KR20020054324A - TV magnets - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for selectively filtering content for display initiating at least one TV magnet corresponding to a category of content, and pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting content based on the TV magnet. And selectively displaying the filtered ones according to the pulling, rejecting or pulling and rejecting. The term "content" relates to the type of program or information that can be broadcast, stored by the user, or otherwise transmitted to the user.

Description

TV magnets {TV magnets}

(Background of invention)

The present invention relates generally to a user interaction paradigm related to customization of the TV viewing process.

Digital television and digital information have changed and will continue to change home entertainment by providing vast amounts of digital content. With so many channels and so many different content available, it will be impossible for any viewer to browse the content using conventional channel surfing methods. Electronic program guides (EPG), such as those disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,706,121 and 5,353,121, incorporated herein by reference, select programs based on viewer supplied selection criteria. Provide viewers with a convenient way. However, even under development, even EPGs will be insufficient to provide a level of personalization of the immense information that will soon be available.

Various devices and systems, such as personal TV recorders and proxy technologies, provide any level of personalization. These systems operate at the meta-data level using EPSs and user preferences. Such devices typically have a hard disk with the capability of storing video content for hours to facilitate the process of viewing preferred programs. However, new paradigms are required that allow users to intuitively search and find the content they want to watch.

(Reference to related applications)

This application is a nonprovisional application of US Provisional and Supplementary Application "TV MAGNETS", filed Jul. 28, 2000, filed on July 28, 2000 by inventors Clive Van Heerden and Jone Zimmerman, and herein The whole is incorporated by reference.

1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a user interface that includes a TV magnet.

2 illustrates preferred embodiments of a user interface in which a TV magnet operates.

3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a user interface that allows a user to browse through content in which TV magnets are collected.

4 shows a preferred embodiment of a screen display having a magnet transmitted.

5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a system in which a user interface incorporating a TV magnet can be displayed and utilized.

6 is a block diagram of a program segment stored on a processor readable medium for selectively filtering content from the display.

(Summary of invention)

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for selectively filtering content for display includes initiating at least one TV magnet corresponding to a category of content. The method can also be filtered according to the steps of attracting, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting content, and pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting content based on a TV magnet. Selectively displaying content.

The term "content" relates to the type of program or information that can be broadcast, stored by the user, or otherwise transmitted to the user.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the step of pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting the display of the rejected content by allowing filtering, retrieval, and display of the content, at least in part, of the pulled content. To prevent. Filtering is performed on pixel color analysis in sampled frames, dialogue analysis, object recognition techniques, content rating guides, or written program descriptions. Can be performed based on this.

In other embodiments, the initiating step also includes assigning at least one particular type of content, such as specific celebrities, to the TV magnets. Certain types of content include certain searchable items within a general category of content and that can be filtered and displayed in the display phase while the content is pulled, rejected, or pulled and rejected.

In other embodiments, the initiating step further includes generating at least one TV magnet symbol indicative of the content type. TV magnet symbols and content type may be automatically generated by the system, provided by a broadcast station, downloaded from the Internet, made by users, or exchanged between other users on a network.

In other embodiments, the user can adjust the strength of the TV magnet to attract or reject content more powerfully or less powerfully. This may be accomplished by instructing the content retrieval and display device to place greater emphasis on placing and displaying the content selected for attraction to the user, and by adjusting intensity indicators that reduce the impact of the filtering mechanism. The user can also adjust the rejection strength of the TV magnet by adjusting the intensity indicator. The intensity indicator directs the content retrieval and labeling device to less emphasize that the selected content for the filter is located and displayed to the user and increases the impact of the filtering mechanism.

In yet another embodiment, the user places at least one TV magnet symbol in one or more genres on the user interface. Attracting, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting selectively filters the content according to at least one TV magnet displayed on at least the TV magnet symbol during the initiation phase.

In other embodiments, the pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting occurs during a predetermined time period. Therefore, the content collected by the TV magnet for a predetermined time period is displayed. Also, while the user is viewing the displayed content, the pulled, rejected, pulled and rejected display continues according to the step of continuously pulling, rejecting, pulling and rejecting the filtered content.

In another aspect, the invention includes display means for selectively filtering content. The system includes display means for displaying content, at least one content source, and a microprocessor. The system also includes a content filter for selectively filtering content according to the at least one TV magnet, and means for initiating, editing, and selecting at least one TV magnet.

In various embodiments, the display means can be a television or a monitor, where the content is the source of television programming and the source of the content is at least one television programming. The source of television programming can be a satellite programming source, a land based programming source, or some other broadcast source.

The microprocessor controls the content filter based on the TV magnet. The content filter receives content from a source of at least one content, filters the content that the TV magnet rejects, and allows the content that the TV magnet attracts to pass through. The microprocessor may receive content from at least one source of content and allow the content filter to filter the content based on the TV magnet. In addition, the microprocessor may instruct the content filter to filter the content stored in the storage medium based on the TV magnet. The microprocessor may also automatically suggest or make at least one TV magnet based on the user's personal viewing habits.

In another aspect, a program segment stored in a processor readable medium for selectively filtering content from an indication includes various portions. One part discloses at least one TV magnet. One part attracts, rejects, or intrigues and rejects content based on the TV magnet. One portion also displays the filtered content according to the steps of pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting.

The present invention provides several advantages. For illustrative purposes only, the systems and methods may filter the content based on a user's personal input such that generic and specific content may be drawn or rejected transparently. This will make watching television easier and more personal as the number of channels and amount of information continues to grow. In addition, enormous information can be organized and viewed quickly and simply, without requiring too much scanning. These various advantages are described with reference to the following embodiments.

(Detailed Description of Basic Embodiments)

The proposed method and system, hereinafter referred to as " TV magnets ", has the ability to select virtual objects with special characteristics that attract or reject certain types of content, such as television programs. Provide to television viewers.

1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the proposed user interface for selecting content using a TV magnet. Begin by the user selecting from a menu 61 on the user interface 102. Here the user can open a new magnet, download the magnets, get the suggested magnets from memory, or open their personal magnet file. In FIG. 1, the user selects George's magnets. The user then selects from the TV magnets 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 by moving the cursor 20 left, right, up and down using a conventional input device such as a remote control or keyboard. . Each TV magnet represents a different category of content. For example, TV magnet 15 is an "event magnet" that attracts or rejects common and specific types of content associated with events, such as conventional magnets.

When the TV magnet 15 is selected, a representative still or moving enlarged or other modified image 150 is displayed on the user interface 102. Some text information may include enlarged or other altered images 150, such as the category of content represented by TV magnet 15 or specific content TV magnet 15 attracts or rejects.

Attraction identifier 150 enumerates the various types of content to which TV magnet 15 is to be attracted and may be edited to suit the user's personal affairs. In FIG. 1, the TV magnet 15 will attract events that may include content about airplanes, crashes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods. Similarly, a reject identifier 152 lists the various types of content that the TV magnet 15 rejects. In FIG. 1, the TV magnet 15 will reject events that include content about advertising and weather.

The TV magnet 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 symbols and the types of content they represent are automatically generated by the system, provided by the broadcaster, downloaded from the Internet, created by the user, or on the network. Exchanged between different users. Users can also select the various characteristics they want to change and enter alternative or manipulated content to name the magnet (ie, "event magnet"), the shape of the magnet (ie horseshoe magnet shape), Or manipulate and / or change the content that the magnet represents (ie, the definition of an "event"). Users can also change content that is specifically attracted and rejected. To change content that is specifically attracted and rejected, users can select from preselected words by typing their own words or by selecting the desired TV magnet and then highlighting the words they want with the remote control. . In FIG. 1, a user may be caught in an airplane crash (such as represented by a plus sign adjacent to each word), attracting an earthquake (adjacent to each word) Elect to reject advertising and weather (as indicated by the sign).

Users can also adjust the strength of the TV magnet to attract or reject certain content more powerfully or less powerfully. In FIG. 1, a user sets an attrition strength by adjusting a strength indicator 60 in a positive direction with a conventional input device. This means that the TV magnet will instruct the content retrieval and display device to place more emphasis on locating and displaying the particular content that users have chosen to attract (ie, plane crash and earthquake). This is accomplished by reducing the influence of the filtration mechanism. The user also sets the repelling strength by manipulating the indicator 60 in the negative direction with a conventional input device. This means that the TV magnet will instruct the content retrieval and display device to place less emphasis on locating and filtering the display of certain content (i.e., airplane advertisements and weather) that users have chosen to reject. Intensity adjustments can also reflect the balance between particular content that is attracted and rejected.

Intensity adjustments as described above indicate the level of filtration refinement (ie, the maximum intensity of the rejection characteristic means that the user does not want to consider the content presented at all). As a more particular example of filtering, various known methods are available if the user wants to completely prohibit the display of scenes that contain sexual content. One method uses sampled frames to sample a frame of that content and analyze the colors of every pixel in the sampled frames to determine what the content is. For example, if a given sampled frame of content contains at least 40% of pixels colored in skin tones, the content may be determined to contain a nude scene. If the user raises the rejection intensity to the maximum (ie, if they do not want to see almost all of the sensational scenes), then the filtration mechanism then shows the minimum percentage (ie less than 5%) of the total tones including the relevant skin color from what is shown Will inhibit the content containing the sampled frames. Reducing the rejection intensity will result in filtration of content including sampled frames with a smaller percentage (ie, 30% or more).

Still other methods are available for filtering and adjusting the intensity of attraction and rejection. The content may also be filtered using, for example, conversational analysis, object recognition techniques, content rating guides, and recorded program descriptions.

Once the user initiates the TV magnets, for example by selecting, downloading, and programming the TV magnets, the TV magnets can be used in a variety of ways. FIG. 2 can affect program or content selection. 2 shows a user interface displaying a space divided into genres 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. The incoming area 200 represents the content to be displayed in the future. The storage area 202 represents content that has already been broadcasted and stored by the user for future viewing by the set-top box recording and playback device or other content storage / playback device. The user may place, remove, delete, or edit one or more magnets at any time in any of the entered or stored areas of the genre usage menu 205. Genre 205 may be manipulated using, for example, a remote control device. TV magnets can also generally be located across all genres. In FIG. 2, for example, the user has been placed in the TV magnets 15, 16 in the "news" genre 22 in the incoming area 200. The TV magnet 15 is about any events and the TV magnet 15 is about any celebrities. This is represented by a listing 204 that conveniently displays the category of its content as well as the particular content to be pulled or rejected. Therefore, incoming content suitable for the news genre 22 will be screened and filtered, attracting and rejecting certain content of TV magnets 15 (events) and 16 (celebrities).

3 illustrates a user interface that allows an event TV magnet 15 to browse a user through content collected during the day. The content images 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 are bounded by rounded sides 300, 301 that allow scrolling when more content is collected in more space than provided. Included in the built area. Content images 30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37 are given on a given day based on the particular content that the user has programmed to attract and reject (i.e., via pull menu 38). The TV magnet 15 represents the content to be collected. The content images 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 may be automatically generated by the user interface system or provided by the broadcaster for easy recognition upon retrieval. The content images 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 may be representative still or moving images. Some text information may also include still or moving images. In the case of live content (ie, currently on air), live video may be displayed in content images 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.

When the user selects the content image with the cursor 20, for example using a remote control device, an enlarged version appears in the area 351. In FIG. 3, the user selects the content image 35. The enlarged content image 350 appears in the area 351. The enlarged version can be moved or stopped. In addition, the enlarged content image 350 may also include textual information, such as the channel on which the content appeared. When the user selects the enlarged content image 350, or any other content image, the entire content represented by the channel or simply the desired portion of the content may be recalled or displayed at full size.

Another application for the use of TV magnets involves transmitting one or more TV magnets while watching live or recorded content. As the user flips through the channels, the effect of transmitting a magnet that rejects sex and violence, for example, ensures that only content that does not contain these types of scenes (depending on the strength of the magnet as described above) is shown. will be. Another effect of transmitting a TV magnet is that certain scenes can be avoided or deleted from content that includes, for example, sex or violence while the user is watching. Additionally, depending on what the TV magnet attracts, the user flips through the channels, so only certain desired content will be displayed. In this application, the selection of the desired content is advantageously provided in an intuitive and transparent manner. An example of a screen display 41 having a transmitted magnet 40 is shown in FIG. 4. The display of the magnet 40 indicates that the user is currently influencing the selection and content that they watch as they flip through the various channels.

5 shows a system in which TV magnets can be displayed and used. Display screen 101 displays user interface 102. TV magnets can be selected, edited, and otherwise manipulated using the cursor 20. Cursor 20 may be moved left, right, up, and down using a conventional input device, such as remote control device 50 or any other conventional input device known in the art.

Once the user selects a TV magnet and enters specific content it attracts and rejects, the microprocessor 53 controls the content filter 51 based on this information, as well as the strength of the pull and rejection. For live content, content filter 51 receives content from tuner / receiver 54 and filters and removes content that the selected TV magnet rejects based on information entered by the user. The microprocessor 53 also controls the content filter 51 so that content that the user wants to attract can be passed through with little filtering. For future content, microprocessor 53 receives information related to future content from tuner / receiver 54, and causes content filter 51 to pre-filter them (ie, based on the disclosed TV magnets). Filter the content before the viewing time). Finally, for the stored content, the microprocessor 53 also instructs the content filter 51 to filter the content stored in the storage medium 52 based on the disclosed TV magnets. The microprocessor can also automatically suggest or create magnets based on the user's personal viewing habits.

TV magnets may be particularly relevant to all forms of streaming media such as radio and streaming feeds from the Internet. For example, a user may initiate TV magnets on a user interface for a radio device (such as a digital cable wireless feed). TV magnets will attract and reject wireless content based on at least one TV magnet.

The block diagram of FIG. 6 shows how program segments stored on a processor readable medium selectively filter content from the display. The program segment displays the TV magnets present on the display 101 at step 600. The program then inquires whether the desired TV magnet is displayed in step 601. If no, the program instructs microprocessor 53 to create the desired TV magnet in step 602. Once created, the program instructs storage medium 52 to store the TV magnet generated in step 603. The program then instructs microprocessor 53 to display the required TV magnet on the user interface at step 604.

Once the users are shown the TV magnets they wanted, the program verifies that the settings of the pull / deny / filtering of the TV magnets are acceptable at step 605. If the user finds unacceptable settings, the program adjusts the pull / deny / filtration settings according to the user's inputs at step 606. If the settings are determined acceptable, the program instructs the microprocessor 53 to instruct the content filter 51 to pull / reject the content based on the TV magnet. This occurs at step 607. In step 608, the program instructs the microprocessor 53 to display content passing through the content filter 51 on the display device 101.

The above expressions and examples are illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (27)

In the method for selectively filtering content from the display, Initiating at least one TV magnet corresponding to a category of content; Attracting, repelling, or attracting and rejecting content based on the at least one TV magnet; Displaying filtered content according to the pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting comprises: filtering the rejected content, searching for the display of the pulled content and allowing the display of the content. And at least partially preventing the presentation of the content rejected by the filter. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the filtering step comprises sampled frames, dialogue analysis, object recognition techniques, content rating guides, or written program descriptions. and filtration based on pixel color analysis in program descriptions, closed captioning, speech to text, MPEG 7, and audio analysis. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating further comprises assigning a general category of content to at least one TV magnet. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the general category of content comprises a searchable category of content that can be filtered in the step of pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting the content and displayed in the display step. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the initiating step further comprises assigning at least one particular type of content to the at least one TV magnet. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the particular type of content is searchable specific items that can be displayed within the general category of content and that can be displayed in the display step and filtered in the step of pulling, rejecting or pulling and rejecting the content. Including, filtering method. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating further comprises generating at least one TV magnet symbol indicative of the type of content. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one TV magnet symbol and the type of content it represents are automatically generated by a system, provided by a broadcast station, downloaded from the Internet, created by users, or on a network. Filtering method exchanged between different users. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the user can each change the name of the at least one TV magnet symbol, the shape of the at least one TV magnet symbol, or the content of the at least one TV magnet symbol. The method of claim 1, wherein the user can adjust the strength of the at least one TV magnet to attract or reject the content more strongly or less powerfully. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user adjusts a strength indicator to instruct the content search and display device to emphasize more than when placing and displaying the content selected by the user to attract and reduce the impact of the filtering mechanism. Filtering method by which the pulling strength of a TV magnet can be adjusted. 12. The TV of claim 11, wherein the user directs the content search and display device to less emphasize when placing and displaying the content that the user has selected for filtering, and by adjusting the intensity indicator to increase the impact of the filtering mechanism. Filtering method that can control the rejection strength of the magnet. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating further comprises placing at least one TV magnet symbol in one or more genres on a user interface, wherein the attracting, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting is at least one of the above. And selectively filtering information in the one or more genres according to the at least one TV magnet represented by one TV magnet symbol. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting occurs during a predetermined time period, and the displaying step includes all of the information collected by the at least one TV magnet during the predetermined time period. The method further comprises the step of displaying. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting occurs continuously, and the displaying step continuously pulls, rejects, or pulls while the user is viewing the displayed content. Displaying the filtered content according to the pulling and rejecting step. A system for selectively filtering content, the system comprising: Display means for displaying content, At least one content source, A microprocessor, A content filter for selectively filtering content according to at least one TV magnet, Storage media, Means for initiating, editing, and selecting the at least one TV magnet. 18. The filtering system according to claim 17, wherein the display means comprises a television or a monitor. 18. The filtering system of claim 17, wherein the content further comprises at least one source of television programming, or a source of streaming media. 20. The filtering system of claim 19, wherein the at least one source of television programming is a satellite programming source or a land based programming source, or a broadcast source. 18. The filtering system of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor controls the content filter based on the at least one TV magnet. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the content filter receives content from the at least one content source, filters the content rejected by the at least one TV magnet, and permits the content drawn by the at least one magnet to pass through. , Filtering system. 18. The filtering system of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor receives content from the at least one content source and causes the content filter to filter the content based on the at least one TV magnet. 18. The filtering system of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor directs the content filter to filter content stored on the storage medium based on the at least one TV magnet. 18. The filtering system of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor automatically suggests and generates at least one TV magnet based on a user's personal viewing habits. 18. The filtering system of claim 17, wherein the means for initiating, editing, and selecting the at least one TV magnet further comprises a remote control device, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch screen. A program segment stored on a processor readable medium for selectively filtering content from a display, the program segment comprising: Portions for initiating at least one TV magnet corresponding to a category of content, Portions for attracting, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting content based on the at least one TV magnet, And portions for displaying filtered content according to the pulling, rejecting, or pulling and rejecting.