SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE TUNING OF THE ENTRY CHANNEL OF A TELEVISION DEVICE

Abstract: A television system controls the channel to which a particular viewer's television device is tuned each time the viewer first turns on the television device. The system provides for an "Entry Channel" to be identified to the viewer's television device. The identified Entry Channel can be sent to the viewer's television device through a television signal, radio signal or any other communication method, or can be determined by the television system.

Description: SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE TUNING OF THE ENTRY CHANNEL OF A TELEVISION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a viewer turns on a typical modern television device, the television tuner continues to be tuned to the last channel that the viewer was watching before the viewer turned off the television. That is, the television tuner remains tuned to the same channel to which the device was tuned when the device was last in an "on" state. International Application No. PCT/US95/11173 (International Publication No. WO 96/07270), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, illustrates an Electronic Program Guide ("EPG") that provides viewer-to-EPG interaction and provides Picture-In-Guide ("PIG") display of the television program simultaneous with the display of the EPG. U.S. Patent Application No. 09/120,488, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, illustrates further improvements to an EPG. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Unlike the default last-channel-tuned setting of typical television devices today, the present invention controls the channel to which a particular viewer's television device is tuned each time the viewer first turns on the television device. The present invention provides for an "Entry Channel" to be identified to the viewer's television device. The identified Entry Channel can be sent to the viewer's television device, or can be determined by the television system. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing configuration of one embodiment of the Entry Channel Tuning Table. FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of one embodiment of the system and methods to determine the Entry Channel in a Tabled Entry Channel embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the "Entry Channel" is data identified to the viewer's television. One way in which an Entry Channel is identified to the viewer's television device is by communicating a data packet containing the Entry Channel to the viewer's television. Communication with the viewer's television can be accomplished in a number of ways, including but not limited to: 1.) transmitting an Entry Channel packet through the Vertical Blanking Interval (the "VBI"); 2.) transmitting an Entry Channel packet over another form of communication, including but not limited to radio frequencies, pager frequencies, e-mail, telephone, cable, satellite, and any other method of communication. Another way in which an Entry Channel is identified to the viewer's television device is by the television device itself. According to this aspect of the invention, the television device is equipped with a microprocessor programmed to analyze information available to the microprocessor and to determine an appropriate Entry Channel. For instance, the microprocessor can collect viewer profile information and store the viewer profile information in memory provided by the television device. The microprocessor then analyzes the viewer's profile data and determines an Entry Channel. In one embodiment, the microprocessor further analyzes additional information available to it, including but not limited to information concerning priority of Entry Channel options. Entry Channel priorities are determined by one or more factors including but not limited to: 1.) the amount of money that a particular channel and/or network has paid to establish the priority of a particular channel and or network as an Entry Channel; 2.) the viewer's television watching profile; and/or 3.) various other factors. In one embodiment, the microprocessor selects the Entry Channel primarily according to the viewer's television watching profile. For instance, Disney pays X dollars to establish one or more Disney channels as an Entry Channel; ESPN pays X dollars to establish ESPN as an Entry Channel. The viewer watches sports programming on a regular basis but does not watch Disney programming; the viewer's television collects the viewer's profile data, including the fact that the viewer watches sports programs on a regular basis and that the viewer does not watch Disney programming. According to this embodiment of the invention, the television microprocessor selects the appropriate Entry Channel for the particular viewer as ESPN. In another embodiment, the television microprocessor uses alternative logic to select the appropriate Entry Channel for the particular viewer. For instance, in one embodiment, the microprocessor selects the Entry Channel primarily according to the highest paying channel and/or network without regard to the viewer's television watching habits. In another embodiment, the microprocessor selects the Entry Channel exclusively according to the viewer's profile data and without regard to the money paid by various channels and/or networks. In one embodiment of the invention, the television device is initialized to a setting that does not instruct the television to tune to a new channel when the viewer turns on the television. That is, the initialized setting of the television device is the "last-channel-tuned." In another embodiment, the television device can.be initialized to always tune to a specified channel, e.g., the channel that carries CNN, every time that the viewer turns on the television. This embodiment is referred to hereinafter as the "Single Entry Channel" embodiment. In yet another embodiment, the television device can be initialized to always tune to a specified channel according to the time of day that the viewer turns on the television. This embodiment is referred to hereinafter as the "Tabled Entry Channel" embodiment. In this embodiment, the channel to which the television tunes when the television is turned on is determined by a table ("entry channel-tuning table") stored in the memory of the television system. As seen in FIG. 1 , the entry channel-tuning table contains, for each time slot 10, the start time for the time slot, e.g., 1, and a particular channel, e.g., 2, to which the television should tune if the viewer turns on the television during the time slot 20. FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of one embodiment of the system and methods to determine the Entry Channel in a Tabled Entry Channel embodiment. As seen in FIG. 2, according to this embodiment of the invention, when the viewer turns on the television 21, the television system first initializes, as seen in diagram block 22, several comparison factors: the system gets the "current-time"; the system gets the first table entry from the entry-channel table 24; the system sets "start-time" to the first table entry time (e.g., 1 in FIG. 1); and the system sets "channel" to the first table entry channel (e.g., 2 in FIG. 1). As depicted in FIG. 2, the system then gets the next table entry 23 from the entry channel tuning table 24 and sets "end-time" to the next table entry time 23. As depicted in the comparison block 25, the system then compares the "current-time" with the "start-time." If the "current-time" is equal to or greater than the "start-time," then, the system proceeds to the comparison depicted in block 26. Otherwise, when the "current-time" is less than "start-time", the system proceeds to diagram block 27. As seen in the comparison block 26, the television system then compares the "current-time" with the "end-time." If the "current-time" is less than the "end- time," then, as seen in diagram block 27, the system sets "tune-channel" to the value for "channel" obtained from the first entry. On the other hand, if the "current-time" is equal to or greater than the "end-time," then the system proceeds to diagram block 29. As seen in diagram block 29, the system resets the values for "start-time" to the value previously obtained for the next table entry time, resets "channel" to the previously obtained next table entry channel, gets the next table entry from entry channel tuning table 24, resets "end-time" to the time in the next table entry and proceeds to comparison block 25 to continue the comparison process in order to locate the appropriate channel to be tuned for the particular time slot. If the system does not locate an appropriate time slot in the entry channel table, a default channel will be selected. In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the default processing is accomplished by setting the last time slot entry 5 in the entry channel tuning table to all 9's. In this embodiment, according to the procedure described above, the system will compare "current-time" to an "end-time" with a value of "99:99:99" in diagram block 26 and will proceed to block 27 using the channel for the next to the last entry 8 in the entry channel tuning table. The channel designated in the entry channel tuning table can be a television channel (including but not limited to broadcast, cable, and satellite stations), an Internet address, or any other location addressable by the television system. In one embodiment of the invention, the microprocessor is programmed to update the entry channel-tuning table based on an analysis of the viewer's profile data. In an embodiment of the invention in which the Entry Channel is transmitted to the viewer's television, the viewer's television system receives an "Entry Channel" data packet, decodes the information and stores the "Entry Channel" in the memory of the television device. From that point on, until a new "Entry Channel" packet is received, every time that the viewer turns on the television, the television tunes to the identified "Entry Channel." In the "Single Entry Channel" embodiment, the "Entry Channel" packet delivered to the television system designates a single "Entry Channel." In the "Tabled Entry Channel" embodiment, one or more "Entry Channel" packets are delivered to the television system from which the television system constructs and/or updates the entry channel-tuning table. It will be understood that the foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A computer system for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said computer system programmed to: identify an entry channel for a viewer's television; transmit said identified entry channel in a data packet to said viewer's television; store said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detect each change from an off- state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieve said entry channel from said memory, supply said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instruct said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 2. A computer system for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said computer system programmed to: identify an entry channel for a viewer's television; store said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detect each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieve said entry channel from said memory, supply said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instruct said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein in order to identify an entry channel, said computer system is further programmed to: collect a plurality of data items concerning a viewer's profile of television usage; store said viewer profile data in said memory of said viewer's television; analyze said viewer profile data according to a set of viewer profile entry channel selection criteria; and identify as an entry channel a channel that conforms to said viewer profile entry channel selection criteria based on said analysis of said viewer profile data. 4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein in order to identify an entry channel, said computer system is further programmed to: compare viewer profile data with a set of entry channel priority information; and identify as an entry channel a channel that conforms to said viewer profile entry channel selection criteria and to said entry channel priority information. 5. A computer system for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said computer system programmed to: detect each change from an off-state to an on-state of a viewer's televison; for each change from an off-state to an on-state, detect a time of day; search an entry channel-tuning table in a memory of said viewer's television for a time slot in which the detected time of day occurs; and retrieve a table entry containing an entry channel from said entry channel-tuning table from said memory for the time slot in which the detected time of day occurs; and supply said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television; and instruct said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 6. A computer system for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer' s television, said computer system programmed to: receive an entry channel as data in a vertical blanking interval of a television transmission; store said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detect each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieve said entry channel from said memory, supply said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instruct said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 7. A computer program product for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said computer program product having instructions for: identifying an entry channel for a viewer's television; transmitting said identified entry channel in a data packet to said viewer's television; storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieving said entry channel from said memory, supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 8. A computer program product for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said computer program product having instructions for: identifying an entry channel for a viewer's television; storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieve said entry channel from said memory, supply said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instruct said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein in identifying an entry channel, said computer program product has further instructions for: collecting a plurality of data items concerning a viewer's profile of television usage; storing said viewer profile data in said memory of said viewer's television; analyzing said viewer profile data according to a set of viewer profile entry channel selection criteria; and identifying as an entry channel a channel that conforms to said viewer profile entry channel selection criteria based on said analysis of said viewer profile data. 10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein in identifying an entry channel, said computer program product has further instructions for: comparing viewer profile data with a set of entry channel priority information; and identifying as an entry channel a channel that conforms to said viewer profile entry channel selection criteria and to said entry channel priority information. 11. A computer program product for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said computer program product having instructions for: detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of a viewer's televison; for each change from an off-state to an on-state, detecting a time of day; searching an entry channel-tuning table in a memory of said viewer's television for a time slot in which the detected time of day occurs; and retrieving a table entry containing an entry channel from said entry channel-tuning table from said memory for the time slot in which the detected time of day occurs; and supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television; and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 12. A computer program product for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said computer program product having instructions for: receiving an entry channel as data in a vertical blanking interval of a television transmission; storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieving said entry channel from said memory, supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 13. A method using a computer device for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said method comprising: identifying an entry channel for a viewer's television; transmitting said identified entry channel in a data packet to said viewer's television; storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieving said entry channel from said memory, supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 14. A method using a computer device for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer' s television, said method comprising : identifying an entry channel for a viewer's television; storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieving said entry channel from said memory, supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein in identifying an entry channel, said method further comprising: collecting a plurality of data items concerning a viewer's profile of television usage; storing said viewer profile data in said memory of said viewer's television; analyzing said viewer profile data according to a set of viewer profile entry channel selection criteria; and identifying as an entry channel a channel that conforms to said viewer profile entry channel selection criteria based on said analysis of said viewer profile data. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein in identifying an entry channel, said method further comprising: comparing viewer profile data with a set of entry channel priority information; and identifying as an entry channel a channel that conforms to said viewer profile entry channel selection criteria and to said entry channel priority information. 17. A method using a computer device for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said method comprising: detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of a viewer's televison; for each change from an off-state to an on-state, detecting a time of day; searching an entry channel-tuning table in a memory of said viewer's television for a time slot in which the detected time of day occurs; and retrieving a table entry containing an entry channel from said entry channel-tuning table from said memory for the time slot in which the detected time of day occurs; and supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television; and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 18. A method using a computer device for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said method comprising: receiving an entry channel as data in a vertical blanking interval of a television transmission; storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; detecting each change from an off- state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieving said entry charmel from said memory, supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 19. A television system using a computer device for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said television system comprising: a set of program instructions for identifying an entry channel for a viewer's television; a set of program instructions for transmitting said identified entry channel in a data packet to said viewer's television; a set of program instructions for storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; a set of program instructions for detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and a set of program instructions for for each change from an off-state to an on-state, retrieving said entry channel from said memory, supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 20. A television system using a computer device for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said television system comprising: a set of program instructions for identifying an entry channel for a viewer's television; a set of program instructions for storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; a set of program instructions for detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, a set of program instructions for retrieving said entry channel from said memory, supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 21. The television system of claim 20, wherein the set of program instructions for identifying an entry channel further comprising: a set of program instructions for collecting a plurality of data items concerning a viewer's profile of television usage; a set of program instructions for storing said viewer profile data in said memory of said viewer's television; a set of program instructions for analyzing said viewer profile data according to a set of viewer profile entry channel selection criteria; and a set of program instructions for identifying as an entry channel a channel that conforms to said viewer profile entry channel selection criteria based on said analysis of said viewer profile data. 22. The television system of claim 20, wherein the set of program instructions for identifying an entry channel further comprising: a set of program instructions for comparing viewer profile data with a set of entry channel priority information; and a set of program instructions for identifying as an entry channel a channel that conforms to said viewer profile entry channel selection criteria and to said entry channel priority information. 23. A television system using a computer device for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said television system comprising: a set of program instructions for detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of a viewer's televison; a set of program instructions for for each change from an off-state to an on-state, detecting a time of day; a set of program instructions for searching an entry channel-tuning table in a memory of said viewer's television for a time slot in which the detected time of day occurs; and a set of program instructions for retrieving a table entry containing an entry channel from said entry chaimel-tuning table from said memory for the time slot in which the detected time of day occurs; and a set of program instructions for supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television; and a set of program instructions for instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel. 24. A television system using a computer device for controlling the tuning of an entry channel of a viewer's television, said television system comprising: a set of program instructions for receiving an entry channel as data in a vertical blanking interval of a television transmission; a set of program instructions for storing said entry channel in a memory of said viewer's television; a set of program instructions for detecting each change from an off-state to an on-state of said viewer's televison; and for each change from an off-state to an on-state, a set of program instructions for retrieving said entry channel from said memory, supplying said entry channel to a tuner of said viewer's television, and instructing said viewer's television to tune to said entry channel.

Inventors: MACARE DOUGLAS B, MACARE, DOUGLAS, B.
Applicants: INDEX SYSTEMS INC, MACARE DOUGLAS B, INDEX SYSTEMS, INC., MACARE, DOUGLAS, B.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04N5