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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to an improved television interface system
which utilizes a TV program information database.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,867 described an interface for a TV-VCR system which
enabled the user to enter information concerning the user's favorite
television programs. Such information can include program name, broadcast
channel, starting time, length, repeat pattern and whether the user wanted
the program recorded. The patent further described an interface system in
which such information could be provided in an intuitive and easy manner
through the television receiver's display. The teachings of this patent
are incorporated by reference herein.
Television systems utilizing downloadable TV program information have been
described, for example, by Insight Telecast, Inc. and in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,751,578; 4,706,121 and 4,977,455, which are incorporated by reference
herein. Using these systems, TV program information can be downloaded and
stored in a memory to be displayed on the television display. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,093,718 describes a system which can provide such information,
including graphics and interactive options, over a "fast data" path which
can be a cable, fiber optic or satellite system. These references are
incorporated by reference herein.
In the December, 1986 issue of "Communications of the ACM" (Vol. 29, No.
12, pp. 1229-1239), in an article by Stanfill and Kahle entitled "Parallel
Free-Text Search On The Connection Machine System", the method known as
"free text search" is described which details a method in which seed words
are located which can be used to correlate information provided in one or
more portions of text. The teachings of this article are incorporated by
reference herein. An overview of this subject is provided by the book
"Automatic Text Processing" by Salton.
An object of the instant invention is to provide a user interface which can
access downloaded TV program information, which can be continually updated
and provided either "over the air", over cable or satellite transmission
paths or other "fast data" paths, and to automatically correlate this
information with the preferences of the user, to create at least one
program information database based upon the results of the correlation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention comprises an interface system which can be
used with a television transmission system which provides, along with
television programming, updatable TV program information which can, for
example, include text summaries of the television programs scheduled for
the coming week. In particular, the interface system can comprise a
television receiver, a video cassette recorder, and a processor which can
be used in conjunction with a digital transmission system which might
carry compressed audio/video data as well as miscellaneous data which can
include the TV program information. In a preferred embodiment, the
processor utilizes "free text" search techniques to correlate the TV
program information with the viewer's preferences.
Another embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method which in
addition to correlating the TV program information with the preferences of
the user, comprises means for creating a customized TV program database,
containing only programs of interest to the viewer, and displaying this
information as part of the television display. This information can
comprise title, channel, category, day, time, length, repeat rate etc., as
well as summaries, ratings, recommendations and cost for each of the
programs featured. In addition, where a wide band or fast data channel is
used to provide this information, video pictures and graphics related to
the program information can also be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system comprising a preferred embodiment of
the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram describing one of the RD decoders shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the processor shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the browsing mode; and
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the interest matcher mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The embodiment of the invention described herein provides many of the
features first described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,867 which is owned by the
assignee of the instant application and which has common inventorship with
the instant application. The '867 patent describes the manner in which
portions of memory can be used to store various categories of programming
information. For example, a first memory portion can store, in the form of
a database, information related to future television programs as well as
information concerning those programs which are preferred by the user. By
accessing this database, the user can display "Future Programs" as well as
"Favorite Broadcast Programs" using a system of advanced menus and
displays and an expanded channel ring. The techniques for providing
information from specific databases to the user, described in the '867
application can be readily adapted to the display requirements of the
instant invention and are incorporated by reference herein.
FIG. 1 describes in block diagram form, a preferred embodiment of the
invention. In this embodiment, it is assumed that program material as well
as data describing future programming, is provided via a digital
transmission system which carries compressed audio/video data (for example
using the MPEG and MUSICAM formats) together with data for providing in
text and graphic form, information about television shows scheduled for
the forthcoming week (or any other convenient period of time). This
information is updated periodically.
The arrangement described in FIG. 1 is for example only, and it should be
understood that the various block elements shown can be separate, or
integrated into larger apparatus as shown, and still be within the
province of the invention.
Digital data comprising A/V (audio/video television programs) as well as
PID (programming information data) are provided to the system at input 2.
As described in the references incorporated herein, this data can be
provided as an RF signal either "over the air" or by cable, fiber optic,
satellite or other appropriate means of delivery for such information. For
purposes of this description, we will assume that the digital data is
provided by a wideband or "fast digital" data channel thereby permitting
the PID to include text and pictorial information related to upcoming
television programs.
In the embodiment of the invention shown, a VCR 5 is used in conjunction
with a television receiver 40. Both the VCR 5 and the receiver have RF
decoders, 10 and 15 respectively, which allow a combined display via PIP
(picture in picture) circuit 30, of two decoded signals, or a combination
of an "off the air" signal decoded by RF decoder 15, and a stored program
provided by tape transport 20.
Remote control 42 is used by the viewer to control the VCR 5 and receiver
40 in known fashion, and also provides input keys with which the viewer
can indicate "liked" or "disliked" programs during the browsing mode as
described below.
Each of the decoders functions to demodulate and decode or otherwise
process the A/V data, as described in more detail below. The output of RF
decoder 10 can be recorded by tape transport 20, or passed on to receiver
40 via an auxiliary input 22 to receiver 40.
RF decoder 15, separates the PID data provided by the RF signal input and
provides the PID data to processor 35. The A/V data decoded by RF decoder
15 is switchably coupled, via input 17, to PIP circuit 30 which is a known
device which can provide two program sources and switch input programming
between main and PIP display formats, to display 25. The PID data is
processed by processor 35, as described in detail below, in conjunction
with graphics generator 32, to provide a text or graphic output which can
be combined with the output of PIP 30 in display 25.
FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of RF decoder 15. RF decoder 10 can
be identical to RF decoder 15. In a fast data channel, data can be
provided in the form of packets comprising the A/V data in compressed
form, and the PID data, which can be, in uncompressed form.
The RF signal upon which the digital data is modulated, for example, is
provided to tuner and demodulator 6 which demodulates and separates the
packets. Packet selector 7, separates the A/V (compressed) packets from
the PID packets, using techniques well known in the digital signal
processing art, and provides the compressed A/V data packets to data
decompressor 8 and PIC data packets to buffer 9. Decompressor 8
decompresses the A/V data to provide audio and video of the television
programming, via buffer 9, to PIP circuit 30. It should be stated here
that although the A/V data is presented in this example as being digital
in form, it could also be analog information, thus eliminating the need
for the packet selector (except to separate the PID digital data) and the
data decompressor.
The PID data consists of a TV program information data which can contain
information about forthcoming television programs arranged, for example in
data fields presenting categories of information. In this manner (as
described in more detail in the references incorporated herein), title,
start time, length, channel number, repeat days, logo or graphic
illustration, cost (for pay-per-view), number of restarts (for staggered
showings), the time between starts, the type of program (i.e. drama,
comedy, movie etc.), and a text summary of the program comprising a
description of the program and other information such as critics comments
can be provided.
Processor 35 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. It comprises a CPU 50,
programmed to perform memory addressing functions necessary to set up and
control read/write instructions to volatile memory configured into three
sections, to contain respectively a first section 52, a second section 54
and a third section 56. CPU 50 also is programmed to accept positive and
negative feedback from the viewer via remote control 42, and use this
feedback in conjunction with one or more of the memory sections 52, 54,
and 56, as described below. In addition, CPU 50 is programmed to perform
"free text" search operations as detailed in the Stanfill and Kahle
reference incorporated herein, on data stored in one or more of the memory
sections 52, 54 or 56.
In the embodiment described herein, memory section 52 is used to store as a
first database, the TV program information data records downloaded as PID
as described, for example, in the references incorporated herein. Memory
section 54 is used to store as a second database, records selected from
the first database which are indicated as "liked" by the user (i.e. for
which the user provided positive feedback) or "disliked" by the user (i.e.
for which the user provided negative feedback).
The '867 patent describes the use of an expanded channel ring and display
system to allow a user to browse through a group of records containing
program information. These techniques can also be used to display the
information stored in the first database (as well as the other databases
described below). While in the browsing mode, the viewer can sequentially
scan the TV programming information data records stored in the first
database, by entering a beginning time (t) and channel (ch). The first
database stores the TV programming information in fields so that each
record can be accessed by time of day (t) and channel (ch).
FIG. 4 is a flow chart which describes the browsing process. The "liked" or
"disliked" indications can be made in several ways. The browsing sequence
begins 100 when the viewer presses a "start" or "browse" button on the
remote control 42 which directs CPU 50 to begin addressing the first
database (i.e. memory section 52). The viewer inputs a channel (ch) and a
time of day (t) 105 which is then used to index the TV information data
record in the first database having fields which match the chosen (ch) and
(t).
In a manner similar to the display processes described in the '867 patent,
the information for the chosen data record in first database is displayed
110. The PIP circuit 30 can also be controlled in known fashion by the
viewer using remote control 42 and the chosen data record can be displayed
as text or graphic information superimposed over the pictures provided by
PIP circuit 30, or can replace the picture provided by PIP circuit 30
altogether. These modifications are to be understood as variations of the
invention as described herein.
Upon viewing the selected TV programming information record, the viewer can
then register whether or not he "likes" or "dislikes" the displayed
selection 115. We use the terms "like" and "dislike" to represent any type
of positive or negative feedback which the viewer might input. For
example, a "like" response could be made by the viewer pressing a button
indicating that the program is to be recorded (as described in the '867
patent). It could also simply be made by the keypress of a "like" button
on remote control 42. By inputting a "like" response, a flag is set in the
record and then stored, along with that record, in the second database (in
memory section 54). A negative response by the viewer can similarly be
made by pressing a button on the remote control 42 marked "dislike" which
would set a corresponding flag in the record which is stored with the
record in the second database 120. The aim is to create as the second
database 125, a database containing only those records, (i.e. TV programs)
selected from the first database, for which the viewer has a clear
preference or dislike.
After registering "like" or "dislike" for a displayed record, the user can
continue to search records having the same channel at different times of
the day (by incrementing or decrementing (t) and keeping (ch) the same) or
by searching all records having the same time of day, but different
channels (by incrementing or decrementing (ch) and keeping t the same)
130. The newly selected (ch) and/or (t) is then used to find a second
record and display it to the viewer 135. If the viewer has no opinion
(i.e. neither "like" or "dislike") she can simply press "next/previous" on
remote control 42 to select a prior (or subsequent) record 117,130.
"Liked" can also be recorded in the second database automatically as the
viewer watches and/or records television programs in real time. In other
words, at the option of the viewer, merely watching and/or recording a
television program for longer than a given amount of time (for example, at
least 15 minutes), would automatically register as a "like" response and
cause the record in first database corresponding to the selected program,
to be stored in the second database 125.
The purpose of developing the second database, is to enable the user to
develop a personalized TV program information database in a third database
stored in memory section 56. This third database, could be accessed by the
viewer via remote control 42, in order to allow him to select for viewing,
only preferred programs which correspond either to forthcoming programs
stored in the second database and indicated as "liked", or programs
automatically selected from the first database in the interest matcher
mode described in FIG. 5.
The user can initiate 200 this process either by pressing the appropriate
button remote control 42, or this mode can be initiated by simply turning
on the television receiver, or each time the downloaded TV program
database is updated.
The field containing the text summary of each record stored in the second
database is analyzed in accordance with the "free text" search techniques
described and the references incorporated herein 210, 215. Unimportant
words like "a", "the" etc are removed. The remaining words are reduced to
their stems (i.e. prefixes and suffixes are removed). Each stem in each
"liked" record is given a positive weight. Each stem in each "disliked"
show, which is not simultaneously a stem in a "liked" show is given a
negative weight. With these stems and weights a "simple query" is
performed over the records provided from the first database, i.e. the
downloaded TV program database.
In the "simple query" 220, every record in the first database is scored
(for potential retrieval value) by adding up the weights for the word
stems it contains. The total score is then normalized with respect to the
length of the respective text record. Additional techniques can be used to
speed up this query, in particular, the "surrogate coding" described in
the Stanfill & Kahle reference incorporated herein. Those records having
the highest retrieval values (i.e. weights) are taken as suggestions and
are stored in chronological order along with those records actually
flagged by the viewer as "liked", in the third database. The third
database can then be accessed by the viewer, as a personalized version of
the downloaded TV database initially stored in the first database.
Thus, the invention provides a method for allowing the user to correlate
his or her preferences, in an automatic fashion using, for example, "free
text" searching techniques, in order to generate a personalized version of
a downloaded TV program database.
In case of a two-way interactive system (e.g. two-way cable, telephone
system, etc.) the processor and databases of FIG. 3 can be located at the
headend (cable company or telephone company), or be distributed between
the headend and the TV set.
The first database, 52, can be extended to contain other things than TV
shows (e.g. live performances). If their writeup matches the user's
interest, they can also be included in the (third) personalized database,
54.
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