US007900229B2
`
`(12) Ulllted States Patent
`Dureau
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,900,229 B2
`Mar. 1, 2011
`
`(54) CONVERGENCE OF INTERACTIVE
`
`6,314,571 B1 * 11/2001 OgaWa et a1. ............... .. 725/48
`
`TELEVISION AND WIRELESS
`
`6,401,059 B1 *
`
`6/2002 Shen etal. . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 703/27
`
`TECHNOLOGIES
`
`6,486,892 B1* 11/2002 Stern ........................ .. 715/760
`
`(75) Inventor: Vincent Dureau, Palo Alto, CA (US)
`
`(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- 15401) by 947 days-
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`W0
`
`W0 9810589
`
`3/1998
`
`(21) App1.No.: 10/271,801
`
`(22) F1led:
`
`Oct. 15, 2002
`
`(Continued)
`
`(65)
`
`Pl‘iOl‘ Publication Data
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`US 2004/0073915 A1
`
`Apr. 15, 2004
`
`(51) Int_ CL
`H04N 7/16
`H04N 5/445
`
`(200601)
`(200601)
`
`(52) US. Cl. ............................. .. 725/46; 725/9; 725/10;
`725/14; 705/14
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ................. .. 725/46,
`_
`_
`725/9f25; 705/14
`See appl1cat1on ?le for complete search h1story.
`References Cited
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`pp. 182-189, XP 000603484.
`
`.
`(Commued)
`Primary Examinerison P Huynh
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiRory D. Rankin; Meyertons,
`Hood, Kivhn, KOWert & Goetzel, RC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`5,594,740
`5,758,257
`5,798,785
`5,801,747
`5,831,664
`5,845,257
`5,848,396
`5,854,793
`5,896,558
`6,005,597
`6,177,931
`6,236,395
`6,236,978
`6,286,140
`
`1/1997
`A
`5/1998
`A
`8/1998
`A
`9/1998
`A
`A*
`11/1998
`12/1998
`A
`A
`* 12/1998
`12/1998
`A
`4/1999
`12/1999
`1/2001
`5/2001
`5/2001
`9/2001
`
`LaDue
`HerZ et al.
`Hendricks et al.
`Bedard
`Wharton et al. ............. .. 725/81
`Fu et al.
`
`Gerace ...................... .. 705/10
`Dinkins
`Wiedeman
`Barrett et al. ............... .. 725/46
`
`Alexander et al. .......... .. 725/ 52
`
`A system and method for utilizing user pro?les in an interac
`tive television system. An interactive television system
`includes a broadcast station, a set-top box, and a remote
`mobile or ?xed unit. The system is con?gured to create and/or
`update a user pro?le in response to an access made in a ?rst
`access mode. In response to detecting a user access in a
`second access mode, the system accesses the user pro?le,
`selects data based at least in part on the user pro?le, and
`transmits the data to the user.
`
`32 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`Mobile Unit
`@
`
`Fixed Unit
`
`Broadcast Station
`
`Pro?le
`Database
`Q 313.9
`
`Apple 1001
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`

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`US 7,900,229 B2
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5/2003 HerZ eta1~ ---------------- -- 709/217
`6,571,279 131*
`8/2003 Shteyn ..... ..
`.. 386/83
`6,611,654 131*
`6,637,029 B1 * 10/2003 Eilat et a1. ..
`725/46
`6,647,370 131* 11/2003 1166161.
`705/8
`6,727,914 Bl* 4/2004 Gutta .... ..
`.345/719
`6,754,907 B1 *
`6/2004 Schumacher et a1
`725/87
`6,871,186 Bl* 3/2005 Tuzhilin e161. .... ..
`705/26
`6,898,762 B2* 5/2005 Ellis et a1. .... ..
`715/716
`7,095,402 B2* 8/2006 Kunii et a1. ..... ..
`345/169
`7,117,518 Bl* 10/2006 Takahashi et a1.
`725/86
`2001/0032333 Al* 10/2001 Flickinger .... ..
`.. 725/39
`2002/0059596 Al* 5/2002 Sano e161.
`725/39
`2002/0104087 Al* 8/2002 Schaffer et a1. ............. .. 725/46
`2002/0122080 A1
`9,2002 Kunii et a1,
`2002/0129368 Al* 9/2002 Schlack e161. .............. .. 725/46
`2002/0143645 Al* 10/2002 Odinak etal. ..
`.... .. 705/26
`
`2002/0151271 Al* 10/2002 Tatsujietal. .... ..
`2002/0183072 Al* 12/2002 Steinbach e161. .
`
`455/3.05
`455/456
`
`.. 386/83
`2/2003 Blake .......... ..
`2003/0031465 A1 *
`725/118
`2003/0177504 Al* 9/2003 Paulo 6161.
`. 455/414.1
`2004/0203630 Al* 10/2004 Wang ....... ..
`2005/0028208 A1 *
`2/2005 Ellis et a1. ................... .. 725/58
`
`2005/0149964 Al* 7/2005 Thomas et a1. ............... .. 725/9
`2005/0251827 Al* 11/2005 1511136131. ..... ..
`..725/47
`2005/0262542 Al* 11/2005 DeWeese e161. .......... .. 725/106
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`1/1999
`W0 9901984
`5/1999
`W0 9926180
`9/1999
`W0 9945700
`V2000
`W0 0004709
`3/2000
`W0 0011869
`3/2000
`W0 0013416
`10/2000
`W0 0060447
`10/2000
`W0 0060858
`11/2000
`W0 0070504
`W0 0115449 Al * 3/2001
`WO0145408
`6/2001
`W0 0215447
`2/2002
`
`.................. .. 7/173
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Supplementary European Search Report for Application No, PCT/
`[150332650 mailed Feb, 22, 2008,
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Apple 1001
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 1, 2011
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`US 7,900,229 B2
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`US. Patent
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`Mar. 1, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of6
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`US. Patent
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`Mar. 1, 2011
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`Sheet 6 of6
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`US 7,900,229 B2
`
`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 speci?c times for their playback. Furthermore, it
`may be possible for a user to receive noti?cations 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.
`
`20
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`50
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`
`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 con?g
`ured to creating and maintain a user pro?le Which re?ects
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`activity of the user Within the system. Activity performed in a
`?rst mode, such as television vieWing, may cause the creation
`and/or updating of a user pro?le Which re?ects 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 pro?le. Information
`Which is conveyed to a user is based at least in part on the data
`in the user pro?le. 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 con?g
`ured for Wireless communications With both the set-top box,
`broadcast station, other mobile devices, or any other device
`con?gured 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 ?xed unit may also be present. For
`example, in one embodiment, a ?xed 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.
`The broadcast station may be a station Where programming
`and content are broadcast to a number of users. The broadcast
`station may include a database in Which user pro?les 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 con?gured to
`store a user pro?le for its associated user.
`The user pro?le may include basic user information, vari
`ous user preferences, and other information. The information
`in the user pro?le 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 pro?le. Such information may include credit card num
`bers, frequent ?ier memberships, preferences, and virtually
`any other information that may de?ne the user. This informa
`tion may be combined With other user information in the user
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`3
`pro?le 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 How diagram illustrating one embodiment of the
`updating of a user pro?le based on actions taken With a mobile
`unit;
`FIG. 5 is a How 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 pro?les.
`While the invention is susceptible to various modi?cations
`and alternative forms, speci?c 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 modi?cations, equivalents,
`and alternatives falling With the spirit and scope of the present
`invention as de?ned by the appended claims.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a television system
`100 is shoWn. In the embodiment shoWn, a receiving device
`12 is coupled to several sources of programming 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
`con?gured to store user pro?les. User pro?les may also be
`located at a headend or other location Within the system. In
`some embodiments, user pro?le 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 con?gured to
`communicate Within the system 100. In one embodiment,
`netWork 20 may comprise the Internet and the personal com
`puter 306 may be con?gured 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 con?gured for Wireless communications
`With television system 100 in a number of different Ways. For
`example, mobile unit 305 may be con?gured to communicate
`
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`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 con?gured to create such content. An authoring station
`may include a computer Workstation con?gured With soft
`Ware Which aids in the development of interactive content. An
`authoring station may be part of broadcast station 16 in Which
`case the conveyance of the created content may be through a
`local computing netWork, or similar con?guration. 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 ?rst 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 con?gured 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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`5
`station 16. Database 230, server 250, and source 13 are
`coupled to a content processing mechanism 200 Which is
`con?gured 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 pro?les 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 pro?les
`330, although they may also be stored separately as shoWn in
`this embodiment. User pro?les 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 pro?les 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 con?gured 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 of one embodiment
`of a 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 con?gured for
`Wireless communications With both broadcast station 16 and
`set-top box 302. Broadcast station 16 may be con?gured for
`communications With set-top box 302 through either Wireless
`means or through hardWired means (e. g. cable).
`Some embodiments may include ?xed unit 308. Fixed unit
`308 may be a device such as a personal computer user’s of?ce
`or place of business. The ?xed unit 308 may be con?gured to
`communicate With any of the other units in the system, either
`directly or indirectly. For example, ?xed unit 308 may be
`con?gured to directly communicate With broadcast station 16
`or set-top box 302 via an intemet connection. Similarly, ?xed
`unit 308 may be con?gured to communicate With mobile unit
`305 indirectly, by ?rst 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, ?xed 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
`con?gured 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 con?gured for Wireless communications. Other
`embodiments of mobile unit 305 are possible and contem
`plated, including embodiment designed speci?cally 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 pro?le.
`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
`con?gured 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 of the mobile unit, and hence its user. The
`location information may be combined With other informa
`tion stored in the user pro?le 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 pro?les 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 con?gured 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 con?gured 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-de?nition 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 pro?les. Broadcast station 16 may
`receive data for use in generating the user pro?le from set-top
`box 302, ?xed unit 308, or directly from mobile unit 305.
`Broadcast station 16 may further be con?gured to access data
`from user pro?les stored in database 230. The data accessed
`from the user pro?le may be used to determine information
`that is to be sent to set-top box 302, ?xed 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 pro?le 330A may be stored in set-top
`box 302, or in ?xed unit 330B. In general, user pro?le data
`may be stored anyWhere Within system 300. Multiple, cached
`copies of user pro?le data may also be maintained Within
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`US 7,900,229 B2
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`7
`system 300. Further, user pro?les 330 or database 230 may
`also include device pro?les for devices Which may access the
`system in different modes. Such device pro?les may include
`information describing particular details about devices Which
`may be used to access the system 300. One example of device
`pro?ling is the Wireless Application Protocol User Agent
`Pro?le Speci?cation (WAP-248-UAPROF-200l l020-a)
`Which is concerned With capturing classes of device capabili
`ties and preference information. These classes include the
`hardWare and softWare characteristics of the device as Well as
`information about the netWork to Which the device is con
`nected. The device pro?le contains information used for con
`tent formatting purposes. A device pro?le is distinct from a
`user pro?le that Would contain application-speci?c informa
`tion about the user for content selection purposes. These
`device pro?les may then be used to select and format data
`Which is suitable for presentation on the accessing device.
`User pro?les 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 ?yer
`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 pro?les 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, if a user makes a phone call or
`other access from a location identi?ed as a Mexican food
`restaurant, this fact may be noted in the user pro?le 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 pro?le. Thus,
`user pro?les may be created and updated based on user inputs
`and subsequent usage history on multiple devices and then
`shared by multiple devices. In some embodiments, user pro
`?les may be automatically generated by a netWork operator.
`In other embodiments, the user pro?le may be created manu
`ally by the user. User pro?les may also be created by a set-top
`box or other computing device.
`In one embodiment, the user pro?les are built by the broad
`cast service provider based upon the vieWing data accumu
`lated Within the broadcast netWork. Such data may come, for
`example, from previous transactions. This data includes
`information on the various transactions Which take place in
`the netWork, and may include transactions ranging from
`requests for pay-per-vieW events or subscription to broadcast
`provider or other third party provider services to interactive
`transactions to simple selections of programs. The speci?c
`data recorded in regard to the netWork transactions may vary
`from system to system. Transaction data may be recorded at
`the broadcast station. Data Which is available to the broadcast
`station at the time of the transaction (“on-line” data) is col
`lected at the broadcast station. Data Which is not available to
`the broadcast station at the time of the transaction (“local”
`data) may be collected elseWhere,