Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 1 of 17
`
`
`Exhibit 9
`
`

`
`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 2 of 17
`”°°“meTl|||fi||||fl||||l||F||1||1|I||1Il|f|IMIllilflilfillllllllllllllllllllll
`
`US007900229B2
`
`(12) Ulllted States Patent
`Dureau
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,900,229 B2
`Mar. 1, 2011
`
`(54) CONVERGENCE OF INTERACTIVE
`TELEVISION AND WIRELESS
`TECHNOLOGIES
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Vincent Dureau, Palo Alto, CA (US)
`
`............... .. 725/48
`11/2001 Ogawa et al.
`6,314,571 B1 *
`6/2002 Shen etal.
`. . . . .
`. . . .. 703/27
`6,401,059 B1*
`
`6,486,892 B1* 11/2002 Stern ........................ .. 715/760
`
`(73) Assignee: OPENTV, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US)
`
`(Continued)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject. to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent 1s extended or adjusted under 35
`USC 15403) by 947 days
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`wo
`
`wo 9810589
`
`3/1998
`
`(21) App1.No.: 10/271,801
`
`(22)
`(65)
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 15, 2002
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2004/0073915 A1
`Apr. 15, 2004
`
`(51)
`
`Int CL
`(2006.01)
`H04N 7/16
`(2006.01)
`H04N 5/445
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`............................. .. 725/46; 725/9; 725/10;
`725/14, 705/14
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. .. 725/46,
`725/9'25; 705/ I4
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`
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`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`_
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`W1tt1g H., et al. “Intelhgent Media Agents 1n Interact1ve Te1ev1s1on
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`dia Computing and Systems, US, Los Alamitos, CA. May 15, 1995,
`pp. 182-189, XP 000603484.
`
`.
`(C°mm“ed)
`Primary Exgm;‘ner—Son P Huynh
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Rory D. Rankin; Meyertons,
`Hood Kivhn Kowert & Goetzel RC.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method for utilizing user profiles in an interac-
`tive television system. An interactive television system
`includes a broadcast station, a set-top box, and a remote
`mobile or fixed unit. The system is configured to create and/or
`update a user profile in response to an access made in a first
`access mode. In response to detecting a user access in a
`second access mode, the system accesses the user profile,
`selects data based at least in part on the user profile, and
`transmits the data to the user.
`
`32 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`300\
`
`Mobile Unit
`
`@
`
`Broadcast Station
`16
`
`Database
`E
`
`Profile
`3.3.9
`
`

`
`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 3 of 17
`Case 5:16-CV-00349-NC
`Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 3 of 17
`
`US 7,900,229 B2
`Page 2
`
`7/2005 Thomas et al.
`2005/0149964 A1*
`............... .. 725/9
`2005/0251827 A1* 11/2005 Ellis et al.
`..... ..
`.. 725/47
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`.......... .. 725/106
`2005/0262542 A1* 11/2005 DeWeese et al.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`W0
`W0
`
`WO 9901984
`WO 9926180
`WO 9945700
`WO 0004709
`WO 0011869
`WO 0013416
`WO 0060447
`WO 0060858
`WO 0070504
`WO 0115449 A1 *
`WO 0145408
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`
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`.................. .. 7/173
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Supplementary European Search Report for Application No. PCT/
`US0332650 mailed Feb. 22, 2008.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`................ .. 709/217
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`Shteyn ..... ..
`.. 386/83
`Eilat et al.
`..
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`Fu et al.
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`.... ..
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`Schaffer et al.
`............. .. 725/46
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`..
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`.... ..
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`.
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`................... .. 725/58
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`6,571,279
`6,611,654
`6,637,029
`6,647,370
`6,727,914
`6,754,907
`6,871,186
`6,898,762
`7,095,402
`7,117,518
`2001/0032333
`2002/0059596
`2002/0104087
`2002/0122080
`2002/0129368
`2002/0143645
`2002/0151271
`2002/0183072
`2003/0031465
`2003/0177504
`2004/0203630
`2005/0028208
`
`B1*
`B1*
`B1*
`B1*
`B1*
`B1*
`B1*
`B2*
`B2*
`B1*
`A1*
`A1*
`A1*
`A1
`A1*
`A1*
`A1*
`A1*
`A1*
`A1*
`A1*
`A1*
`
`5/2003
`8/2003
`10/2003
`11/2003
`4/2004
`6/2004
`3/2005
`5/2005
`8/2006
`10/2006
`10/2001
`5/2002
`8/2002
`9/2002
`9/2002
`10/2002
`10/2002
`12/2002
`2/2003
`9/2003
`10/2004
`2/2005
`
`

`
`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 4 of 17
`Case 5:16—cv—OO349—NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 4 of 17
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1, 2011
`
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`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 5 of 17
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`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 6 of 17
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`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 7 of 17
`Case 5:16—cv—OO349—NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 7 of 17
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1, 2011
`
`Sheet 4 of6
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`US 7,900,229 B2
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`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 8 of 17
`Case 5:16—cv—OO349—NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 8 of 17
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 1, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of6
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`US 7,900,229 B2
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`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 10 of 17
`Case 5:16—cv—OO349—NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 10 of 17
`
`US 7,900,229 B2
`
`2
`
`1
`CONVERGENCE OF INTERACTIVE
`TELEVISION AND WIRELESS
`TECHNOLOGIES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to interactive television, and more
`particularly, the convergence of interactive television and
`wireless technologies in networks based on interactive tele-
`vision.
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Television service providers, such as a satellite broadcaster
`or a cable multiple system operator (MSO), transmit audio-
`video streams to a viewer’s television system. The viewer’s
`television system frequently consists of a set-top box con-
`nected to a television set and a recording device, but may
`consist of any number of suitable devices. In addition to the
`audio and video that viewers typically think of as television
`programs, television service providers may transmit addi-
`tional information as well. For example, the additional infor-
`mation may be instructions which are interpreted by an inter-
`preter or virtual machine. Alternatively, a service provider
`may transmit HTML data for rendering by a presentation
`engine. If the broadcast is analog, this additional information
`may be encoded in the VBI (vertical blanking interval). If the
`broadcast is digital, additional information may be multi-
`plexed with the audio and video according to a standard
`format, such as MPEG-2, or a proprietary format.
`Interactive television systems provide a means to deliver
`interactive content as well as ordinary television audio and
`video to a large number of subscribers. Programs broadcast
`by these systems may incorporate television audio and video,
`still images, text, interactive graphics and applications, and
`many other components. The interactive content of the inter-
`active television signal may therefore include application
`code, data associated with the audio and video, control sig-
`nals, raw data and many other types of information. Both the
`interactive content and the audio and video data may be
`delivered to subscribers as “pushed” data. That is, the data is
`delivered to each of the subscribers, regardless of whether or
`not the subscribers requested the data.
`As interactive television technology advances, it is pos-
`sible to provide more personalized services to individual
`users. For example, it may be possible for a interactive tele-
`vision user to schedule the recording of various television
`programs well in advance of their broadcasting, as well as
`scheduling specific times for their playback. Furthermore, it
`may be possible for a user to receive notifications for upcom-
`ing programs that are of similar content to those that have
`been recorded in the past.
`Although interactive television may provide a number of
`services, such as those noted above, additional capabilities
`may be possible using existing interactive television tech-
`nologies, or by combining other technologies with interactive
`television.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A system and method combining wireless and interactive
`television technologies is disclosed. In one embodiment, an
`interactive television system includes a broadcast station, a
`set-top box, and a remote unit. Generally speaking, a user
`may access the system through various means. For example,
`the user may communicate within the system via a set-top
`box, cell phone, PDA, or other device. The system is config-
`ured to creating and maintain a user profile which reflects
`
`activity of the user within the system. Activity performed in a
`first mode, such as television viewing, may cause the creation
`and/or updating of a user profile which reflects the user’s
`viewing activities. Similarly, cell phone or other mobile unit
`activities and communications may cause the creation and/or
`updating of an already existing user profile. Information
`which is conveyed to a user is based at least in part on the data
`in the user profile. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a user’ s
`cell phone activity may affect
`the information the user
`receives at home on their television, and vice versa.
`The mobile unit may be one of several different types of
`devices. In one embodiment, the mobile unit may be a cellular
`telephone. In other embodiments, the mobile unit may be a
`personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart remote control or a
`portable computer system. The mobile unit may be config-
`ured for wireless communications with both the set-top box,
`broadcast station, other mobile devices, or any other device
`configured to communicate within or through the television
`system. The mobile unit may send data to either the broadcast
`station or the set-top box. Similarly, the mobile unit may
`receive data from the broadcast station or the set-top box.
`Intermediate communications may be possible as well. For
`example, data may be transmitted from the broadcast station
`to the set-top box via the internet before being transmitted to
`the mobile unit. Similarly, it may be possible for data to be
`transmitted from the mobile unit, to the set-top box, and then
`to the broadcast station.
`
`In some embodiments, a fixed unit may also be present. For
`example, in one embodiment, a fixed unit such as a personal
`computer may be incorporated and utilized in the system. The
`system user may also be able to connect to and utilize other
`functions of the system (provided by the mobile unit, broad-
`cast station, and set-top box) through an internet connection
`or a combination of internet and wireless communications.
`
`The presentation of data at the mobile unit may vary
`depending upon the particular embodiment. In some embodi-
`ments, the mobile unit may include technology to indicate its
`physical location, and thus the location of the user. In one
`embodiment, global positioning system (GPS) technology
`may be present in the mobile unit. In another embodiment, the
`physical location of the mobile unit may be determined by
`triangulation, such as triangulating from multiple cell phone
`antenna towers.
`
`10
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`The broadcast station may be a station where programming
`and content are broadcast to a number ofusers. The broadcast
`
`station may include a database in which user profiles are
`stored for each individual user. Data may be received by the
`broadcast station from either the set-top box (e. g. in a “store
`and forward” mode) or directly from the mobile unit itself.
`Similarly, the broadcast station may send data to the set-top
`box or to the mobile unit directly. The broadcast station may
`transmit both normal television (i.e. non-interactive) pro-
`gramming, as well as interactive television programming and
`other content. Content may be “pushed” to the mobile unit
`(i.e. sent without a user request) or “pulled” (sent to the
`mobile unit based on a user request or other action). It should
`be further noted that the set-top box may be configured to
`store a user profile for its associated user.
`The user profile may include basic user information, vari-
`ous user preferences, and other information. The information
`in the user profile may be compiled from various user actions,
`such as programs watched, channels watched, or other con-
`tent accessed. The user may also input information into the
`user profile. Such information may include credit card num-
`bers, frequent flier memberships, preferences, and virtually
`any other information that may define the user. This informa-
`tion may be combined with other user information in the user
`
`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`

`
`Case 5:16-cv-00349-NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 11 of 17
`Case 5:16—cv—OO349—NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 11 of 17
`
`US 7,900,229 B2
`
`3
`profile in order to determine content that is to be sent to the
`set-top box and/or the mobile unit.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Other aspects of the invention will become apparent upon
`reading the following detailed description and upon reference
`to the accompanying drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a televi-
`sion system;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a broad-
`cast station;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a commu-
`nications network comprising a broadcast station, a set-top
`box, and a mobile unit;
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment ofthe
`updating of a user profile based on actions taken with a mobile
`unit;
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`method for interacting with the system of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a system for using
`user profiles.
`While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
`and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are
`shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be
`described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the
`drawings and description thereto are not intended to limit the
`invention to the particular form disclosed, but, on the con-
`trary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents,
`and alternatives falling with the spirit and scope ofthe present
`invention as defined by the appended claims.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment ofa television system
`100 is shown. In the embodiment shown, a receiving device
`12 is coupled to several sources ofprogramming and/or inter-
`active content. Receiving device 12 may include any number
`of suitable devices, examples of such devices include a set-
`top box (STB), a television (TV), a video cassette recorder
`(VCR), a personal video recorder (PVR), a personal digital
`assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a video game
`console, or a mobile/cell phone.
`Included in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a broadcast station
`16 is coupled to a receiving device 12 via a transmission
`medium 17 and back channel 26. In addition, receiving device
`12 is coupled to a source 18 and source 19 via network 20. In
`one embodiment, receiving device 12 may include a database
`configured to store user profiles. User profiles may also be
`located at a headend or other location within the system. In
`some embodiments, user profile data may be stored in more
`than one location Further, broadcast station 16 is coupled to a
`remote source 13. In the embodiment shown, broadcast sta-
`tion 16 includes sources 14 and 15 and transmitter 22. Trans-
`
`mission medium 17 may comprise a satellite based system 23,
`a cable based system 24, a terrestrial or multiple multi-point
`distribution service (MMDS) based system 25, a combination
`of these systems, or some other appropriate system of trans-
`mission. A personal computer 306 may also be configured to
`communicate within the system 100. In one embodiment,
`network 20 may comprise the Internet and the personal com-
`puter 306 may be configured to access Internet sites as well as
`communicate with the broadcast station 16, receiver 12, and
`other devices in the system. Also illustrated is a mobile unit
`305 which may be configured for wireless communications
`with television system 100 in a number of different ways. For
`example, mobile unit 305 may be configured to communicate
`
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`4
`
`with broadcast station 16 through transmission medium 17,
`through a wireless phone network, through a wireless intemet
`network, or otherwise.
`In the embodiment of FIG. 1, broadcast station 16 may
`include a variety of sources 14 and 15 of content to be utilized
`and conveyed by transmitter 22. Content sources 14 and 15
`may include databases, application servers, other audio/video
`sources, or other data sources. In one embodiment, content
`may be created at a source 14 which may include an authoring
`station configured to create such content. An authoring station
`may include a computer workstation configured with soft-
`ware which aids in the development of interactive content. An
`authoring station may be part ofbroadcast station 16 in which
`case the conveyance of the created content may be through a
`local computing network, or similar configuration. Altema-
`tively, an authoring station may be remotely located 13 from
`broadcast station 16. In an embodiment where authoring sta-
`tion is not directly coupled to broadcast station 16, the content
`created by a source 13 may be conveyed to broadcast station
`16 via Internet, broadcast, cable, etc. In some cases, content
`created at a remote location 13 may first be transferred to a
`storage medium, such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, and
`transported to broadcast station 16 via more conventional
`means where it may be stored in a database or other storage
`device.
`
`Subsequent to its creation, content from sources 13, 14 and
`15 may be delivered to client 12 through a broadcast trans-
`mission network. This network consists essentially of a
`broadcast station 16 which assembles the content from
`
`sources 13, 14 and 15 and processes (e.g., digitizes, com-
`presses and packetizes) the content, and a transmission net-
`work 17 which receives the content 40 from broadcast station
`
`16 and conveys it 42 to client 12. (It should be noted that client
`12 may be only one of many devices to which this content is
`distributed.)
`In one embodiment, broadcast station 16
`includes software and/or hardware which is configured to
`process the content conveyed by sources 13, 14 and 15 as
`described above. A second delivery mechanism may include
`a direct point-to-point connection 138 between client 12 and
`source 18 which may be some type of server. This connection
`138 may be made via an ordinary telephone line, cable, wire-
`less, or otherwise. A third delivery mechanism may also be a
`point-to-point connection 136, but transmission of the con-
`tent from a source 19 to client 12 is made via one or more
`
`shared networks (e.g., over the Internet). Also illustrated in
`FIG. 1 is a back channel (or return path) 26 by which client 12
`may convey to and/or receive data from broadcast station 16.
`Back channel 26 may comprise a telephone line, cable, wire-
`less, or other connection.
`One delivery mechanism, the direct point-to-point connec-
`tion to a source of content, may comprise communication via
`an ordinary telephone line. This type of connection is typi-
`cally initiated by the client to convey information to, or
`retrieve information from, a data server. Another delivery
`mechanism, the point-to-point connection through one or
`more networks, may comprise a typical connection between
`nodes on the Internet. Because data may be routed through
`many different shared networks in this case, it may be read,
`stored and written many times as it is transmitted from source
`19 to client 12. The third delivery mechanism may include a
`satellite, cable or terrestrial broadcast network.
`Turning now to FIG. 2, an overview of one embodiment of
`a broadcast station (head-end) 16 is shown. The broadcast
`station 16 of FIG. 2 includes an application server 250 and a
`database 230 which contains previously created interactive
`content. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a source 13 of content which
`
`is external to broadcast station 16 and coupled to broadcast
`
`

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`Case 5:16—cv—OO349—NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 12 of 17
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`US 7,900,229 B2
`
`5
`station 16. Database 230, server 250, and source 13 are
`coupled to a content processing mechanism 200 which is
`configured to process the content received and convey the
`processed content to a multiplexer 220. Also coupled to mul-
`tiplexer 220 is a source 240 of audio/video signals. One or
`more user profiles 330 may also be stored for use by content
`processing mechanism 200 and/or database 230. In some
`embodiments, database 230 may actually store user profiles
`330, although they may also be stored separately as shown in
`this embodiment. User profiles 330 may include information
`for a particular user of the network, including personal and/or
`viewing preferences, credit card numbers, and other informa-
`tion. User profiles 330 will be discussed in greater detail
`below.
`
`In one embodiment, content processing mechanism 200
`may comprise a computer and may also be coupled to receive
`and convey content from the Internet or World Wide Web.
`Processing mechanism 200 is configured to convey the pro-
`cessed content to multiplexer 220. Multiplexer 220 is also
`coupled to receive audio/video signals 240. Multiplexer 220
`multiplexes the received signals and conveys the multiplexed
`signal to network communications operator 17 where it is
`subsequently conveyed to a receiving device. Finally, broad-
`cast station 16 includes a return data processor 210 coupled to
`back channel 26. In one embodiment, return data processor
`210 may comprise a modem which receives data for further
`processing within broadcast station 16. While the above
`description describes a source of interactive content as being
`at a broadcast station 16, this need not be the case. In an
`alternative embodiment, database 230, and content process-
`ing mechanism 200 may reside elsewhere, such as at the
`location of a network communications operator 17, or other-
`wise. An example of such an alternative embodiment may be
`a cable station which inserts interactive content into a broad-
`
`cast signal prior to transmission.
`Turning now to FIG. 3, a block diagram ofone embodiment
`ofa communications network comprising a broadcast station,
`a set-top box, and a mobile unit is shown. Communications
`network 300 includes broadcast station 16, set-top box 302,
`and mobile unit 305. Mobile unit 305 may be configured for
`wireless communications with both broadcast station 16 and
`
`set-top box 302. Broadcast station 16 may be configured for
`communications with set-top box 302 through either wireless
`means or through hardwired means (e. g. cable).
`Some embodiments may include fixed unit 308. Fixed unit
`308 may be a device such as a personal computer user’s office
`or place of business. The fixed unit 308 may be configured to
`communicate with any of the other units in the system, either
`directly or indirectly. For example, fixed unit 308 may be
`configured to directly communicate with broadcast station 16
`or set-top box 302 via an intemet connection. Similarly, fixed
`unit 308 may be configured to communicate with mobile unit
`305 indirectly, by first transmitting data to broadcast station
`16 via an intemet connection, wherein broadcast station 16
`then relays the data to mobile unit 305 through a wireless link.
`In general, fixed unit 308 may communicate with other units
`of the communications network 300 depending on whether it
`is equipped for wireless communications, hard-wired com-
`munications, or both.
`Mobile unit 305 may be one of several different devices
`configured for wireless communications. In one embodi-
`ment, mobile unit 305 may be a cellular telephone that is data
`enabled. A data enabled cellular telephone may be able to
`utilize services beyond that of normal phone services. In
`another embodiment, mobile unit 305 may be a personal
`digital assistant (PDA) or similar device. In still another
`embodiment, mobile unit 305 may be a mobile computer
`
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`system that is configured for wireless communications. Other
`embodiments of mobile unit 305 are possible and contem-
`plated, including embodiment designed specifically for use
`with the communications network described herein.
`
`Mobile unit 305 may be used to enter and transmit infor-
`mation which may be used to create or update a user profile.
`Information entered through mobile unit 305 may be directly
`transmitted to broadcast station 16, or may be transmitted to
`set-top box 302. If the information is transmitted to set-top
`box 3 02, the information may be stored and then forwarded to
`broadcast station 15. In addition, mobile unit 305 may be
`configured to communicate directly with set-top box 302 via
`a wireless protocol.
`In addition to other features, mobile unit 305 may include
`location detection technology, which may be used to pinpoint
`the precise location ofthe mobile unit, and hence its user. The
`location information may be combined with other informa-
`tion stored in the user profile in determining the timing and
`content of data transmissions to mobile unit 305. In one
`
`embodiment, the location detection technology may com-
`prise a global positioning system (GPS). In another embodi-
`ment, location detection technology may utilize techniques
`such as triangulation from multiple data transmitters.
`Devices that may comprise mobile unit 305 may differ in
`their ability to present information. As such, user profiles may
`be used to ensure that only relevant information is present to
`the user of a particular mobile unit 305. The information
`presented may be based both on user information and the type
`of device that comprises the user’s embodiment of mobile
`unit 305. For example, if mobile unit 305 is a portable com-
`puter system, data may be presented or formatted differently
`than it would if mobile unit 305 is a cellular telephone.
`Broadcast station 16 may be similar to that illustrated in,
`FIG. 2, or may be another embodiment. Broadcast station 16
`is configured to communicate with both set-top box 302 and
`mobile unit 305. In one embodiment, broadcast station 16
`may communicate with set-top box through wireless means,
`such as a satellite link or other type of broadcast television
`link. In another embodiment, broadcast station 16 may com-
`municate with set-top box 302 by hard-wired means, such as
`a cable television link.
`
`Communications between broadcast station 16 and set-top
`box may encompass a wide variety of data exchanges. Broad-
`cast station 16 may be configured to send television program-
`ming to set-top box 302. Television programming may be
`broadcast by either analog or digital signals, and may include
`signals for high-definition television (HDTV). Communica-
`tions between broadcast station 16 and set-top box 302 may
`also include intemet communications. Broadcast station 16
`
`may include connections to the intemet, thereby allowing a
`user of set-top box 302 to send and receive e-mail, browse the
`world wide web, and perform other intemet related activities.
`Broadcast station 16 may include database 230. Database 230
`may be used to store user profiles. Broadcast station 16 may
`receive data for use in generating the user profile from set-top
`box 302, fixed unit 308, or directly from mobile unit 305.
`Broadcast station 16 may further be configured to access data
`from user profiles stored in database 230. The data accessed
`from the user profile may be used to determine information
`that is to be sent to set-top box 302, fixed unit 308, and/or
`mobile unit 3 05. Information transmitted by broadcast station
`16 may be either “pushed” (information is sent without a user
`request) or “pulled” (information is sent based on a request by
`the user). Optionally, a profile 330A may be stored in set-top
`box 302, or in fixed unit 330B. In general, user profile data
`may be stored anywhere within system 300. Multiple, cached
`copies of user profile data may also be maintained within
`
`

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`Case 5:16—cv—OO349—NC Document 19-12 Filed 04/11/16 Page 13 of 17
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`US 7,900,229 B2
`
`7
`system 300. Further, user profiles 330 or database 230 may
`also include device profiles for devices which may access the
`system in different modes. Such device profiles may include
`information describing particular details about devices which
`may be used to access the system 300. One example of device
`profiling is the Wireless Application Protocol User Agent
`Profile
`Specification
`(WAP-248-UAPROF-20011020-a)
`which is concerned with capturing classes of device capabili-
`ties and preference information. These classes include the
`hardware and software characteristics ofthe device as well as
`information about the network to which the device is con-
`
`nected. The device profile contains information used for con-
`tent formatting purposes. A device profile is distinct from a
`user profile that would contain application-specific informa-
`tion about the user for content selection purposes. These
`device profiles may then be used to select and format data
`which is suitable for presentation on the accessing device.
`User profiles may include a wide variety of user informa-
`tion, and may include both user-entered information as well
`as usage history. User-entered information may include basic
`personal information (e. g. date of birth, etc.), credit card
`account information, memberships such as frequent flyer
`memberships, and various user preferences. Usage history
`information may be generated based on a user’s activity on
`the network, including television viewing habits and prefer-
`ences, locations browsed on the World Wide Web, and any
`other type of network access. User profiles may also be
`affected by the physical location and movements of a user
`who utilizes a device which can be tracked (i.e., a location
`trackable device). For example, ifa user makes a phone call or
`other access from a location identified as a Mexican food
`
`restaurant, this fact may be noted in the user profile and used
`to indicate the user may like Mexican food. Alternatively, if a
`user frequently performs accesses from particular coffee/in-
`ternet cafes, this fact may be noted in the user profile. Thus,
`user profiles may be created and updated based on user inputs
`and subsequent usage history on multiple devices and then
`shared by multiple devices. In some embodime