facility 160 may accumulate audience information and distribute the audience information to user television equipment 200.
An audience information can be distributed to the user team using any suitable approach. An audience information may be distributed, for example, automatically to all or a subset of media as the medium is distributed. Audience information can be provided with the medium (for example, in the vertical erase interval (VBI) or in a digital field), or separately from the medium. Alternatively, the data may be required from a server (for example, server 210} only as required for i
deployment.
An illustrative arrangement for user television equipment 200 is shown in Figure 3. A user television equipment 200 of Figure 3 receives a stream of digital video or video and data from a distribution facility 180 (Figure 2a) , for example, a program distribution installation or another suitable distribution installation at input 250. During normal television operation, a user tunes the cable television box 260 to a desired television channel.
The signal for this television channel is then supplied on video output 270. The signal supplied at output 270 is typically either a radio frequency (RF) signal on a predefined channel (eg channel 3 or 4), or an analog demodulated video signal, but it can also be a digital signal provided to the 280 television in a digital bus (collector) (for example, a collector that uses the 1394 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), (not illustrated)). The video signal at output 270 is received by an optional secondary storage device 290.
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The interactive television application may operate in a cable television box 260, in a television 280 (if television 280 has a suitable processing circuit and an appropriate memory), in a suitable analog or digital receiver connected to a television 280, or in a digital storage device 300 if the digital storage device 300 has a suitable processing circuit and an appropriate memory. The interactive television application can also work cooperatively in a suitable combination of these devices. Interactive television application systems where a cooperative interactive television program guide application works on several devices are described, for example, in the Ellis US patent application
Serial No. 09 / 186,598, presented on November 5,
1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
A secondary storage device 290 may be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device or player (for example, a VCR), a personal VCR, a digital versatile disc recorder (DVD), etc). The recording of a program and other features can be controlled through cable television box 260 using a control guide 310. If the secondary storage device 290 is a VCR or a personal VCR, for example, a control path
Typical I 310 includes the use of an infrared transmitter connected to the infrared receiver in the recorder that normally accepts commands from a remote control, for example, the remote control 320. The remote control 320 can be used to control the cable television box 260 , secondary storage device 290, and television 280.
If desired, a user can record programs, application data, or a combination thereof, in digital form in optional digital storage device 300. A digital storage device 300 may be a rewrite optical storage device (for example a DVD player that can handle DVD discs on which it can be rewritten), a magnetic storage device (for example a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. Interactive television program guide systems that have digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et al., Request. US Patent Serial No. 09 / 157,256, filed on September 17, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A digital storage device 300 can be found in a box of
J 260 cable television or it can be a device
I external connected to cable box 260 a
I through an output port and an appropriate interface. In
If necessary, a processing circuit in the box
I 260 cable television formats video, audio signals
I and data received in a digital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format, for example the MPEG-2 standard of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) or the standard of the Joint Moving Photographs Experts Group (MJPEG ) [Group of Experts of United Photography in Motion]. The resulting data is channeled to a digital storage device 300 through an appropriate collector (for example, a collector that uses the 1394 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)), and they are stored in a digital storage device 300. In another suitable approach, a stream of MPEG-2 data or series of files can be received from a distribution device 170 and stored.
Television 280 receives video signals from a secondary storage device 290 through communication path 330. Video signals in communication path 330 can be generated by either a secondary storage device 290 when played back. a pre-registered storage medium (for example, a cassette or a recordable digital video disc), by a digital storage device 300 when an i is played
pre-recorded digital media, can pass through cable television box 280, can be electrically supplied to television 280 from cable television box 260 if a secondary storage device 290 is not included in the television equipment of user 200, or they can be received directly by television 280. When watching television normally, the video signals provided to television 280 correspond to the desired channel to which the user has tuned through cable television box 260. Video signals can be
<img file="MX363752B_D0003.tif" />
also be supplied to television 280 through cable television box 260 when cable television box 260 is used to reproduce information stored in a digital storage device 300.
The cable television box 260 may have memory 340.
Memory 340 may be any memory or other storage device, for example a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), instant memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc. ., suitable for storing program guide application instructions and application data for use by the interactive application.
A cable television box 260 may have a communication device 350 for direct communication with a distribution equipment 170, server 210 or Internet service system 220 through the communication path
190. A communication device 350 can be a modem (for example, any suitable analog or digital, standard, cellular or cable MODEM), a network interface card
<td>(for example,</td><td>an Ethernet card, a ring card</td>
<td>Token, etc),</td><td>or another communication device</td>
<td>suitable. A</td><td>communication device 350 can be</td>
also a personal computer, a connection to the Internet for example in the arrangement illustrated in Figures 2C and 2D.
<img file="MX363752B_D0004.tif" />
A television 280 may also have said suitable communication device if desired. In an alternative approach, a user television set 200 can communicate with an Internet service system 220 through a distribution set 170 using a suitable return path.
A more generalized mode of user television equipment 200 of Figure 3 is shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, program guide data from installation and distribution 180 (Figure 2a) is received by a 360 control circuit of the user television set. 200. The functions of the control circuit 360 can be provided using the cable television box arrangement of Figures 2a and 2b. Alternatively, these functions can be integrated into an advanced television receiver, a personal computer television (PC / TV) or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such arrangements can be used.
A user television set 200 may also have a secondary storage device 370 and a digital storage device 380 for recording programming. A secondary storage device 370 may be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device (for example, a VCR), a personal video recorder (PVR), a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.). The recording of programs and other features can be controlled through a control circuit 360. A digital storage device 380 can be, for example, an optical storage device in which it can be written, for example a DVD player capable of handle recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (for example, a disk drive or a digital tape), or any other digital storage device.
A user television set 200 can also have memory 390. Memory 390 can be any memory or other storage device for example, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an instant memory , a hard disk drive, a combination of these devices, etc., which is suitable for storing application instructions and application data for use by the control circuit 360.
A user television set 200 of FIG. 4 can also have a communication device 400 to support communications between the application and the distribution equipment 170 as a server 210, or Internet service system 220 through a communication path 190. The communication device 400 may be a MODEM (for example, any suitable standard, cellular or analog or digital cable MODEM), a network interface card
<img file="MX363752B_D0005.tif" />
(for example, an Ethernet card, a signal ring card, etc.}, or another suitable communication device.
A user can control the operation of the user television equipment 200 with a user input device 410. A user input device 410 may be a pointer type device, a wireless remote control, a keyboard, a touch pad, a voice recognition system, or any other suitable user input device. To watch television, a user instructs a control circuit 360 to display a desired television channel on a deployment device 420. The deployment device 420 may be
I a television, a monitor, or any other suitable deployment device. To access the functions of the application, a user can instruct the application implemented in the interactive television program track equipment 130 to generate a main menu or another desired display for deployment in the deployment device 420. To access the sound, a user can instruct the control circuit 360 to provide audio media in the audio device 425. The audio device 425 may be part of the deployment device 420 or it may be separated. Some modalities may present users with audience measurements of programs to indicate the popularity of the program. Programs may include television programs, pay-per-view (PPV) programs, video on demand almost immediate response (NVOD) programs, video on demand (VOD) programs, music, advertisements, promotional materials, or any other means of video or audio. Figures 5-15 show illustrative displays to provide audience measurement information. In the examples in Figures 5-15, audience information is provided by an interactive television application. Even when the present invention •>
It is described primarily in the context of an interactive television program guide, user interface can
be part of an audio application, a video application, or any other suitable guide application.
The displays described herein may include a reversible bar 505 or a video or an application superimposed on the display 500. A reversible bar 505 can identify for example the current channel of the user and the program. A reversible bar 505 can offer the user, for example, interactive advertisement 510, program description area 515, logo 520, and current time 525. In addition to program descriptions, a program description area may also include a channel indicator 530 and a classification of parents 535. Interactive advertisements 510 may be displayed as part of deployment 500. If desired, advertisement 510 may also be passive. Reversible bar 505 may disappear (for example, fade) after a predetermined downtime.
Certain modalities can offer users audience information when, for example, users change channels. Audience information can be provided with a reversible display, browse displays, program lists, announcements, or any other suitable display.
Figure 5 shows an illustrative display 500 that can be deployed when the user alternates between two channels i
(for example, alternating deployment). The 500 deployment as well
I, like other deployments described here, can provide the user with audience information. Audience information
I can be placed in the program that the user is watching, it can be played in audio medium, it can be displayed when a user selects a list of programs from a guide application, it can be displayed as the user scrolls through the lists of programs, it can be displayed when a user selects a medium registered for playback, or it can be displayed when a user selects an audience information icon 550. For example, deployment 500 may contain options for various program guide functions. When the user decides to switch to another program, or to another application for example, using the remote control, the display 500 may present audience information related to the user's current application or video. In another suitable approach, an audience information in relation to the current application or video of the user may be presented when the user selects an audience information icon 550. In certain embodiments, an audience information icon 550 or audience information it can be deployed for a predetermined period of time when the user first has access to the deployment 500, and
I can then disappear. Any other approach to displaying audience information can also be used. 'f
Audience information 'can provide the user>
audience evaluations, audience size for a particular program, the market share of a particular program, or any other appropriate information related to the audience of a program or other media. Audience information may have been obtained by conventional means or in response to media playback or recording.
The audience information may present to the user, for example, the audience size of a program they are currently watching, that they are currently recording, or a combination of them, in real time as shown in Figure 6. The display 600 can present audience information to the user by placing a graph 605, for example, a pie diagram illustrating the program that the user is currently watching compared to the other programs available in this time segment. The system may present audience information or audience information icon 550 using any of the following: passive or interactive text, graphics, animations, video, audio, any combination thereof, or any other suitable content.
Certain modalities may provide an audience information at the user's request. Audience information 15 may be requested from a server only when it is required for deployment. The user can obtain an audience information, for example, by selecting an audience information icon 550 (Figure 5) or by pressing a specific key on the remote control when the audience information icon 550 is displayed or highlighted. By selecting the audience information icon 550 or by selecting the displayed audience information, the display (for example, display 500) can be replaced and the user can be presented with another display with a graph 605 appearing on the display.
Certain modalities can track ads (for example commercial or other promotional material) to determine the attractiveness of the ads. A deployment 500 may present users with audience information of advertisements 5 for the advertisements. An ad audience information
560 It can include an audience assessment, the audience size for the ad, the market share of the ad, or any other appropriate information. Ad audience information 560 can be placed on 10 ad 510, can be displayed when a user selects an ad 510, can be displayed as the user browses the ads, can be displayed when a
I user selects recorded media 'for playback or using any other suitable approach.
In another suitable approach, deployment 600 may present i
Audience information announced to the user by placing a 610 graph, for example, a pie diagram, illustrating the popularity of the announcement that the user is currently viewing. The system may present 20 560 advertisement audience information using any of the following: appropriate passive or interactive text, graphics, animations, video, audio, any combination thereof or any other suitable content. Program guidance systems with monitoring of use of advertisements 25 are described, for example, in Thomas et al., US Patent Application No. of • Series 09 / 139,798, filed on August 25, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Certain modalities may present to the user the audience information in displays for browsing. The
Figure 7 shows a display for illustrative 700 browsing.
The interactive television application may display a display for browsing 700. For example, in response to the user's selection of a button on the remote control 10, the display 700 may be deployed.
700 can allow, for example, users to continue watching
I a program on a particular channel while they are browsing
I information on programs that are being disseminated in other channels and in other schedules. In another approach, a
I deployment to browse 700 may be similar for example to a. I display 500. The display 700 may include a number of graphics and advertisements, for example, logo 520, time 525, mail 710, interactive ads 715, and any other suitable graphics or advertisement. One or more 715 interactive ads can be displayed as part of the 700 display. If desired, the 715 ads can be passive.
A display 700 may allow users to indicate the desire to browse through a list of programs for other channels and time segments, by pressing for example the 25 up and down left and right arrows on the remote control. Display 700 may include the current application or video of the user placed on display 700. The display 700 may also include a busbar 720 which can for example identify the channel selected by the user as well as the program. In addition to the program descriptions, a 720 busbar can include a 725 channel indicator and 730 parent rating. The 700 display can also include audience information. The display 700 may also include an audience information icon 550. An audience information or audience information icon
550 It can be placed in the application or video currently selected by the user. An audience information icon 550 may also be placed in 720 busbar. An audience information may provide the user with audience ratings, audience size for a particular program, the market part of a particular program, or another appropriate information related to the current program or the selected program. The system may present audience information as well as audience information icon 550 using any of the following: appropriate passive or interactive text, graphics, animations, video, audio, any combination thereof, or any other suitable content.
The interactive television application or any other guide application may present audience information with the program listings. For example, an illustrative display 800 of Figure 8 can be deployed by an interactive television application to offer users lists of programs for current programs and recorded programs. The deployment 800 includes a region of program lists 829 that contains one or more program lists (for example, lists 810, lists 815). One or several lists 810 can offer the user information on programs on specific channels that are presented at a particular time. Lists 810 include the names of programs shown at 8:00 PM on channel 98 to channel 102. However, lists 810 and lists 815 may include other media-related information, such as program descriptions, audience evaluation, audience information (or an icon indicating the availability of audience information), and other information. adequate. The display 800 can provide lists 815 so that the user can access the lists of the recorded media. The 815 lists include the program names and the recording date recorded, for example, by a PVR device. The 800 display may also include 520 logo, 715 ads, 710 mail, any other graphics, any other animation, or any other suitable content.
As illustrated, the region of program lists 720 offers program lists in a list and displays the channel number, call letters, and program title for a given time segment. The lists shown are simply illustrative. Any other suitable approach can be used.
A user can indicate the desire to have access to additional information for a list by selecting for example a list. Upon selection of a list by the user, such as January 7: 60 minutes, the interactive television application may present program information .: An illustrative display 900 is shown in Figure 9. The display 900 may
I include, for example, the title of the program (for example, title area 915), a description of the program (for example, description 905), the evaluation of the program (for example, evaluation 920) or any other suitable information. If the program were registered by the user, the 900 display can provide the date and time of the recording. If the program will be broadcast on air, the deployment 900 may, for example, present the channel and the time the program is broadcast to the user.
t
The display of program information 900 may also offer the user an audience information. The audience information area 910 may include, for example, the number of times the program has been replayed, the size of the audience or the market share of the program you are currently watching or recording, or any other information adequate. A 910 audience information area also includes a 925 DETAILS button. As shown, the user can select the DETAILS * 925 button by placing the highlighted region 920 on the 925 button and, for example, by pressing the OK key on the remote control. The 925 DETAILS button can offer the user additional information about the audience. The audience information area 910 may include any suitable interactive or passive text, graphics, animations, audio, video, any combination thereof or any
I another suitable context. As in the case of any
J deployment described, the deployment 900 may also include numerous graphics, animations, selectable advertisements, video windows or any other suitable content.
When the user highlights the DETAILS 925 button and presses the OK key on the remote control, the interactive television application can offer a detailed operation of the audience. Figure 10 shows ur. 1000 display of illustrative detailed audience information. The deployment
I
1000 It may include a 1005 Compare Programs button, a 1010 Program Portions button, a 1015 Program Genres button, a 1020 Program button according to the
Time and a 1025 Compare button with Viewers.
The Compare Programs 1005 button can allow the user to compare audience information from various programs or other media. By selecting button 1005, the interactive television application can present the user with the illustrative display 1100 as shown in Figure 11. The display 1100 can provide a region of program lists 820 containing a number of program lists, for example lists 810 and lists 815. The display 1100 may also include a check box 1105 adjacent to each program list. The user can select the means to be compared by placing, for example, an indicator 1110 in the check box 1105.
I
As shown in Figure 11, the user has been selected to compare the audience information of I love<sup>1</sup> Lucy,
I
The Wood, and Dawson's Creek. When selecting media,<sub>(</sub>and, for example, by pressing the OK key on the remote control, the
<td>application</td><td>may</td><td>to transfer</td><td colspan="3">the user to a deployment</td>
<td>illustrative</td><td> 1200</td><td>how I know</td><td>shows</td><td>in the figure</td><td>12. The</td>
<td>information</td><td>from</td><td>audience</td><td>may</td><td>be deployed</td><td>in the</td>
<td>deployment</td><td> 1200.</td><td colspan="2">As it is shown in</td><td>Figure 12, the</td><td>graph</td>
1205 It is a pie diagram illustrating the comparison of audience sizes between I Love Lucy, The Wood, and Dawson's Creek. Audience information can be provided by placing graph 1205. Graph 1205 can be a pie diagram, a graph, or any suitable content to provide comparison of audience measurements.
The program portion button 1010 may allow the user to view the media audience information at particular times. For example, the user can view audience information for a scene within a program. When the user selects the 1010 button, the interactive television application may present to the user the illustrative display 1300 as shown in Figure 13. The display 1300 includes a menu bar 1305
I can provide lots of time. Menu bar 1305 can be a menu that goes down, a window that appears, or
I any other suitable interface. In some modalities, a
I menu bar 1305 can include scene names for the i
selected medium. As shown in Figure 13, a menu bar 1305 is placed to provide audience information during the first 10 minutes of the program. Hearing information can be provided by placing
I a graph 1310 and graph 1315. Graph 1310 and graph 1315 can display audience information. For example, graph 1310 displays the number of users that changed the channel during the first 10 minutes of the program. Figure 1315 shows the number of users who watched or recorded the first 10 minutes of I love Lucy against those who watched any other program in the same time segment. Graph 1310 and graph 1315 may be a pie diagram, a graph, or any suitable content to provide audience measurements.
The program genres button 1015 can present the audience information of programs compared to other media in the same category.
For example, the user can view the audience information for a soap opera and compare the audience information with audience information of other soap operas. When the user selects the 1015 button, the interactive television application can provide the user with an illustrative display 1400 as shown in Figure 14. The display 1400 includes tub list 1405 which can include titles 1410 as well as audience information 1415. The list i
1405 it can be a menu that goes down, a window that appears, or any other suitable list to indicate the soap operas and provide respective audience measurements. Audience information can be provided by placing a 1420 chart. For example, a 1420 chart showing the number of users who watched or recorded I love Lucy against those who watched any other program in the soap opera category. Graph 1420 can be a pie diagram, graph or any suitable content to provide audience measurements.
The 1030 program schedule button can present the program audience information to the user compared to other media in the same time segment. For example, the user can compare audience information for a program that is shown at 8:00 PM and all other programs that are displayed at 8: 0C PM. When the user selects the 1020 button, the interactive television application may present the user with an illustrative display 1500 as shown in Figure 15. The display 1500 includes audience information that can be provided by placing graph 1505. As shown, the Graph 1505 shows that 30% of users watched or recorded I love Lucy at 8:00 PM and did not watch another program in the 8:00 PM time segment. Graph 1505 can be a pie diagram, graph or any suitable content to provide audience measurements.
The 1000 display may include the Compare 1025 viewers button. By selecting this button you can allow the user to select a group of users for whom the audience information is displayed. This selection (not illustrated) can be used to modify any of the other displays, for example, figures 12-15. For example, an illustrative display 1700 of Figure 16 may be shown if the user selects information from
<img file="MX363752B_D0006.tif" />
audience for viewers in the same zip code and select the Schedule 1030 Programs button. The 1700 display includes audience information that can be provided by placing graph 1705. As shown, graph 1705 shows that 30% of users in the The user's zip code saw or recorded I love Lucy at & S¡ $ compared to the users in the nation who saw I love Lucy. Graph 1705 can be a pie diagram, graph, or any suitable content to provide audience measurements. In certain modes, the user can be enabled to select national data (for example, all users in the Dación), regional data (for example all users in a 'geographical region of the user), or market data (for example, all users in a specific market / area
I 'specific metropolitan). The user may be asked to enter location information, for example zip code, or the interactive application may know the location based on, for example, the location of the distribution facility. The user can select a demographic comparison, where the interactive application can compare the user with other users with similar demographic characteristics. The user may be asked to enter identification information, user profile information may be used, demographic information.
<img file="MX363752B_D0007.tif" />
it can be based on monitoring user actions, or demographic information can be collected using other appropriate approaches.
Figures 17-20 are flow charts of the steps involved in providing various features of embodiments of the present invention. In practice, one or more of the steps shown may be combined with other steps, carried out in any suitable order, or deleted.
Figure 17 is a flow chart of the illustrative steps involved in providing audience information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The interactive television application can provide the user with access to the user profile. In the
I step 1605, an indication is received (for example, through
I the cable television box 260) in the sense that the
Ϊ user is having access to the user profile. Profiles can be created and maintained to differentiate one user from another. For example, multiple users within a home can watch the same program registered at different times. Taking multiple users into account can improve the granularity of audience information (in accordance with what is discussed later in the figure
19). In some modalities, the user can start a session by entering, for example, a username and password. However, the user may not have to log in. In approaches in which the user initiates a session, the system can use the login information to retrieve user information. User information may include identification information (for example, name), demographic information (for example, age, gender, income, etc.), previous media selections, programs played, interests, favorites, and any other suitable information.
In step 1610, indications of programs identified by user are received (for example, by cable television box 260). Users can select programs by pressing for example buttons on the remote control or on the cable box. The selection of a
I program can include the fact of browsing through lists »
of programs. Program lists may include current programs, upcoming programs, registered programs, or any other suitable means. Any other suitable approach can also be used. In response to the indication by the user, the user can be provided with a program or any other means. When the user watches the program or any other means, an audience information can be presented to the user in step 1615. Audience information can be provided with the medium, for example, with graphics and animations. However, audience information may
<img file="MX363752B_D0008.tif" />
also be provided separately from the medium.
In another suitable approach, audience information may be provided with information about the program or. any other means without providing the program itself (for example, there may be no tuning). For example, a user can receive a program list. When the user selects a program from the list, the interactive television application can provide the user with an information screen, as shown in Figure 9. The audience information for upcoming programs can be based on the number of users that. I selected to see additional information regarding the program, the number of viewers who acquired the
I program 'in advance, the number of users who will schedule' I reminders, the number of users who scheduled to record the program, or any other suitable approach. The steps involved in providing audience information for upcoming programs are discussed below in Figure 20.
In another suitable approach, audience information can be provided in the vertical erase interval (VBI). Audience information can be provided using any other suitable approach and can be provided to the user using any suitable interactive passive text, graphics, animations, video, audio.
any combination thereof, or any other suitable content.
In step 1620, indications of actions identified by the user are received. Actions may include pause by the user, return of the medium, or run the medium forward. For example, with the introduction of personal video recorder (PVR) devices, users can pause, return or advance the programs in real time. A user can pause a television program and resume the action of watching the program 30 minutes later even when live television may be broadcasting another program (for example, the next program). When the television application
I interactive executes the action identified by user, the
The action identified by the user can be recorded, for example, by the television box per cab, and taken into account when the audience information is calculated. User-identified actions can be used to have more accurate access to audience information, for example part of the audience.
Some modes may allow users to watch or listen to programs while simultaneously recording others.
programs In step 1625, indications of registered programs selected by user (for example, by cable television box 260) are received. The program or other means is recorded along with the program information and any other information that can be used to calculate the audience information. For example, the information can be used when the audience of the program is calculated in real time. After determining the updated audience information, the user can receive the updated audience information. Criteria for determining audience information are shown in Figure 19 and will be discussed with additional details below. Audience information can be indicated to the user using any suitable approach, such as using the displays of Figures 5-16.
I
It will be noted that even when the user is shown watching and recording a simultaneous program, the user can see a
I program, record a program or both.
I
Figure 18 is a flow chart of the illustrative steps involved in providing audience information based on the tracking of user reproductions, in accordance with the modality in the present invention. In step 1805, indications are received in the sense that the user is playing a previously recorded medium. Alternatively, in step 1810, identifiers, such as program identifiers, for example, are received by an interactive television application that indicates when the user is playing a previously recorded medium. Identifiers can be used for example by means of the application (for example a program guide) during playback or recording to indicate the distribution installation (for example, through the main installation, high frequency section of cable television, equipment of user, etc.) which media are in the process of playback or recording. Identifiers can be recorded with the program. For example, in PVR devices program identifiers can be recorded as part of a digital data track. Program identifiers can also be stored at
I through some guide applications, such as interactive television program guide. For example, program identifiers can be stored by the program guide when analog media is recorded.
I
Program identifiers can be stored and supplied using any other suitable approach. Any suitable approach can be used to detect a reproduction.
In step 1815, playback information can be recorded (for example, by the interactive application, by a cable television box, etc.). A reproduction information may include program titles, commercials, audio, or any other suitable means. Playback information can be supplied
<img file="MX363752B_D0009.tif" />
at any suitable frequency (for example, periodically, upon request, in response to investigation of the high frequency section or main facility, etc.). A reproduction information can be used to help calculate the audience information for the medium based on the number of times. The medium was reproduced.
In step 1820 indications of actions selected by user are received. Actions may include pause, return, fast forward movement, and any other appropriate action. For example, with the introduction of
I personal video recorders (PVR) users can pause, return the programs, or advance the programs. By providing this action to the user, the user's actions can be recorded, for example, by the
I <sup>1</sup> Cable television box or application, and considered when calculating audience information. An audience information can be based, for example, on the user's selected actions, the number of times the previously recorded media were played, etc.). After updating the audience information in step 1825, the interactive television application may present updated audience information to the user. The audience information may be presented to the user using any suitable approach, for example the approaches in the displays of Figures 5-16. The user can obtain the audience information in step 1830. The audience information can be a real-time audience information.
Figure 19 is a flow chart of the illustrative steps involved in the determination and distribution of audience information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In step 1900, information related to the audience can be measured and obtained. In subp & so 1905, information can be collected as to the program identified by the user (for example, the program selected by the user). The program identified by the user can be determined during the action of watching the program, playing said program, recording<sup>1</sup> the program, or at any other suitable time. In sub-step 1910, the time invested in the program identified by the user can be determined. Any suitable processor or equipment (for example, equipment with internal clocks or timing mechanisms) can be used for example to determine the amount of time the user spent watching the selected program. For example, indications that the user is playing a recorded program and when the user for the recorded program is received by the cable television box.
In sub-step 1915, the actions identified by user can be collected. The actions identified by the user may include, for example, the fact that the user presses the fast forward scroll key on the remote control 15 minutes 8:00 PM program of I Love Lucy. In sub-step 1920, program information can be collected. Program information may include commercial, audio, video, or any other medium that may be presented during the program selected by the user.
The program identified by the user, the actions identified by the user, the program information, and
I any other information related to the audience can be stored, for example, in the television box by
I cable and distribute to the main installation or any other suitable installation. Any other approach can also be used.
In step 1930, by collecting and collecting the information collected by the audience (for example, from cable television boxes, local information service, main facilities, etc.), the audience information can be calculated. Audience information can be calculated using a predetermined algorithm. In certain
I modalities, a graduated approach can be used to determine audience information. For example, a first evaluation (for example, a low evaluation) is assigned to the program when the program is recorded. Subsequently, a second evaluation (for example, a higher evaluation) is assigned when the program is played for the first time. Additional evaluations can be assigned each time the program is played. The use of the graduated approach can enable, for example, the main installation or the high frequency section to take into account users who play programs several times. With reference again to Figure 17, the user starts a session. By tracking and differentiating users, the same user who is watching the same program several times can be taken into account. Graduated approaches or any other suitable approach can be used to calculate audience information. Graduation methods, by)
example, the graduated approach, can be selected in step 't
1935 In step 1940, a table can be accessed to determine the graduation information. The graduation information can be a point system. For example, in the graduated approach described above, the first reproduction receives a high evaluation. To the! To determine the graduation information and the method of graduation, the audience information is calculated in step 1945.
I
In step 195 0, the audience information can be distributed to the user. For example, the audience information may be distributed to the user's cable television box by the main installation 120, audience detection equipment 155, interactive activation equipment 130, any other distribution installation (eg, registration section frequency of a cable television system), or any other suitable installation. Audience information may also be distributed to other parties, such as evaluation companies, advertisers, programmers, etc. Audience information can also be distributed through any other suitable approach.
Figure 20 is a flow chart of ilutrative steps>
involved in providing audience information for upcoming programs, in accordance with a modality of the present invention. In step 2005, they are received
I indications in the sense that the user is seeing a program information about an upcoming program. For example, the user can select the program title in a program list display. The list of programs can offer the user information about upcoming programs in specific channels that are presented at a particular time. Upon receiving the user's instructions, the user can receive the program information in relation to the upcoming program.
In step 2010, the audience information can be updated. Audience information can be based on the number of users who selected to view additional program information about the upcoming program, the number of viewers who bought the upcoming program in advance, the number of users who scheduled reminders for the upcoming program, the number of users who scheduled to record the upcoming program, or any other suitable approach. Updated audience information can be presented to the user. Audience information may also be distributed to other parties, for example, evaluation companies, advertisers, programmers, etc. Audience information can be presented to the user using any suitable approach / for example, the approaches in the displays of Figures 5-16. The user
I can receive the audience information in step 2015. Thus, systems and methods are provided to provide an interactive television application that measures the audience size more effectively. It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the invention and that several modifications skilled in the art can make several modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
Contents14
21 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8 Sheet 9 Sheet 10 Sheet 11 Sheet 12 Sheet 13 Sheet 14 Sheet 15 Sheet 16 Sheet 17 Sheet 18 Sheet 19 Sheet 20 Sheet 21
39 members in 10 offices
Priority claims7
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19395200 | United States of America | P | |
| 60193952 | United States of America | – | |
| 0110234 | United States of America | W | |
| 60193952 | – | – | – |
| PCTUS2001010234 | – | – | – |
| US20000193952P | – | – | – |
| WO2001US10234 | – | – | – |
Members39
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2403388A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| CA2870324A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| CA2972297A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| WO0176248A2 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A2 | |
| AU8930201A | Australia | A | |
| US2002056087A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| WO0176248A3 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A3 | |
| EP1275253A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| BR0109692A | Brazil | A | |
| MXPA02009628A | Mexico | A | |
| KR20030036149A | Republic of Korea | A | |
| CN1422495A | China | A | |
| JP2003530032A | Japan | A | |
| AU2001289302B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| CN1805539A | China | A | |
| AU2006203371A1 | Australia | A1 | |
| JP2008219917A | Japan | A | |
| JP2012055021A | Japan | A | |
| JP5086510B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| US2012304211A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| JP2013042559A | Japan | A | |
| US8578403B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| JP5619716B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| CA2403388C | Canada | C | |
| US9015739B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| JP2015136183A | Japan | A | |
| JP2015136184A | Japan | A | |
| US2015271550A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| MX340065B | Mexico | B | |
| CA2870324C | Canada | C | |
| JP2017188957A | Japan | A | |
| JP6280892B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP2019041416A | Japan | A | |
| JP2019041417A | Japan | A | |
| MX363752BThis record | Mexico | B | |
| JP2020014253A | Japan | A | |
| US10743064B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| JP6756802B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP2021016199A | Japan | A |
Numbers
- Publication
- 363752
- Publication, DOCDB
- 363752
- Publication, EPODOC
- MX363752
- Application
- 2016008386
- Application, DOCDB
- 2016008386
- Application, EPODOC
- MX20160008386
Titles2
- Spanish
- SISTEMAS Y METODOS PARA LA MEDICION MEJORADA DE LA AUDIENCIA.
- English
- SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE IMPROVED MEASUREMENT OF THE HEARING.
Classification
- CPC, 33
- G06Q30/02
- H04N21/44224
- H04N21/25
- H04H20/38
- H04H60/31
- H04H60/63
- H04H60/65
- H04N5/445
- H04N5/76
- H04N5/765
- H04N5/775
- H04N5/85
- H04N7/165
- H04N7/17318
- H04N9/8042
- H04N21/252
- H04N21/4147
- H04N21/4312
- H04N21/4314
- H04N21/44204
- H04N21/47
- H04N21/4722
- H04N21/488
- H04N21/6582
- H04N21/812
- H04N7/17354
- H04N21/25883
- H04N21/25891
- H04N21/4316
- H04N21/47214
- H04N21/47217
- H04N21/6125
- H04N21/6175
- IPC, 26
- H04N21 442
- G06Q30 00
- H04N17 00
- H04H1 00
- H04H20 38
- H04H60 31
- H04H60 33
- H04H60 63
- H04H60 65
- H04N5 445
- H04N5 76
- H04N5 765
- H04N5 775
- H04N5 85
- H04N7 16
- H04N7 173
- H04N9 804
- H04N21 25
- H04N21 258
- H04N21 4147
- H04N21 431
- H04N21 47
- H04N21 4722
- H04N21 488
- H04N21 658
- H04N21 81
