KR100375932B1 - Personalized Electronic Program Guide System implemented on Website - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic program guide system optimized for a user's personal preference on a website for facilitating program selection, comprising: a plurality of client computers (2) connected to a digital computer network; A server computer (1) which communicates with each of the client computers, wherein the server computer (1) comprises: a receiving unit (13) for receiving taste data and requests of users using the computer from a plurality of user computers; )Wow; A first memory 11 classifying and storing taste data of the user for each user; And a second memory 12 which processes and stores EPG information provided from a program provider according to a predetermined classification standard, and based on taste data of the first memory means in response to a request inputted from the receiving means. A data reassembly unit (15, 16) for providing information optimized for each user by evaluating and reassembling the EPG information stored in the second memory means; And a transmission unit 14 for transmitting the output of the data reassembly means to a corresponding one of the plurality of user computers.

Description

Personalized Electronic Program Guide System implemented on Website}

The present invention relates to a personalized electronic program guide system operating on a Web Site.

An EPG (Electronic Program Guide) refers to a program schedule displayed on a screen of a digital TV through data broadcasting.

Viewers can use the remote to manipulate the EPG to find out which stations are airing which program on the day and after a week. If you specify the desired program name, you can get more detailed program information than the schedule. Depending on the service, you can also specify the program name from the EPG screen and make a reservation recording.

Recently, as TV channels are increasing, many programs are provided through various channels, but the format of EPG information is different for each channel, and it is difficult for an individual to organize and manage such EPG information for all channels. Even so, it was still difficult for individuals to choose the right program for their taste.

The present invention seeks to provide a practical and technical solution to this problem by combining Internet technology and information processing technology with EPG technology, and to provide an electronic program guide system that is easy to select a program that is optimized for user's personal preference on a website. The purpose.

1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic program guide system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a function of a server computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A shows one embodiment of a database table that stores taste data.

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of a database of EPG information processed to correspond to the taste data of FIG. 3A.

4 illustrates an embodiment of a flowchart of calculating a preference for each program according to a user's taste database.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1: server computer 2: client computer

3: interface unit 4: TV

5: VTIAL

11: first memory 12: second memory

13 receiver 14 transmitter

15: preference calculator 16; Selection

17; Control unit 18: update unit

The personalized electronic program guide system of the present invention for achieving the above object is:

A plurality of user computers connected to a digital computer network;

A server computer in communication with each of the plurality of user computers;

The server computer is:

Receiving means for receiving, from the plurality of computers, taste data and requests of users using the computer;

First memory means for classifying and storing taste data of the user for each user;

And second memory means for processing and storing EPG information provided from a program provider according to a predetermined classification standard.

Data reassembly means for providing information optimized for each individual by evaluating and reassembling EPG information stored in the second memory means based on taste data of the first memory means in response to a request input from the receiving means. ; And

Transmission means for transmitting the output of the data reassembly means to a corresponding one of the plurality of user computers;

Characterized in that it comprises a.

In addition, the data reassembly means:

Preference calculation means for calculating a preference for each program of the EPG information stored in the second memory means based on the taste data of the first memory means in response to the request input from the receiving means;

And selecting means for selecting a predetermined program set having an optimal preference value according to the calculated preference value and arranging the predetermined program set according to a predetermined criterion.

In addition, the electronic program guide system of the present invention further comprises an interface unit connected to a tuning circuit of a separate television receiver and a power control circuit thereof, so that automatic channel switching and power control are possible according to a reserved program. .

In addition, the electronic program guide system of the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises an interface unit connected to a separate VTI control circuit to enable automatic recording according to the program guide information.

In addition, the electronic program guide system of the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises updating means for updating the taste data stored in the first memory means by analyzing the program actually viewed by individual.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily practice the same.

1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic program guide system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The server computer 1 operated by the EPG operator communicates with a plurality of client computers 2 via the Internet. The client computer 2 may be connected to the television 4 or the VTR 5 via a separate interface unit 3 via its own bus.

2 is a block diagram illustrating the functions of a server computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A user who uses a client computer inputs his or her taste through a membership registration process. Such taste data includes information on occupations, interests, hobbies, favorite sports, favorite actors, favorite singers, information on the types of programs such as dramas, news, shows, etc. Preferences, channel preferences, and political dispositions can vary. These items may be explicitly entered by the user in the membership registration process, or may be implicitly entered from the category of the program that the user actually selects and watches as described later.

Figure 3a shows one embodiment of a database table for storing such taste data. These tables are created separately for each user (or subscribing member). In the drawing, weighting is not given to one preference, but the weight may be implicitly assigned according to the frequency with which a user actually selects a program. These weights later serve as weights in the evaluation of preferences for each program. These taste data are stored in the first memory 11 as a database in FIG.

EPG information provided by the Program Provider (PP) is processed by the electronic program guide provider to add information and make it consistent. FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of a database of EPG information processed to correspond to the taste data of FIG. 3A. These tables are created for each channel (per program provider) and stored in a database in the second memory 2 in FIG.

Once taste data and EPG data are built into the database and there are requests from the user's client computer 2, the electronic program guide system operates to present personalized optimal program selection examples for that user.

In response to the user's request received by the receiver 13, the preference calculator 15 searches for the EPG information stored in the second memory 12 based on the taste data of the first memory 11 for each user. Calculate the preference for. This processing is performed over the EPG data of all channels for each time zone. Since the broadcast start time and the end time cannot be expected to coincide between different broadcasters, a broadcast program in progress at a predetermined time interval, for example, every 30 minutes, is executed for all channels.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of calculating a preference for each program according to a user's taste database in the electronic program guide system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4 together with FIGS. 3A and 3B, FIG. 4 increases the channel number by 1 in the same time zone, and when the taste item of the program matches the taste item input by the user for each program. Add as much weight as to the preference value for the program. That is, in Fig. 4, the EPG tables n, t1, i are related to the preference evaluation for the taste item i in the program broadcasted at time t1 in the table for channel n in Fig. 3b, and the taste tables user1, i are Since the taste table of FIG. 3A relates to taste item I in the table for user user1, the first judgment step is that the value of taste item i in the program being broadcast at time t1 is equal to taste item i in the table for user user1 in the taste table. In the following stem, the preference (n, t1) is related to the preference for channel n at time t1 for user1, so that if the taste of the program is consistent with your own preferences, the preferences mentioned above The weights of are added to the preference value of the program. After accumulating the taste item values for all items, the final preference value is stored, and this process is repeated for all channels in the corresponding time zone and then passed to the next time zone.

When the preference value is determined for each program through such processing, the selecting unit 16 outputs a predetermined number having the largest preference value for each time zone, for example, three programs as the best program candidates for the user to select. The number of selectable programs may be specified by the user, or may be selected as 1 or an appropriate range of values that the user can determine at a glance. The outputted program information is output to the browser on the screen of the client computer 2 of the user via the transmission unit 14 via the Internet. Therefore, the user can be presented with a predetermined number of program candidates optimized for his or her taste and can select, view, reserve or schedule them by time zone.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic program guide system of the present invention provides a power source for an external television 4 or VTR 5 through an interface board or an external interface unit 3 added to an input / output slot of a client computer 2. , Channel tuning, recording operation, and the like can be controlled. The control unit 17 controls the entire configuration of the server computer 1 and communicates with the interface unit 3 to control such an operation by an input / output command. Such automatic power on / off, channel tuning control, recording control, and the like are well-known techniques. Such hardware devices can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art prior to the filing date and are not essential parts of the present invention. Omit. In addition, when the present invention is implemented in hardware such as Internet TV, all these components may be embedded in one hardware.

The user can select one of a predetermined number, for example, three programs organized in the same time zone presented by the electronic program guide program. Since the taste item for this program is already stored in the table of the second memory 12, the selection item finally input by the user on the web browser becomes data to which the user's taste can be reevaluated. If there is only one optimal program for each time zone and automatic channel selection is set according to the data, or if a certain number of programs are presented for each time zone and there is a user's viewing reservation setting, Since it is possible to know whether or not the corresponding program is viewed, the latest taste data can be updated in proportion to the number of viewing for the corresponding taste item. The update unit 18 communicates with the interface unit 3 under the control of the control unit 17 to update the taste data stored in the first memory.

As described above, the present invention provides a database by explicitly or implicitly identifying a user's taste, analyzing information provided by an EPG provider according to a user's taste, and managing the database by accessing a large number of users on the web. In response to this access, it is a very useful and convenient electronic program guide system that allows the user to select only the program that is most suitable for them by presenting a personalized list of programs for optimal scheduling.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is not limited thereto, and various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention in each component. For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 17, the update unit 18, the preference calculator 15, and the selector 16 are described as separate components, but are actually performed in the same CPU. It can be done in software by a set of instructions. In addition, the first memory 11 and the second memory 12 may also be implemented on physically identical devices.

Thus, including such described or obviously foreseeable variations, the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the matters set forth in the claims.

Claims (5)

In the personalized electronic program guide system, The system includes a server computer, the server computer; Receiving means for receiving taste data and requests of users who use the computer from a plurality of computers; First memory means for classifying and storing taste data of the user for each user; And second memory means for processing and storing EPG information provided from a program provider according to a predetermined classification standard. Preference calculation means for calculating a preference of a program according to time slots for each program of EPG information stored in the second memory means based on taste data of the first memory means in response to a request input from the receiving means; Selecting means for selecting and outputting only a predetermined program set having an optimum preference value among the calculated preference values; Transmission means for transmitting the output of the selection means to a corresponding one of the plurality of user computers; Personalized electronic program guide system comprising a. delete The personalized electronic program guide system of claim 1, further comprising: an interface unit connected to a tuning circuit of a separate television receiver and a power supply control circuit thereof, or a control circuit of VTial, and according to a reserved program; Personalized electronic program guide system, characterized in that the automatic recording in accordance with the power control or program guide information. delete delete