KR20050084320A - User profile portability - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating user profile data and storing the user profile data on a portable computing device. The user profile data comprises user preferences in relation to data within a first database. A first computing device comprises the generated user profile data. The first computing device is electrically coupled to the portable computing device. The portable computing device is adapted to copy the generated user profile data from the first computing device to the portable computing device. The portable computing device is adapted to be electrically removed from the first computing device.

Description

User Profile Portability {USER PROFILE PORTABILITY}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and associated method for generating and storing user profile data on a portable computing device.

Storing a user profile generally requires the use of a bulky and permanent device. Bulky and permanent devices can be cumbersome. Thus, there is a need to create a user profile on a device that is not bulky and not permanent.

1 is a block diagram of an electrical structure including a second computing device electrically and / or mechanically coupled to a first computing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of an electrical structure including a second computing device electrically and / or mechanically coupled to a third computing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3 illustrates a process algorithm used in FIGS. 1 and 2 to generate user profile data on a first computing device and to process data in a second database using the user profile data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Illustrative Flowchart.

4 is a flow diagram illustrating an alternative process algorithm used in FIGS. 1 and 2 to generate user profile data on a second computing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

The present invention provides an electrical structure comprising: a first computing device electrically connected to a second computing device, wherein the first computing device includes generated user profile data, wherein the generated user profile data comprises: a first computing device; A user preference associated with data in a database, wherein the second computing device is adapted to duplicate and store the generated user profile data from the first computing device, and the second computing device is configured to copy the first computing device. Adapted to be electrically isolated from

Provide electrical structures.

The present invention, in the electrical structure,

A second computing device electrically connected to a first computing device, wherein the second computing device includes generated user profile data, the generated user profile data including user preferences associated with data in the first database. And the second computing device is adapted to be electrically isolated from the first computing device.

To provide.

The present invention, in the method,

Providing a first computing device electrically connected to the second computing device;

Generating, by the first computing device, user profile data comprising user preferences associated with data in a first database;

Duplicating the user profile data to the second computing device;

Electrically separating the second computing device from the first computing device;

Electrically connecting the second computing device to a third computing device;

Access by said second computing device from said second computing device to specified data in a second database based on said user profile data;

It includes a method.

The present invention, in the method,

Providing a first computing device electrically connected to the second computing device;

Providing, by the second device, user profile data comprising user preferences relating to data in a first database;

Electrically separating the second computing device from the first computing device;

Electrically connecting the second computing device to a third computing device;

Accessing, by the second computing device, data designated in a second database based on user profile data from the second computing device.

It includes a method.

1 shows a block diagram of an electrical structure 1 comprising a second computing device 8 electrically and / or mechanically connected to a first computing device 4, according to an embodiment of the invention. . The second computing device 8 is adapted to be electrically and / or mechanically connected to the third computing device 10 after it is electrically and / or mechanically separated from the first computing device 4. The first computing device 4 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU) 5, an input device 15, a memory device 9, and an output device 19. This input device 15 may be any input device known to those skilled in the art, in particular keypads, keyboards and the like. The output device 19 may be any output device known to those skilled in the art, in particular, such as a monitor, a television, a printer and the like. The memory device 9 may in particular be equipped with a hard drive, magnetic computer disk, compact disk (CD), flash memory, random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or the like. It can be any memory device known to those skilled in the art. The third computing device 10 may include a central processing unit (CPU) 7, an input device 14, a memory device 12, and an output device 18. This input device 14 may be any input device known to those skilled in the art, in particular keypads and keyboards and the like. The output device 18 can be any output device known to those skilled in the art, in particular monitors, televisions, printers and the like. The memory device 12 may be, in particular, such as a hard drive, a magnetic computer disk, a compact disk (CD), flash memory, random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or the like. It can be any memory device known to those skilled in the art. The first computing device 4 and the third computing device 10 may be equivalent. The second computing device 8 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU) 11 and a memory device 6. This memory device 6 is particularly well known in the art, such as hard drives, magnetic computer disks, compact disks (CDs), flash memory, random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and the like. It can be any memory device known to those skilled in the art. The memory device 6 may include a memory capacity in the range of about 2 kilobytes (KB) to about 64 megabytes (MB). The second computing device 8 may in particular be a smart card. This smart card may be a contact smart card or a radio frequency (RF) smart card with radio capability, in particular requiring a physical connection. The first computing device 4 is, in particular, a computer, a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a personal video recorder (PVR), an audio device (radio, a car radio, a compact disc player / recorder, etc.), a video device (video cassette). Recorder, digital video disc player / record, television, etc.). The first computing device 4 may comprise data in a first database 109 stored in the memory device 9. Alternatively, the data in the first database 109 may be located at a remote location from the first computing device 4, and the data in the first database 109 may in particular be a network link, an internet link, an Ethernet link, a telephone. Access through a link, a wireless link, and the like. The first computing device 4 generates user profile data for a particular user. A second computing device 8 electrically and / or mechanically connected to the first computing device 4 creates a copy of this user profile data and stores the copy in the memory device 6. The second computing device 8 comprising this user profile data is electrically and / or mechanically separated from the first computing device 4 and then electrically and / or mechanically connected to the third computing device 10. (Eg, as shown in FIG. 2). The third computing device 10 can include data in the second database 112. Data in the second database 112 may be stored in the memory device 12. Alternatively, the data in the second database 112 can be located at a remote location from the third computing device 10, wherein the data in the second database 112 is in particular a network link, an internet link, an Ethernet link, a telephone link. , Wireless link, and the like. The data in the first database 109 and the data in the second database 112 may include, in particular, audio data, video data, text data and the like. The data in the first database 109 and the data in the second database 112 may include data relating to hotels / motels (eg, fares, availability, etc.), data relating to rental cars (eg, fares, Availability, radio settings, temperature settings, etc.), data on climate control (e.g., preferred temperature settings), data on aviation (e.g., fares, availability, etc.) can do. This user profile data includes a user preference related to the data in the first database 109 and includes a second computing device for accessing and / or using the data in the second database 112. Used by (8). For example, a user may have a PVR (eg, first computing device 4) at a particular location (eg, at home). The user specifies that they prefer a particular type of television (TV) show (eg, science fiction) and prefer to watch at a particular time of day. The PVR generates a user profile based on a user specification related to the category in the first database 109. The user profile is transferred or duplicated on the smart card (eg second computing device 8). The user can now take the smart card to a remote location (ie, a hotel room) and connect the smart card to a second PVR (eg, third computing device 10). The user profile data can access the appropriate content (eg, TV show), and this smart card can control the display of the appropriate content based on the user profile data. Alternatively, the user profile data may access appropriate content (eg, a TV show), and this smart card may recommend content assigned to the user based on the user profile data. Applications for portable user profiles include, but are not limited to, PVRs, automotive applications (radio settings, temperature settings, seat settings), TV or monitor settings (e.g. contrast, brightness, etc.), environmental settings in the home ( For example, recommendation or access to designated entertainment content for heating, lighting, electrical equipment, etc., and may include performing airline or hotel reservations and the like. This user profile data can, in particular, be generated in a number of ways, including explicitly, implicitly, or in cooperation with each other. In order to explicitly generate this user profile data, user input data (e.g., user specified settings, preferences, etc.) is input to the first computing device 4 via the input device 15 and then this user. Profile data is disclosed in US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 666,401, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Generating Recommendation scores using Implicit and Explicit Viewing Preferences", filed Sep. 20, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It is generated based on user input data as described. In order to implicitly generate user profile data, user history data (e.g., past user settings, preferences, etc.) is stored in the first computing device 4, and then this user history data is referred to herein by reference. Generated based on user history data as described in US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 466,406, filed December 17, 1999, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Recommending Television Programming using Decision Trees," which is fully merged. do. In order to generate user profile data in cooperation with each other, user input data (e.g., user specified settings, preferences, etc.) is input to the first computing device 4 via the input device 15, and then the geographical user. Data (e.g., a user is a particular geographic area setting, preference, etc.) is filed in "Four-Way Recommendation Method and System Including, filed Sep. 10, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Stored in a first computing device 4 as described in US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 953,385 entitled "Collaborative Filtering." User input data and geographic user data can be combined with each other to create a user profile. The second computing device 8 may determine the designated data in the second database 112 (eg, TV show, specified settings, hotel preferences, etc.) based on the comparison of the second database 112 with the user profile data. It can be recommended to the user. Alternatively, the second computing device 8 may process and / or use the designated data in the second database 112 based on the comparison of the second database 112 and the user profile data (eg, Change settings, make reservations, watch certain TV shows or movies). The first database 109 may be equivalent to the second database 112. As another embodiment, this user profile can be created directly on the second computing device 8 instead of the first computing device 4 (eg, as shown in FIG. 4), thereby providing a first There is no need to duplicate the user profile data from the computing device 4 to the second computing device 8. All other features of the other embodiments are the same as the first embodiment described above.

2 shows a block diagram of an electrical structure 2 comprising a second computing device 8 electrically and / or mechanically connected to a third computing device 10, according to an embodiment of the invention. Illustrate 1. In contrast to FIG. 1, the second computing device 8 is electrically and / or mechanically separated from the first computing device 4, and then electrically and / or mechanically connected to the third computing device 10. .

3 is used in FIGS. 1 and 2 to generate user profile data on the first computing device 4 and process the data in the second database using the user profile data, according to an embodiment of the invention. A flowchart illustrating a process algorithm. Step 30 represents the start of a process of generating user profile data. In step 32, the data in the first database 109 is loaded into the memory device 9 of the first computing device 4. Alternatively, in step 32, the first database 109 may be stored at a remote location, and in particular may be accessed via a network link, an internet link, an Ethernet link, a telephone link, a wireless link, or the like. In step 34, a selection is made to create user profile data implicitly, explicitly, or in concert with each other. If in step 34 a selection is made to implicitly generate user profile data, the user profile data is implicitly generated in step 38 based on past user history data. In step 40, the user profile data is copied to the second computing device 8. In step 42, the second computing device 8 is electrically and / or mechanically separated from the first computing device 4 and then the second computing device 8 is in step 44 the third computing device 10. Electrically and / or mechanically connected to the In step 46, the data in the second database 112 is compared with the user profile data as to whether the user preferences match. In step 34, when a selection is made to explicitly generate user profile data, the user profile data is explicitly generated based on the user input data in step 62. In step 64, the user profile data is copied to the second computing device 8. In step 68, the second computing device 8 is electrically and / or mechanically separated from the first computing device 4, and then the second computing device 8 is connected to the third computing device 10 in step 70. Electrically and / or mechanically connected. In step 72, the data in the second database 112 is compared with the user profile data as to whether the user preferences match. In step 34, if a selection is made to cooperatively generate user profile data, then in step 50, the user profile is cooperatively generated. In step 52, the user profile data is copied to the second computing device 8. In step 54, the second computing device 8 is electrically and / or mechanically separated from the first computing device 4, and then the second computing device 8 is connected to the third computing device 10 in step 56. Electrically and / or mechanically connected. In step 58, the second database 112 is compared with the user profile data as to whether the user preferences match.

4 is a flow diagram illustrating an alternative process algorithm used in FIGS. 1 and 2 to generate user profile data on a second computing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In contrast to FIG. 3, the user profile data is generated on the second computing device 8 in step 80 instead of the first computing device 4 as in step 30 of FIG. 3, whereby step 40 of FIG. 3. There is no need to duplicate the user profile data from the first computing device 4 to the second computing device 8, as in step 52, and step 64. All other steps 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, and 97 in FIG. 4 are steps 30, 34, 38, 42, 44 in FIG. , 46, 50, 54, 56, 58, 62, 68, 70, and 72, respectively.

While embodiments of the invention have been described herein for illustrative purposes, many variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

As described above, the present invention is applicable to generating user profile data and generating it on a portable computing device.

Claims (52)

As an electrical structure, A first computing device electrically connected to a second computing device, wherein the first computing device includes generated user profile data, the generated user profile data including user preferences associated with data in the first database. Wherein the second computing device is adapted to duplicate and store the generated user profile data from the first computing device, and the second computing device is adapted to be electrically isolated from the first computing device, Electrical structures. The electrical structure of claim 1, wherein the first database is in a remote location from the first computing device. The electrical structure of claim 1, wherein the first computing device comprises a first memory device, and the first database is stored in the first memory device. The electrical structure of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a personal computer (PC), a personal video recorder (PVR), and an audio device. The electrical structure of claim 1, wherein the second computing device comprises a memory device that stores the user profile data. 6. The electrical structure of claim 5 wherein the memory device is selected from the group consisting of flash memory, random access memory (RAM), and electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). The electrical structure of claim 1, wherein the second computing device comprises a central processing unit (CPU) for processing the user profile data. The electrical structure of claim 1, wherein the second computing device is a smart card. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second computing device that includes the generated user profile data is adapted to be electrically connected to a third computing device, and wherein the generated user profile data in the second computing device is second to the second computing device. An electrical structure adapted to access specified data in a database. The electrical structure of claim 9, wherein the second computing device is adapted to recommend to the user the designated data in the second database based on the generated user profile data in the second computing device. 10. The electrical structure of claim 9 wherein the second computing device is adapted to process the designated data in the second database based on the generated user profile data in the second computing device. The electrical structure of claim 9, wherein the third computing device is the same as the first computing device. The electrical structure of claim 9, wherein the third computing device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a PC, a PVR set top box, and an audio device. The electrical structure of claim 9, wherein the data in the first database is video data and the data in the second database is video data. The electrical structure of claim 9, wherein the data in the first database is text data and the data in the second database is text data. The electrical structure of claim 9, wherein the data in the first database is audio data and the data in the second database is audio data. 10. The electrical structure of claim 9 wherein the data in the first database is selected from the group consisting of flight data, hotel / motel data, car rental data, and climate control data. The electrical structure of claim 9, wherein the data in the second database is the same as the data in the first database. As an electrical structure, A second computing device electrically connected to a first computing device, wherein the second computing device includes generated user profile data, the generated user profile data including user preferences associated with data in the first database. And the second computing device is adapted to be electrically isolated from the first computing device. The electrical structure of claim 19, wherein the second computing device is a smart card. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second computing device including the user profile data is adapted to be electrically connected to a third computing device, wherein the generated user profile data at the second computing device is specified in a second database. An electrical structure adapted to access data. The electrical structure of claim 21, wherein the data in the first database is video data and the data in the second database is video data. The electrical structure of claim 21, wherein the data in the first database is text data and the data in the second database is text data. The electrical structure of claim 21, wherein the data in the first database is audio data and the data in the second database is audio data. 22. The electrical structure of claim 21 wherein the data in the first database is selected from the group consisting of air data, hotel / motel data, car rental data, climate control data. In the method, Providing a first computing device electrically connected to the second computing device; Generating, by the first computing device, user profile data comprising user preferences relating to data in a first database; Duplicating the user profile data to the second computing device; Electrically separating the second computing device from the first computing device; Electrically connecting the second computing device to a third computing device; Access by said second computing device from said second computing device to specified data in a second database based on said user profile data; Including, the method. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first database is at a remote location from the first computing device. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first computing device comprises a first memory device and the first database is stored on the first memory device. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first computing device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a personal computer (PC), a personal video recorder (PVR), and an audio device. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second computing device comprises a memory device for storing the user profile data. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the memory device is selected from the group consisting of flash memory, random access memory (RAM), and electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second computing device comprises a CPU for processing the user profile data. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second computing device is a smart card. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising recommending, by the second computing device to the user, the designated data in the second database based on the generated user profile data in the second computing device. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising processing the designated data in the second database based on the generated user profile data at the second computing device. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the third computing device is the same as the first computing device. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the third computing device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a PC, a PVR set top box, and an audio device. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data in the first database is video data and the data in the second database is video data. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data in the first database is text data and the data in the second database is text data. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data in the first database is audio data and the data in the second database is audio data. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data in the first database is selected from the group consisting of air data, hotel / motel data, car rental data, climate control data, and the data in the second database is air data, hotel / And motel data, rental car data, climate control data. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second database is the same as the first database. Providing a first computing device electrically connected to the second computing device; Generating, by the second computing device, user profile data comprising user preferences relating to data in a first database; Electrically separating the second computing device from the first computing device; Electrically connecting the second computing device to a third computing device; Accessing, by the second computing device, data designated in a second database based on the user profile data from the second computing device. Including, the method. The method of claim 43, wherein the second computing device is a smart card. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the first database is remote from the first computing device. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the first computing device comprises a first memory device, and the first database is stored on the first memory device. 44. The method of claim 43, further comprising recommending, by the second computing device, the user to the user by the second computing device based on the generated user profile data at the second computing device. 44. The method of claim 43, further comprising processing the designated data in the second database based on the generated user profile data in the second computing device. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the data in the first database is video data and the data in the second database is video data. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the data in the first database is text data and the data in the second database is text data. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the data in the first database is audio data and the data in the second database is audio data. 44. The system of claim 43, wherein the data in the first database is selected from the group consisting of air data, hotel / motel data, car rental data, and climate control data, and the data in the second database is air data, hotel. / Motel data, rental car data, and climate control data.