92 results about "Tv viewer" patented technology

Profiling a television viewer by monitoring and processing, locally at a television viewing environment, the viewer's interactivity (e.g., via a remote control unit) with the television viewing environment. Generating one or more profiles for each viewer based on one or more of the multitude of interactions of each viewer and on, in general, the viewing habits and preferences of the viewer. Automatically and reliably, detecting or inferring at a particular time, which specific individual or individuals, are actually interacting with the TV in household comprising more than one individual. Such viewer identification and profile generation can be used to facilitate the delivery of targeted content, including targeted advertising.

A method for delivery and presentation of content-relevant information associated with frames in an AV program enables TV viewers to retrieve information on the contents (for example, objects, items, concepts and the like) associated with a frame or a set of frames (video segments) when they watch TV or video programs. The information relevant to frame(s) is delivered to a STB or DVR by third-party service providers through back channels such as the Internet if the information of how to accurately access the frames pointed by STB users are delivered to the service providers, and the content-relevant information may be presented in the form of a GUI for the TV viewer.

Profiling a television viewer by monitoring and processing, locally at a television viewing environment, the viewer's interactivity (e.g., via a remote control unit) with the television viewing environment. Generating one or more profiles for each viewer based on one or more of the multitude of interactions of each viewer and on, in general, the viewing habits and preferences of the viewer. Automatically and reliably, detecting or inferring at a particular time, which specific individual or individuals, are actually interacting with the TV in household comprising more than one individual. Such viewer identification and profile generation can be used to facilitate the delivery of targeted content, including targeted advertising.

A Web-based television system for enabling an operator to access and display HTML-encoded documents located on the WWW. The system comprises one or more Internet information servers, an Internet terminal unit, and television set having a wireless remote control device and an audio-visual monitor. The Internet information servers store a plurality of HTML-encoded documents at a plurality of storage locations specified by a plurality of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). The Internet terminal unit is operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet and embodies a GUI-based Internet browser program, supporting the TCP / IP networking protocol. The television set is operably connected to the Internet terminal unit. The wireless remote control device includes a bar code symbol reader for reading bar code symbols, and an IR-based communication circuit for establishing a wireless communication link with the Internet terminal unit. A WWW-site guide is provided to television viewers. On the guide, a plurality of bar code symbols are preprinted along with a plurality of Web-site descriptions. Each preprinted bar code symbol is encoded with information related to one of the plurality of URLs. The bar code symbol reader is programmed for reading the bar code symbols in the WWW-site guide. In response to reading each bar code symbol, the bar code symbol reader produces information related to one of the URLs, and this information is transmitted, over the wireless information communication link, to the Internet terminal unit. Thereupon, the GUI-based Internet browser uses the TCP / IP networking standard and the produced information to automatically access the HTML-encoded document specified by the related URL, and automatically display the accessed HTML-encoded document on the audio-visual monitor of the television set, for viewing purposes.

A system, method, and article of manufacture suitable for automatically generating recommendations of a set of entertainment options from a larger set of entertainment options based on user preferences for those options. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of automatically generating recommendations for viewing television programs based on past viewing patterns and preferences of a plurality of television viewers, all of whom do not need to be physically present in front of the television. The present invention creates a composite user profile based on individual profiles for each user detected who is to be used in the composite user profile, some of whom need not be present in front of the television. Each user's preferences may be weighted the same as each other user's or users may have differing weights assigned to their preferences.

Digital technology based consumer media devices have many desirable features, including the ability to easily find and watch television shows, and / or automatically record programs of interest. Disclosed is a system and method for allowing a group of television viewers to share program viewing information. This information, exchanged through various on-line community modalities (including Internet chat rooms, email, Internet Web Logs, and the like), can be used within a consumer media device, such as a Digital video Recorder to influence the decision process concerning which programs to record, buffer or view.

A method and system are provided for identifying a television content item or a television channel desired by a television viewer from a set of television content items and television channels. A non-intrusive interface is provided to the viewer on a television display. The television viewer using the non-intrusive interface inputs a reduced text search entry directed at identifying a desired television content item or a television channel. The reduced text search entry includes one or more characters of a descriptor relating to the desired television content item or the television channel. The system dynamically identifies a group of television content items or television channels from the set of television content items and television channels matching the search entry as the television viewer enters each character of the reduced text search entry. The television content items or television channels of the group are ordered in accordance with one or more given criteria. The system displays on the non-intrusive interface identification of one or more of the television content items or television channels of the identified group as ordered.

Pan, tilt and zoom sensors are coupled to a broadcast camera in order to determine the field of view of the broadcast camera and to make a rough estimate of a target's location in the broadcast camera's field of view. Pattern recognition techniques can be used to determine the exact location of the target in the broadcast camera's field of view. If a preselected target is at least partially within the field of view of the broadcast camera, all or part of the target's image is enhanced. The enhancements include replacing the target image with a second image, overlaying the target image or highlighting the target image. Examples of a target include a billboard, a portion of a playing field or another location at a live event. The enhancements made to the target's image can be seen by the television viewer but are not visible to persons at the live event.

Novel response games provide members of a World community opportunities to receive response points and subsequent prizes, awards, fortune, and fame for correctly responding to and / or controlling various elements of interactive promotions, productions, and products with respect to all genres of existing and future / innovative / interactive publications, radio, music, Television (e.g., talent shows, game shows, award shows, reality, sitcom, drama, etc.) film (e.g. feature, animated, documentary, etc.), video games, politics, and manufacturing. Most notably novel response games compel and empower viewers to take part in Television promotions, productions, and programs. Correct responses are generally determined by a Television producer's and SPONSOR'S targeted viewers (e.g. a designated response game point controller). Players receiving a highest response point total for a plurality of response sessions are identified as highly in-sync with a response point controller (e.g. producer's and sponsor's targeted viewers) and qualify to be selected to star on Television as viewer / controller representatives. While starring on Television viewer / controller representatives are presented with various producer's and sponsor's business element options associated with a future Television promotion, production, and program provided. The representatives are shown evaluating each business element and selecting a number of most suitable elements to become future response game elements. The producer's and sponsor's elements selected by the viewer / controller representatives are determined by the representatives to be the most suitable elements for viewers to respond to during a future response game. After all, who could be more qualified to represent viewers than those proven to be most in-sync with viewers?Novel response games are designed to utilize producer and sponsor provided elements as response game elements relating to the producer's and sponsor's interactive promotions, productions, and end products. In essence a response games is intended to be wrapped around all genres of media promotions, productions, and products.

The invention enables and / or facilitates the display of personalized content to content observers by content providers (e.g., advertisers) who disseminate content over a network. In particular, the invention can be used to enable the display of targeted content to television viewers and / or targeted product placements within a television program. The invention can advantageously enable identification of the content observer(s) observing a content display device at a particular time and / or identification of the content display site, and selection of targeted content for display based on a determination of content appropriate for display to those content observer(s) in accordance with a criterion based on the identity and / or a characteristic of the content observer(s) and / or the content display site.

The invention records real-time radio and television listener data utilizing automated, interactive questions and radio and television broadcast audio segments recorded by telephone, including wireless cell phones. Telephone users are asked to hold their phone in the direction of any broadcast audio they are hearing or listening to. Streaming program audio directly from radio and television broadcasts is matched to the program audio recorded from telephone users using computer audio matching technology. When an audio match is made, recorded data will automatically populate an alpha / numeric database creating a record including fields for identifying the radio or TV station, time of recording, the phone user's 10 digit telephone number and demographic information on the listener. Demographics may be obtained prior to the call or by automated interactive questioning, during a call, with the phone user responding to questions verbally or by pushing appropriate keys on the telephone keypad.

A novel multiple channel architecture is designed to allow targeted advertising directed to television terminals connected to an operations center or a cable headend. Advertisements are displayed during commercial breaks in the television programs. Such advertisements may be broadcast on the same channel as the television program. In addition, feeder channels may carry alternate advertising that may be better suited for certain viewing audiences. The operations center or the cable headend generate a group assignment plan that assigns the television terminals to groups, based on factors such as area of dominant influence, household income and other demographic data, and programs watched data gathered by the television terminals. A switching plan is then generated that instructs the television terminals to remain with the program channel or to switch to one of the alternate feeder channels during the program breaks. The television terminals record which channels were viewed during the program breaks, and report this information to the cable headends and the operations center. The reported information is used to generate billing for commercial advertisers, and to analyze viewer watching habits. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software to accomplish these functions.

The TV program table data in the area where a viewer resides are received through the Internet or a broadcasting medium by using the TV set with an internet connection function at the viewer. While the viewer is watching a TV program, the audience data including viewed channel information and viewed time information are automatically obtained. The obtained audience data are compared with the TV program table data to identify the watched program. The program ID of the identified program and the viewed time information are transferred to a data collecting center through the Internet together with the viewer ID data. By utilizing the Internet for the distribution of the TV program table data to the viewers and for the collection of the audience data, the nationwide TV audience data can be easily collected and used to make statistics. Since viewed channel and viewed time information are correlated with programs on the viewer's side, the load of processing the data on the center side can be relieved.

The invention records real-time radio and television listener data utilizing automated, interactive questions and radio and television broadcast audio segments recorded by telephone, including wireless cell phones. Telephone users are asked to hold their phone in the direction of any broadcast audio they are hearing or listening to. Streaming program audio directly from radio and television broadcasts is matched to the program audio recorded from telephone users using computer audio matching technology. When an audio match is made, recorded data will automatically populate an alpha / numeric database creating a record including fields for identifying the radio or TV station, time of recording, the phone user's 10 digit telephone number and demographic information on the listener. Demographics may be obtained prior to the call or by automated interactive questioning, during a call, with the phone user responding to questions verbally or by pushing appropriate keys on the telephone keypad.

A multi-media geography game show allows real time participation of contestants, live show audience participants and remote TV viewers having Internet connections. Answers to questions related to geography provided within an allotted time period qualify participants for monetary or material rewards, together with learning credits. The learning credits may be converted to college credits by taking appropriate validation tests from accredited educational institutions that have made arrangements with the geography game show. The responses of contestants, live show audience participants and remote TV viewers, as well as the rewards and the leaning credits, are electronically processed and appropriate credits are issued using print outs or magnetic media.

A method of enabling a television viewer to interact with a television programme. A television signal corresponding to said television programme is broadcast by a television corporation 1 whilst an information server 5 is synchronised to the broadcast. Messages are sent from the information server 5 to a mobile wireless terminal 7 operated by the television viewer and / or received messages received at the information server 5 from wireless terminal 7. The sending and / or receipt of messages at the information server 5 is synchronised with the broadcast television signal.

Disclosed is a loyalty program for television viewers and a method and system for rewarding a television viewer. The method includes the steps of: assigning a value to a specified program or a time slot of a specified channel; receiving, at a central data system, data reflective of the specified program or specified time slot that the viewer watched or intends to watch; storing the assigned value in a viewer account; and interacting with the viewer. The interaction is based upon the stored assigned values, the data, viewing time and / or sums, averages or specified portions of this data.

A simplified TV viewer response system coupled to a telephone system enables a viewer / subscriber to respond to television displays by dialing a special code less than six digits. The code is routed to an enhanced services server. The server captures the dial string including the caller ID, checks the caller ID against a subscriber / viewer profile and maps the caller ID to the cable company providing service to the viewer / subscriber. The server delivers the response to the cable television company which processes the response according to the selected items or choices in the TV screen. Several special dialing codes of limited digits expedite viewer / subscriber selections. Each code includes a special character to route the dialing string to the server. The system provides sound recognition of viewer / subscriber selections.

A television viewer interface system allows a viewer to schedule recordings of program material. The system determines if any conflicts exist with the viewer's recording selection and any previously scheduled recordings. If any conflicts are discovered, the system displays a conflict warning to the viewer indicating that a scheduling conflict exists with the viewer's recording selection. The conflict warning allows the user to cancel a scheduled recording. The system displays a list of scheduled recordings to the viewer as a list of programs that the system will record on a particular day or all of the scheduled recordings can also be displayed in a scrollable list.

A method of targeting users receives a data feed that has information relating to a first media and extracts events from the received data feed. The method generates a profile relating to a first item in the first media, and processes behavior of a first group of users of a second media. The method models the behavior of the first group of users, and generates a scoring function by using the modeling. A system for targeting a user includes a data feed, an event extractor, one or more profiles, a behavior processor, and a model. The data feed has information relating to a first media. The event extractor is for receiving the data feed and extracting particular information based on a second media. The profile(s) are based on the extracted information. The behavior processor is for receiving the profile and comparing the profile to a first group of users of the second media. The model space is for receiving an output of the behavior processor and modeling user behavior by using the profile.

Disclosed are techniques for a protocol that provides for a TV viewing experience with interaction by allowing for social collaboration of non co-located TV viewers and integrating the TV viewing experience with social networking concepts and interactive multimedia communication. The protocol enables a digital video distribution system (e.g., IPTV) to provide a user with presence, channel, and grouping information regarding other users in the IPTV system and available video content. The protocol also enables users of the IPTV system to interact using real-time and / or non-real time communication.

Mass electronic-commerce (e-commerce) user terminal is disclosed, which enables mass television (TV) viewers to participate in e-commerce using new and existing business infrastructures. The multi-media user terminal makes a direct, real-time, instantaneous connection between products featured in TV commercials / programs (or other event such as a movie in a theater) and the existing web-based business infrastructure directly through the multi-media user terminal device. The multi-media user terminal provides real-time two-way communication with the TV viewers and the business entities. The device will also provide the TV viewing information for TV rating on real-time basis.

The invention enables and / or facilitates the display of personalized content to content observers by content providers (e.g., advertisers) who disseminate content over a network. In particular, the invention can be used to enable the display of targeted content to television viewers and / or targeted product placements within a television program. The invention can advantageously enable identification of the content observer(s) observing a content display device at a particular time and / or identification of the content display site, and selection of targeted content for display based on a determination of content appropriate for display to those content observer(s) in accordance with a criterion based on the identity and / or a characteristic of the content observer(s) and / or the content display site.

Method and system for providing a TV viewer with personal advertisements, includes a TV set connected to a television channels provider via a set-top box for displaying TV channels contents. The set-top box is connected to the television channels provider for receiving the television channels contents and enabling them to be displayed on said TV set. A computer is connected to the television channels provider via an adaptor, the computer is further connected to a data network enabling the TV viewer to search the data network by using one or more keywords. A personalized advertisements database stores personal advertisements to be presented to the TV viewer and to other TV viewers of the system. A viewers' queries database stores for each TV viewer his one or more keywords used when searching the data network. One or more software components for: managing the personalized advertisements database and the viewers' queries database; and providing to the TV viewer one or more personal advertisements within one or more time intervals allocated for advertising by the television channels provider. One or more personal advertisements are selected from the personalized advertisements database and related to his one or more keywords stored within the viewers' queries database.

A method and system to permit TV viewers to interact with program content broadcast over a subscriber network, such as cable, satellite, internet, or cellular telephone. The details of the ability for the viewer to interact is embedded as data in the program signal. The subscription provider broadcasts a visual indicator as a small icon during programming that informs the viewer that interaction is permitted. The viewer then uses a remote control to purchase products, vote on events, respond to polls, download files, request information, and request callback actions. The TV viewer uses the remote control to send information to a set-top box front-end application, and to iteratively create transactions that are batched and then sent to a back-end core application and database which then handles fulfillment.

A method of delivering personalized content to customers of a subscription television service for display on their televisions, the method comprising: (a) converting Internet-based content from an Internet based format to a format suitable for display on a customer's television through a customer's set top box, and (b) after the conversion, delivering the converted content to a set top box associated with that customer for display on that customer's television. With such a method, the customer's set top box need not be Internet-enabled. Preferably, the customer's subscription television service is a cable television service.

The invention discloses a processing method for determining the gray level distribution of a video image and a method for dynamically processing the video image. The processing method for determining the gray level distribution of the video image includes the following steps: equally dividing the gray level of a frame of video signal The degree level is a complex area; the number of pixels in each gray level area in a frame of video image is counted to determine the gray level distribution of the video image. The invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, dynamically reduces the brightness of the backlight under the condition that the brightness of the main part of the image remains unchanged, saves the energy consumption of the LCD TV, and provides better visual effects for TV viewers.