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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The parent application relates to an improved television interface system
which accesses a downloaded TV program information database, which can be
continually updated, and which is provided either "over the air", over
cable or satellite transmission, or other "fast data" path, and which
automatically correlates the information provided thereby with the
preferences of the user, to create at least one further program
information database based upon the results of the correlation.
The instant application comprises a method and apparatus which utilizes
aspects of the parent correlation methodology, to determine the electronic
shopping preferences of a user.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,867 describes an interface for a TV-VCR system which
enabled the user to enter information concerning the user's favorite
television programs as well as information about programs stored on video
tape. Such information can include program name, broadcast channel,
starting time, length, repeat pattern and whether the user wanted the
program recorded. The patent further describes an interface system in
which such information could be provided in an intuitive and easy manner
through the television receiver's PIP display. The teachings of this
patent are incorporated by reference herein.
Television systems utilizing downloadable information databases 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 and used by a processor to control a programmable TV
tuner. 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.
Interactive, or "two way" television systems permitting viewer responses
to video programming, are described for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,101,267 and 4,591,906, which are incorporated by reference herein.
Integrated data services networks (IDSN) and bidirectional cable systems
can also provide this interactivity and have been extensively discussed in
the literature. 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 specifically
incorporated by reference herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Home shopping programs are popular features of today's broadcast and cable
television programming. Products are offered for sale by salesmen and
orders are taken from the viewer by telephone. In the near future however,
viewers will be able to electronically "browse" through databases
transmitted as part of, or along with a television programs, which
comprise descriptions of items for sale to the user. Such descriptions can
be represented by text and pictures and will be referred to hereinafter as
electronic catalog information ("ECI"). Since such ECI data would contain
a great many different items which respectively could appeal to many
categories of user (i.e. men, women, old, young, sportsmen, musicians,
etc.), the instant invention comprises a method and apparatus for
correlating the unique characteristics of a particular user, with the
items of ECI which are of particular interest to that user.
A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an interface system which
can be used with an interactive television transmission system carrying,
along with television programming, an updatable information database
containing one or more ECI date which can, for example, include text and
picture depictions of merchandise offered for sale to the consumer. The
interface system comprises a processor which utilizes "free text" search
techniques well known to those skilled in the programming art, such as
those taught in the Stanfill and Kahle article incorporated by reference
herein.
Another embodiment of the invention comprises a system and method which in
addition to correlating items of the ECI with those of interest to the
user, comprises means for controlling the audio/video selection,
retrieving and display of particular electronic catalogs, and items of the
catalogs, at the request of the user, as part of the television display
(for example using a PIP function).
Still another embodiment of the invention comprises means for compiling
information about a viewers particular tastes, hobbies and other
purchasing preferences, for later distribution to advertisers and
merchants.
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 RF 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 incorporating PIP, 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 ECI data representing items of merchandise offered for sale to the
viewer are provided for example, via a digital transmission system which
carries compressed audio/video programming data (for example in using the
MPEG and MUSICAM formats). This information can be updated periodically.
The arrangement described in FIG. 1, is for example only and it should be
understood that the various block elements 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 program material) as
well as ECI are provided to the system at input 2. This data can be
provided as an RF signal either "over the air" or by one way or
interactive (two way) 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 ECI which can include text and
pictorial information related to merchandise offered for sale to the
viewer.
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 allows 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
from transport 20.
Remote control 42 is used by the viewer to control the VCR 5 and receiver
40 in the known fashion, and also provides input keys with which the
viewer can indicate "liked" or "disliked" items of the ECI during the
browsing mode 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. RF decoder 15, separates the ECI data provided
by the RF signal input and provides the ECI data to processor 35. The A/V
data decoded by RF decoder 15 is switchably coupled 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
ECI data is processed by processor 35, as described in detail below, in
conjunction with graphics generator 35, to provide a text 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 including the
ECI can be provided in the form of packets comprising the A/V data in
compressed form. The ECI can comprise audio and full motion video display
of the items for sale, as well as text summary descriptions of features of
each item.
The RF signal upon which the digital data is modulated, for example, is
provided to tuner and modulator 6 which demodulates and separates the
packets. Packet selector 7, separates the television program material
packets from the ECI packets, using techniques well known in the digital
signal processing art, and provides the compressed program data packets to
data decompressor 8 and ECI data packets to buffer 9. Decompressor 8
decompresses the program data to provide audio and video television
programming via buffer 9, to PIP circuit 30. It should be stated here that
although the program 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 ECI packets) and the data
compressor.
The ECI consists of a database which can contain information about products
offered for sale to the viewer, arranged, for example a text summary field
comprising textual descriptions of respective products and service in
paragraph form. Categories of information could include, for example,
vendor, price, classification (i.e. sporting goods, fashion, consumer
electronics, automobile, food, and tickets for concerts, plays, movies,
sporting events etc.), catalog updates,(i.e. new products or special
sales), television scheduling information for upcoming television shopping
programs or infomercials, brochures available to viewers on request (i.e.
print catalogs, consumer reports and other sources of product
information). Other data fields could comprise still or full motion video
illustrations of the described products.
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 database 52, a second database
54 and a third database 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 databases 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 one or more of the databases 52, 54 or 56.
Database 52 is used to store the ECI data records downloaded and
periodically updated. Database 54 is used to store records selected from
the ECI database 52 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). By "like" or "dislike" we
mean any type of positive or negative reaction, for example of interest,
or not of interest, too expensive, reasonably priced, or any other
positive or negative reaction by the viewer.
The "liked" or "disliked" indications can be made in several ways. 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. These techniques can
also be used in conjunction with the databases 52, 54 and 56, to display
the information stored therein.
While in the browsing mode, the viewer can sequentially scan the ECI data
records stored in database 52 beginning with a record R which represents
the first of the ECI data records in database 52.
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).
In a manner similar to the display processes described in the '867 patent,
the information for the first data record R in the 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 ECI data record R, 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 placing an order
for the item via an interactive ("two way") cable system. Known systems
exist for use with such systems to select "pay per view" movies and can
easily be adapted to use as a mechanism for indicating an item for
purchase. It could also simply be made by the keypress of a "like" button
on remote control 42. If an ECI record describes schedule information
about a particular shopping program or infomercial, a "like" response
could also be made by the viewer pressing a button indicating that the
program is to be recorded.
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 items in the ECI database 52 for which the
viewer has a clear preference or dislike. This second database represents
an "interest profile" of the viewer.
After registering "like" or "dislike" for a displayed record, the user can
continue to search other records by incrementing or decrementing R
depending on whether he wants to go forward or backward within the
selected records. The new R 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 particular shopping programs or infomercials in
real time. In other words, at the option of the viewer, merely watching
and/or recording a shopping 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 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
ECI data records which correspond either to records 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 the interest matcher mode 200 either by pressing the
appropriate button on remote control 42, or by simply turning on the
television receiver, or each time the downloaded ECI database 52 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. This text
summary would typically describe an item being offered for sale and can
include the category of item, i.e. sporting goods, fashion, consumer
electronics, automobile, food, and tickets for concerts, plays, movies,
sporting events etc., catalog updates,(i.e. new products or special
sales), television scheduling information for upcoming television shopping
programs or infomercials, or brochures available to viewers on request
(i.e. print catalogs, consumer reports and other sources of product
information). 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" record, which is not simultaneously a stem in
a "liked" record is given a negative weight. With these stems and weights
a "simple query" is performed over the ECI data records provided from the
first database, i.e. the downloaded ECI 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. Different weight
values could also be assigned for different types of viewer "like" inputs,
for example purchasing an item would be assigned a weight of 5. Marking an
ECI record R as "liked" using the remote during browsing would be assigned
a value of 4. Viewing a complete record would be assigned a value of 3.
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 ECI database initially stored in the first
database, i.e. a Personalized Electronic Shopping Information database.
The second database 52 containing the "interest profile" of the viewer or
the third database 54 containing the Personalized Electronic Shopping
Information database can also be downloaded to a removable memory (i.e.
"smartcard" 300) or directly to a cable headend using known transmission
methods 310 used in interactive systems. The downloaded information can
then be sold to, and utilized by, vendors to accumulate sales research.
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 Electronic
Shopping Information 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.
While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is
to be understood that the words which have been used are words of
description rather than of limitation and that changes within the purview
of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope
and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects.
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