EP3278566A1 - Image display device capable of automatically offering alternative program contents - Google Patents

Image display device capable of automatically offering alternative program contents

Info

Publication number
EP3278566A1
EP3278566A1 EP15714197.9A EP15714197A EP3278566A1 EP 3278566 A1 EP3278566 A1 EP 3278566A1 EP 15714197 A EP15714197 A EP 15714197A EP 3278566 A1 EP3278566 A1 EP 3278566A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
display device
image display
program
real
time
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP15714197.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Cagatay SONMEZ
Cem SUMENGEN
Gizem DIRIL
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arcelik AS
Original Assignee
Arcelik AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arcelik AS filed Critical Arcelik AS
Publication of EP3278566A1 publication Critical patent/EP3278566A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44213—Monitoring of end-user related data
    • H04N21/44222—Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity
    • H04N21/44224—Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/466—Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/4668—Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies for recommending content, e.g. movies
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/414—Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
    • H04N21/4147—PVR [Personal Video Recorder]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
    • H04N21/4227—Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/466—Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/4667—Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/472—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47214—End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • H04N21/4786—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application e-mailing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection
    • H04N21/4826—End-user interface for program selection using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image display device having an automatic broadcast program offering function such that the users are automatically offered a certain number of alternative programs.
  • Digital and interactive TV systems provide a significant amount of TV channels and programs leading to the general outcome that conventional methods for reaching a program content corresponding to the personal viewing preferences of a user from among a plurality of alternatives may become inefficient to the extent it is unperformable in a time-saving manner. Assuming that a TV service may have hundreds of channels, channel surfing might take one hour before every single channel is glanced at least once. It is to be noted that a plurality of channels from different countries may be broadcasted in a multitude of categories and an electronic program guide although proving in this respect more efficient, still involves the evident disadvantage of processing time inefficiency for a user in order for examining all the electronic program guide pages.
  • US20080127241 which relates to a system by which community program ratings are stored, a rating for a program is received and an identification of whether the rating is a private rating for the user or is a rating that can be accessed by a plurality of other users is made.
  • the rating and an indication of whether the rating is a private rating for the user or is a rating that can be accessed by a plurality of other users are sent to a community rating system for storage.
  • a request for a rating of a community for a program is received.
  • User ratings for the program are accessed, the user ratings being ratings previously submitted by users in the community that were not identified as being private, and are presented to the user.
  • the present invention provides a system and a method by which an image display device is operated such that users are automatically offered an alternative list of program contents preferably in a category-specific manner upon which the user can optionally remotely initiate a desired function such as programming recording of program contents.
  • the present invention therefore solves the technical problem of operating an image display device so as to obtain and process a hierarchical list of program contents according to a parameter set by the user, therefore accelerating processing of the significant amount of information for the user.
  • the user can directly or remotely obtain a hierarchical list of alternative program contents in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code so that the user can initiate a desired function such as switching to the alternative program or recording the same.
  • a desired function such as switching to the alternative program or recording the same.
  • the present invention therefore provides a system and method by which an image display device is operable to automatically offer directly or remotely processable alternative program contents as provided by the characterizing features defined in Claim 1 and subsequent Clams.
  • Primary object of the present invention is to provide a system and method by which an image display device automatically proposes a certain number of program contents in a directly or remotely processable manner.
  • the present invention proposes an image display device which automatically monitors the user’s watching activity and offers on a real-time basis an automatically generated list of alternative programs. This is accomplished by way of communicating with a remote server such as a third party web resource containing information with regards to real-time audience measurement results of alternative programs and by processing these results also based on earlier program viewing statistics of the user.
  • a remote server such as a third party web resource containing information with regards to real-time audience measurement results of alternative programs and by processing these results also based on earlier program viewing statistics of the user.
  • the user is then directly or remotely provided with a hierarchical list of alternative program contents in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code so that the user can initiate a desired function such as switching to the alternative program or recording the same.
  • Fig. 1 demonstrates a general flow diagram according to which the image display device of the invention executes different tasks associated with the alternative program offering function according to the present invention.
  • the present invention proposes an image display device enabling a user to reach a TV program according to his personal preferences without having to manually process a significant amount of channel and program type information.
  • the genre information may typically define a certain number of categories characterizing the content of a program.
  • a content identifier therefore describes the contextual category of the digital program so as to let the users obtain information as to the classification of an event or a program.
  • a plurality of programs are assigned to various program genres and the image display device stores a database of various programs categorized in the form of a plurality of program genres indicative of the contextual character of the given program and associated with a given channel.
  • the image display device of the present invention is fitted with an internal memory so as to store the channel-specific and category-based information, including total watching time of each channel in a respective category. More precisely, total watching time is known for each category and a list of channels that currently broadcast a program in preferred categories are accordingly hierarchically definable.
  • the user’s viewing experience is improved by enabling accessibility to a more or equally preferable program content as delineated below.
  • the present invention proposes an image display device enabling a user to reach preferred program contents according to his personal preferences in a more practical and accurate manner. More particularly, the present invention provides that an image display device automatically processes genre information of broadcast programs based on real-time audience measurement results and directly or remotely provides the user with a hierarchical list of alternative program contents in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code so that the user can initiate a desired function such as switching to the alternative program or recording the same, for instance on a storage medium.
  • the invention proposes an image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising a control unit effecting operation of said image display device.
  • the control unit is configured to analyze program genre information of real-time program contents on different channels and generate a category-specific hierarchical list of program contents based on previous watching history data.
  • Said control unit is further configured to generate a hierarchical list of alternative program contents to be directly or remotely communicated to the user and to effectuate a certain function such as switching to or recording of a real-time alternative program content upon directly or remotely receiving a corresponding request from the user.
  • a significant amount of data in the form of metadata information containing a multitude of attribute names, types and parameter descriptions is receivable as primary information by way of using the electronic program guide from the broadcaster.
  • the present invention provides an automatic program notification function such that real-time alternative programs relevant to the viewing statistics of the user in terms of specific program categories are processed to generate a category-based real-time hierarchical program content list in different channels, also considering real-time audience measurement results of alternative programs. For instance if a certain number of categories were specified as the top categories being preferred in the audience measurement results, real-time alternative programs/channels in these categories are hierarchically listed based on the real-time audience measurement results of all programs. Alternatively, the user’s viewing history category hierarchy is maintained when hierarchically listing the alternative program contents also present in the real-time audience measurement program results.
  • the generated hierarchical alternative program content list is then communicated to the user as an on-screen list, an e-mail communication or in the form of a machine-readable code overlaid on the currently viewed program content.
  • the real-time audience measurement results are preferably retrieved by periodically connecting to a remote server such as a third party web resource containing such information.
  • a remote server such as a third party web resource containing such information.
  • channel names as seen in the electronic program guide or in the control interface software can be shown with distinctive colors indicative of real-time audience measurement results associated with the channel.
  • the channel having the highest ranking value in the audience measurement results can alternatively be indicated in the form of a graph-bar, numeric value or percentage value representation.
  • the image display device may automatically provide the user with channels previews in a time-limited progressive manner starting from a channel that has the highest priority in the hierarchical list.
  • the image control device can conventionally be remotely controlled by special software such as in the case of smart TV control applications running on smartphones or other terminals, computers etc. Therefore, the image display device with Internet connectivity will provide the hierarchical list of channels/program contents to the authorized user so that he will be able to for example select any one of the real-time program contents to be recorded for viewing later on.
  • the user can control the image display device through a browser interface, a dedicated application or even through an e-mail client program by inputting special commands in response to an e-mail report sent by the image display device.
  • the image display device can generate a hierarchical list of all of the real-time programs independent of their categories and merely based on the audience measurement results.
  • programs can be hierarchically listed either based on the previous viewing statistics or the audience measurement results. Audience measurement results and previous viewing statistics may have dedicated relative weight coefficients so that the hierarchical list of alternative program contents can be generated based on both of the earlier watching history statistics and the audience measurement results while one of the two is more decisive over the other or both have equal relative weight coefficients.
  • programs/channels with the highest priority with or without categorical limitation and also within a predetermined list of favorite channels can be viewable. Therefore, the best alternative channel options that are currently airing program contents of high interest are offerable. When calculating watching durations, time durations spent in channel surfing are ignored.
  • the image display device If the image display device is currently viewed, it automatically previews the channels in the hierarchical lists until the user interrupts the process upon showing interest in one of the channels being previewed. If the device is in stand-by mode, the user can remotely control the image display device to effectuate recording of a certain program content. Alternatively, even if the device is turned on and the user watches TV, he may prefer to receive e-mail reports or notifications to his smartphone application so that he can control his smart TV and initiate recording sessions that capture TV programs by means of his portable terminal without interrupting the currently viewed program. Therefore a second tuner will perform recording of the broadcast content.
  • the present invention proposes an image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising a control unit effecting operation of said image display device.
  • Said control unit is configured to receive program genre information in association with real-time program contents on different channels, the program genre information being directly obtainable from a broadcasting service.
  • the control unit is further configured to receive real-time audience measurement results in association with real-time program contents.
  • the control unit is further configured to analyze program genre information of all real-time program contents and real-time audience measurement results in association with real-time program contents to automatically generate a hierarchical list of alternative program contents to be directly or remotely communicated to the user.
  • control unit is further configured to generate the hierarchical list of alternative program contents based on genre information in previous watching history data and real-time audience measurement results.
  • control unit is configured to initiate switching to or recording of a real-time alternative program content upon directly or remotely receiving a corresponding request from the user.
  • the hierarchical list of alternative program contents is provided in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code whereby a desired function such as directly switching to the alternative program content or remotely recording the same can be initiated.
  • the user can therefore directly review the alternative programs on the screen or can set recording of alternative programs while away.
  • the user can also set a recording session without interrupting the currently viewing program.
  • a control application on a mobile terminal or an e-mail communication sent by the image display device is advantageous in this respect.
  • a machine readable code is also an advantageous minimally intrusive means of communicating the hierarchical list of alternative program contents so that the user can scan the machine readable code on the screen by his portable terminal while viewing the currently broadcast program and simultaneously initiate a recording session if he so wishes.
  • the image display device is remotely controlled through an Internet browser interface, a mobile terminal application or an e-mail client program.
  • the Internet browser interface and the mobile terminal incorporate the evident advantage of simplicity while an e-mail client program involves an even more simplified control option independent of a dedicated software platform.
  • the genre information include categorical information characterizing content of a program in the form of a content identifier describing contextual category of the program.
  • real-time alternative program contents hierarchically listed based on genre information in previous watching history data and based on real-time audience measurement results are processed on the basis of general relative weight coefficients for the previous watching history data and the audience measurement results.
  • the previous watching history data and the audience measurement results have equal effect in calculating overall score of a program content in said hierarchical list of alternative program contents.
  • channels broadcasting program contents in the hierarchical list of alternative program contents are automatically progressively previewed in a time-limited manner.
  • the image display device is remotely configured to initiate recording of a real-time alternative program content through an e-mail client program by inputting dedicated commands in response to an e-mail report sent by the image display device.
  • channel names are shown distinctively indicative of real-time audience measurement results associated with a given channel.
  • channel names are shown with distinctive colors indicative of real-time audience measurement results associated with a given channel.
  • channels having a certain ranking value in the audience measurement results are indicated in the form of a graph-bar, numeric value or percentage value representation.
  • the invention ensures that a user will not mine a significant amount of data by way of using the metadata information provided by the TV services and will instead have a chance of reviewing offered alternative program contents that are listed in a hierarchical manner according to his personal preferences as well as audience measurement results and will be able to directly and remotely initiate switching to or recording of desired program contents in an advantageous manner. Therefore a user will reach the most relevant content automatically in the quickest way, without having to individually review a multitude of attribute names, types and parameter descriptions as in the case of an electronic program guide and even remotely record desired program contents being automatically offered.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Social Psychology (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image display device having an automatic broadcast program offering function such that the users are automatically offered a certain number of alternative programs. The invention more particularly relates to an image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising a control unit effecting operation of the image display device, said control unit being configured to receive program genre information in association with real-time program contents on different channels, the program genre information being directly obtainable from a broadcasting service. The control unit being further configured to receive real-time audience measurement results in association with real-time program contents. The control unit is further configured to analyze program genre information of all real-time program contents and real-time audience measurement results in association with real-time program contents to automatically generate a hierarchical list of alternative program contents to be directly or remotely communicated to the user.

Description

    IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE CAPABLE OF AUTOMATICALLY OFFERING ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM CONTENTS
  • The present invention relates to an image display device having an automatic broadcast program offering function such that the users are automatically offered a certain number of alternative programs.
  • Digital and interactive TV systems provide a significant amount of TV channels and programs leading to the general outcome that conventional methods for reaching a program content corresponding to the personal viewing preferences of a user from among a plurality of alternatives may become inefficient to the extent it is unperformable in a time-saving manner. Assuming that a TV service may have hundreds of channels, channel surfing might take one hour before every single channel is glanced at least once. It is to be noted that a plurality of channels from different countries may be broadcasted in a multitude of categories and an electronic program guide although proving in this respect more efficient, still involves the evident disadvantage of processing time inefficiency for a user in order for examining all the electronic program guide pages.
  • Accordingly, individual viewing preferences of users can be better processed and more relevant program content can be instantaneously offered to the user without losing the processing time spent in hunting preferable program contents.
  • On the other hand, user interaction is limited in the sense that the user has to engage in direct interaction with the image display device to initiate a desired function associated with the same.
  • Among others, one of the prior art disclosures in the technical field of the present invention can be referred to as US20080127241, which relates to a system by which community program ratings are stored, a rating for a program is received and an identification of whether the rating is a private rating for the user or is a rating that can be accessed by a plurality of other users is made. The rating and an indication of whether the rating is a private rating for the user or is a rating that can be accessed by a plurality of other users are sent to a community rating system for storage. To retrieve community program ratings, a request for a rating of a community for a program is received. User ratings for the program are accessed, the user ratings being ratings previously submitted by users in the community that were not identified as being private, and are presented to the user.
  • The present invention, on the other hand, provides a system and a method by which an image display device is operated such that users are automatically offered an alternative list of program contents preferably in a category-specific manner upon which the user can optionally remotely initiate a desired function such as programming recording of program contents. The present invention therefore solves the technical problem of operating an image display device so as to obtain and process a hierarchical list of program contents according to a parameter set by the user, therefore accelerating processing of the significant amount of information for the user.
  • Therefore, user-interaction is improved in the sense that the program content being viewed serves as a direct source of information such that alternative program contents are offered and delivered to the users.
  • The user can directly or remotely obtain a hierarchical list of alternative program contents in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code so that the user can initiate a desired function such as switching to the alternative program or recording the same. Assuming that a TV service may have hundreds of channels, there might be many occasions where a user may be interested in watching a broadcast program relating to his interests but he is only able to use conventional methods to directly manually review presented contents on each channel.
  • The present invention therefore provides a system and method by which an image display device is operable to automatically offer directly or remotely processable alternative program contents as provided by the characterizing features defined in Claim 1 and subsequent Clams.
  • Primary object of the present invention is to provide a system and method by which an image display device automatically proposes a certain number of program contents in a directly or remotely processable manner.
  • The present invention proposes an image display device which automatically monitors the user’s watching activity and offers on a real-time basis an automatically generated list of alternative programs. This is accomplished by way of communicating with a remote server such as a third party web resource containing information with regards to real-time audience measurement results of alternative programs and by processing these results also based on earlier program viewing statistics of the user. The user is then directly or remotely provided with a hierarchical list of alternative program contents in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code so that the user can initiate a desired function such as switching to the alternative program or recording the same.
  • Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a system and method by which an image display device is operable, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained hereinafter in brief.
  • The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 demonstrates a general flow diagram according to which the image display device of the invention executes different tasks associated with the alternative program offering function according to the present invention.
  • The present invention proposes an image display device enabling a user to reach a TV program according to his personal preferences without having to manually process a significant amount of channel and program type information.
  • It is known that digital broadcasting services provide information in regards to the genre of the programs being watched. The genre information may typically define a certain number of categories characterizing the content of a program. A content identifier therefore describes the contextual category of the digital program so as to let the users obtain information as to the classification of an event or a program.
  • Therefore, a plurality of programs are assigned to various program genres and the image display device stores a database of various programs categorized in the form of a plurality of program genres indicative of the contextual character of the given program and associated with a given channel.
  • To this end, the image display device of the present invention is fitted with an internal memory so as to store the channel-specific and category-based information, including total watching time of each channel in a respective category. More precisely, total watching time is known for each category and a list of channels that currently broadcast a program in preferred categories are accordingly hierarchically definable.
  • According to the present invention, the user’s viewing experience is improved by enabling accessibility to a more or equally preferable program content as delineated below. The present invention proposes an image display device enabling a user to reach preferred program contents according to his personal preferences in a more practical and accurate manner. More particularly, the present invention provides that an image display device automatically processes genre information of broadcast programs based on real-time audience measurement results and directly or remotely provides the user with a hierarchical list of alternative program contents in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code so that the user can initiate a desired function such as switching to the alternative program or recording the same, for instance on a storage medium.
  • The invention proposes an image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising a control unit effecting operation of said image display device. The control unit is configured to analyze program genre information of real-time program contents on different channels and generate a category-specific hierarchical list of program contents based on previous watching history data. Said control unit is further configured to generate a hierarchical list of alternative program contents to be directly or remotely communicated to the user and to effectuate a certain function such as switching to or recording of a real-time alternative program content upon directly or remotely receiving a corresponding request from the user.
  • A significant amount of data in the form of metadata information containing a multitude of attribute names, types and parameter descriptions is receivable as primary information by way of using the electronic program guide from the broadcaster.
  • Therefore, the present invention provides an automatic program notification function such that real-time alternative programs relevant to the viewing statistics of the user in terms of specific program categories are processed to generate a category-based real-time hierarchical program content list in different channels, also considering real-time audience measurement results of alternative programs. For instance if a certain number of categories were specified as the top categories being preferred in the audience measurement results, real-time alternative programs/channels in these categories are hierarchically listed based on the real-time audience measurement results of all programs. Alternatively, the user’s viewing history category hierarchy is maintained when hierarchically listing the alternative program contents also present in the real-time audience measurement program results.
  • The generated hierarchical alternative program content list is then communicated to the user as an on-screen list, an e-mail communication or in the form of a machine-readable code overlaid on the currently viewed program content. The real-time audience measurement results are preferably retrieved by periodically connecting to a remote server such as a third party web resource containing such information. According to the present invention, channel names as seen in the electronic program guide or in the control interface software can be shown with distinctive colors indicative of real-time audience measurement results associated with the channel. The channel having the highest ranking value in the audience measurement results can alternatively be indicated in the form of a graph-bar, numeric value or percentage value representation.
  • The image display device may automatically provide the user with channels previews in a time-limited progressive manner starting from a channel that has the highest priority in the hierarchical list. Alternatively, the image control device can conventionally be remotely controlled by special software such as in the case of smart TV control applications running on smartphones or other terminals, computers etc. Therefore, the image display device with Internet connectivity will provide the hierarchical list of channels/program contents to the authorized user so that he will be able to for example select any one of the real-time program contents to be recorded for viewing later on. The user can control the image display device through a browser interface, a dedicated application or even through an e-mail client program by inputting special commands in response to an e-mail report sent by the image display device.
  • Alternatively, the image display device can generate a hierarchical list of all of the real-time programs independent of their categories and merely based on the audience measurement results.
  • For instance if categorical limitation is applicable, as total watching time is known for each category, and a list of channels that currently broadcast a program in the preferred category is definable, programs can be hierarchically listed either based on the previous viewing statistics or the audience measurement results. Audience measurement results and previous viewing statistics may have dedicated relative weight coefficients so that the hierarchical list of alternative program contents can be generated based on both of the earlier watching history statistics and the audience measurement results while one of the two is more decisive over the other or both have equal relative weight coefficients. Alternatively, programs/channels with the highest priority with or without categorical limitation and also within a predetermined list of favorite channels can be viewable. Therefore, the best alternative channel options that are currently airing program contents of high interest are offerable. When calculating watching durations, time durations spent in channel surfing are ignored.
  • If the image display device is currently viewed, it automatically previews the channels in the hierarchical lists until the user interrupts the process upon showing interest in one of the channels being previewed. If the device is in stand-by mode, the user can remotely control the image display device to effectuate recording of a certain program content. Alternatively, even if the device is turned on and the user watches TV, he may prefer to receive e-mail reports or notifications to his smartphone application so that he can control his smart TV and initiate recording sessions that capture TV programs by means of his portable terminal without interrupting the currently viewed program. Therefore a second tuner will perform recording of the broadcast content.
  • In summary, the present invention proposes an image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising a control unit effecting operation of said image display device. Said control unit is configured to receive program genre information in association with real-time program contents on different channels, the program genre information being directly obtainable from a broadcasting service. The control unit is further configured to receive real-time audience measurement results in association with real-time program contents. The control unit is further configured to analyze program genre information of all real-time program contents and real-time audience measurement results in association with real-time program contents to automatically generate a hierarchical list of alternative program contents to be directly or remotely communicated to the user.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is further configured to generate the hierarchical list of alternative program contents based on genre information in previous watching history data and real-time audience measurement results.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is configured to initiate switching to or recording of a real-time alternative program content upon directly or remotely receiving a corresponding request from the user.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, the hierarchical list of alternative program contents is provided in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code whereby a desired function such as directly switching to the alternative program content or remotely recording the same can be initiated. The user can therefore directly review the alternative programs on the screen or can set recording of alternative programs while away. The user can also set a recording session without interrupting the currently viewing program. A control application on a mobile terminal or an e-mail communication sent by the image display device is advantageous in this respect. A machine readable code is also an advantageous minimally intrusive means of communicating the hierarchical list of alternative program contents so that the user can scan the machine readable code on the screen by his portable terminal while viewing the currently broadcast program and simultaneously initiate a recording session if he so wishes.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, the image display device is remotely controlled through an Internet browser interface, a mobile terminal application or an e-mail client program. The Internet browser interface and the mobile terminal incorporate the evident advantage of simplicity while an e-mail client program involves an even more simplified control option independent of a dedicated software platform.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, the genre information include categorical information characterizing content of a program in the form of a content identifier describing contextual category of the program.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, real-time alternative program contents hierarchically listed based on genre information in previous watching history data and based on real-time audience measurement results are processed on the basis of general relative weight coefficients for the previous watching history data and the audience measurement results.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, the previous watching history data and the audience measurement results have equal effect in calculating overall score of a program content in said hierarchical list of alternative program contents.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, channels broadcasting program contents in the hierarchical list of alternative program contents are automatically progressively previewed in a time-limited manner.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, only program contents being watched at least during a certain time duration are included for processing the previous watching history data.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, the image display device is remotely configured to initiate recording of a real-time alternative program content through an e-mail client program by inputting dedicated commands in response to an e-mail report sent by the image display device.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, channel names are shown distinctively indicative of real-time audience measurement results associated with a given channel.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, channel names are shown with distinctive colors indicative of real-time audience measurement results associated with a given channel.
  • In a further embodiment of the present invention, channels having a certain ranking value in the audience measurement results are indicated in the form of a graph-bar, numeric value or percentage value representation.
  • Further, a method for operating an image display device is proposed.
  • In this regard, the invention ensures that a user will not mine a significant amount of data by way of using the metadata information provided by the TV services and will instead have a chance of reviewing offered alternative program contents that are listed in a hierarchical manner according to his personal preferences as well as audience measurement results and will be able to directly and remotely initiate switching to or recording of desired program contents in an advantageous manner. Therefore a user will reach the most relevant content automatically in the quickest way, without having to individually review a multitude of attribute names, types and parameter descriptions as in the case of an electronic program guide and even remotely record desired program contents being automatically offered.

Claims (15)

  1. An image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising a control unit effecting operation of the image display device, characterized in that;
    the control unit is configured to receive program genre information in association with real-time program contents on different channels, the program genre information being directly obtainable from a broadcasting service,
    the control unit is further configured to receive real-time audience measurement results in association with real-time program contents and,
    the control unit is further configured to analyze program genre information of all real-time program contents and real-time audience measurement results in association with real-time program contents to automatically generate a hierarchical list of alternative program contents to be directly or remotely communicated to a user.
  2. An image display device as in Claim 1, characterized in that the control unit is further configured to generate the hierarchical list of alternative program contents based on genre information in previous watching history data and real-time audience measurement results.
  3. An image display device as in Claim 2, characterized in that the control unit is configured to initiate switching to or recording of a real-time alternative program content upon directly or remotely receiving a corresponding request from the user.
  4. An image display device as in Claim 3, characterized in that the hierarchical list of alternative program contents is provided in the form of an on-screen presentation of such program contents, an e-mail communication or an on-screen machine readable code whereby a desired function such as directly switching to the alternative program content or remotely recording the same can be initiated.
  5. An image display device as in Claim 4, characterized in that the image display device is remotely controlled through an Internet browser interface, a mobile terminal application or an e-mail client program.
  6. An image display device as in Claim 1, characterized in that the genre information include categorical information characterizing content of a program in the form of a content identifier describing contextual category of the program.
  7. An image display device as in Claim 5, characterized in that real-time alternative program contents hierarchically listed based on genre information in previous watching history data and based on real-time audience measurement results are processed on the basis of general relative weight coefficients for the previous watching history data and the audience measurement results.
  8. An image display device as in Claim 7, characterized in that the previous watching history data and the audience measurement results have equal effect in calculating overall score of a program content in said hierarchical list of alternative program contents.
  9. An image display device as in Claim 4 and 8, characterized in that channels broadcasting program contents in the hierarchical list of alternative program contents are automatically progressively previewed in a time-limited manner.
  10. An image display device as in Claim 2, characterized in that only program contents being watched at least during a certain time duration are included for processing the previous watching history data.
  11. An image display device as in Claim 5, characterized in that the image display device is remotely configured to initiate recording of a real-time alternative program content through an e-mail client program by inputting dedicated commands in response to an e-mail report sent by the image display device.
  12. An image display device as in Claim 1, characterized in that channel names are shown distinctively indicative of real-time audience measurement results associated with a given channel.
  13. An image display device as in Claim 12, characterized in that channel names are shown with distinctive colors indicative of real-time audience measurement results associated with a given channel.
  14. An image display device as in Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that channels having a certain ranking value in the audience measurement results are indicated in the form of a graph-bar, numeric value or percentage value representation.
  15. A method for operating an image display device as in Claim 1.
EP15714197.9A 2015-03-31 2015-03-31 Image display device capable of automatically offering alternative program contents Withdrawn EP3278566A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2015/057028 WO2016155792A1 (en) 2015-03-31 2015-03-31 Image display device capable of automatically offering alternative program contents

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10248409A1 (en) * 2002-10-17 2004-04-29 Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh Method for controlling the program selection on the receiving device of a broadcast medium
US7817995B2 (en) * 2005-04-01 2010-10-19 Nextel Communications Company L.P. Systems and methods for scheduling the recording of audio and/or visual content
US20070186243A1 (en) * 2006-02-08 2007-08-09 Sbc Knowledge Ventures, Lp System and method of providing television program recommendations
US8612456B2 (en) * 2008-12-11 2013-12-17 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Scheduling recording of recommended multimedia programs

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