Patent Abstract:
An apparatus and method for providing indications of items such as a television program or programs watched by user, television program or programs to be watched by the user, an activity or activities in which the user has participated, and an activity or activities the user is scheduled to participated. The apparatus comprises an input device which obtains information regarding at least one of a television program or programs watched by the user, television program or programs to be watched by the user, an activity or activities in which the user has participated, and an activity or activities the user is scheduled to participated; a processor arranged to receive the obtained information which produces a program/activity signal representative of each television program or activity arranged in a predetermined manner; and an output interface which enables the program/activity signal to be supplied to at least one television unit located at a location remote from the apparatus so as to enable an indication of each the television program and activity to be displayed thereon in the predetermined manner.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing an indication of programs and/or activities pertaining to a user and, more particularly, to such apparatus and method which provides an indication of television programs watched and/or to be watched by a user, activities performed and/or to be performed by the user, and so forth for display on a display device.  
           [0002]    Today, due to busy schedules, people often do not have time to write or telephone family members or friends regarding day to day events such as television programs they watched or are planning to watch, activities such as sporting events and the like in which they have participated or are scheduled to participate, and so forth. As a result, people may not share comments pertaining to such television program(s) or activities with other family members or friends.  
           [0003]    Similarly, due to their busy or conflicting schedules, family members within a household may be unable to watch television programs together. As such, children may watch television programs without their parents. Accordingly, parents may not know what programs their children have watched.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method which enables one or more family members or friends to easily inform others as to television programs they watched and/or are planning to watch.  
           [0005]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method which enables parents to know what television programs their children have watched.  
           [0006]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method which enables a person to easily provide other people with a schedule or listing of activities in which he or she will participate and/or has already participated.  
           [0007]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method as aforesaid wherein the television programs and/or the activities are available for display on a display unit in a predetermined format.  
           [0008]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method as aforesaid which enables a user to insert comments into the display of the television programs and/or activities.  
           [0009]    An aspect of the present invention is to provide a television program apparatus comprising a device for obtaining information regarding a number of television programs watched by a viewer, a circuit for producing a viewer program signal representative of each television program watched by the user arranged in a predetermined manner, and a device adapted to be coupled to a television unit for enabling the viewer program signal to be supplied to the television unit so as to enable an indication of each the television program watched by the viewer to be displayed thereon in the predetermined manner.  
           [0010]    The above and other objects, features and advantages according to the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which corresponding components are identified by the same reference numerals. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a system using a set-top box;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a digital set-top box suitable for use with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a television program system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    FIGS.  4 - 6  are diagrams of formats for displaying television programs and/or activities; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a diagram to which reference will be made in describing different levels of accessibility for the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram for an exemplary interactive cable or satellite television (TV) system  100  is shown. The system  100  includes, at a head end of the service provider  10 , a media server  12  for providing, on demand, movies and other programming obtained from a media database  14 . The media server  12  might also provide additional content such as interviews with the actors, games, advertisements, available merchandise, associated Web pages, interactive games and other related content. The system  100  also includes an electronic programming guide (EPG) server  16  and a program listing database  18  for generating an EPG. Set-top box  22  can generally provide for bi-directional communication over a transmission medium  20  in the case of a cable STB  22 . In other embodiments, bi-directional communication can be effected using asymmetrical communication techniques possibly using dual communication media--one for the uplink and one for the downlink. In any event, the STB  22  can have its own Universal Resource Locator (URL) assigned thereto to provide for addressability by the head end and users of the Internet.  
         [0017]    The media server  12  and EPG server  16  are coupled by transmission medium  20  to set top box (STB)  22 . The transmission medium  20  may include, for example, a conventional coaxial cable network, a fiber optic cable network, telephone system, twisted pair, a satellite communication system, a radio frequency (RF) system, a microwave system, other wireless systems, a combination of wired and wireless systems or any of a variety of electronic transmission mediums. In the case of a cable television network, transmission medium  20  is commonly realized at the subscriber&#39;s premises as a coaxial cable that is connected to a suitable cable connector at the rear panel of the STB  22 . In the case of a Direct Satellite System (DSS), the STB  22  is often referred to as an Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD). In the case of a DSS system, the transmission medium is a satellite transmission at an appropriate microwave band. Such transmissions are typically received by a satellite dish antenna with an integral Low Noise Block (LNB) that serves as a down-converter to convert the signal to a lower frequency for processing by the STB.  
         [0018]    The exemplary system  100  further includes a TV  24 , such as a digital television, having a display  26  for displaying programming, an EPG, etc. The STB  22  may be coupled to the TV  24  and various other audio/visual devices  26  and Internet Appliances  28  by an appropriate interface  30 , which can be any suitable analog or digital interface. In one embodiment, interface  30  conforms to an interface standard such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard. The STB  22  may include a central processing unit (CPU) and memory such as Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, mass storage such as a hard disc drive, floppy disc drive, optical disc drive or may accommodate other electronic storage media, etc. Such memory and storage media is suitable for storing data as well as instructions for programmed processes for execution on the CPU, as will be discussed later. Information and programs stored on the electronic storage media or memory may also be transported over any suitable transmission medium such as that illustrated as  20 . STB  22  may include circuitry suitable for audio decoding and processing, the decoding of video data compressed in accordance with a compression standard such as the Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) standard and other processing to form a controller or central hub. Alternatively, components of the STB  22  may be incorporated into the TV  24  itself, thus eliminating the STB  22 . Further, a computer having a tuner device may be equivalently substituted for the TV  24  and STB  22 .  
         [0019]    By way of example, the STB  22  may be coupled to devices such as a personal computer, video cassette recorder, camcorder, digital camera, personal digital assistant and other audio/visual or Internet related devices. In addition, a data transport architecture, such as that set forth by an industry group which includes Sony Corporation and known as the Home Audio-Video Interoperability (HAVi) architecture may be utilized to enable interoperability among devices on a network regardless of the manufacturer of the device. This forms a home network system wherein electronic devices and Internet appliances are compatible with each other. The STB  22  runs an operating system suitable for a home network system such as Sony Corporation&#39;s Aperios™ real time operating system. Other operating systems could also be used.  
         [0020]    The STB  22  includes an infrared (IR) receiver  34  for receiving IR signals from an input device such as remote control  36 . Alternatively, it is noted that many other control communication methods may be utilized besides IR, such as wired or wireless radio frequency, etc. In addition, it can be readily appreciated that the input device  36  may be any device suitable for controlling the STB  22  such as a remote control, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, keyboard or computer mouse. In addition, an input device in the form of a control panel located on the TV  24  or the STB  22  can be provided.  
         [0021]    The STB  22  may also be coupled to an independent service provider (ISP) host  38  by a suitable connection including dial-up connections, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or the same transmission medium  20  described above (e.g. using a cable modem) to, thus, provide access to services and content from the ISP and the Internet. The ISP host  38  provides various content to the user that is obtained from a content database  52 . STB  22  may also be used as an Internet access device to obtain information and content from remote servers such as remote server  48  via the Internet  44  using host  38  operating as an Internet portal, for example. In certain satellite STB environments, the data can be downloaded at very high speed from a satellite link, with asymmetrical upload speed from the set-top box provided via a dial-up or DSL connection.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a typical system configuration for a digital set-top box  22  is illustrated. In this exemplary set-top box, the transmission medium  20 , such as a coaxial cable, is coupled by a suitable interface to a tuner  102 . Tuner  102  may, for example, include a broadcast in-band tuner for receiving content, an out-of-band tuner for receiving data transmissions and a return path tuner for providing an OOB return path for outbound data (destined for example for the head end). A separate tuner (not shown) may be provided to receive conventional RF broadcast television channels. Modulated information formatted, for example, as MPEG-2 information is then demodulated at a demodulator  106 . The demodulated information at the output of demodulator  106  is provided to a demultiplexer and descrambler circuit  110  where the information is separated into discrete channels of programming. The programming is divided into packets, each packet bearing an identifier called a Packet ID (PID) that identifies the packet as containing a particular type of data (e.g. audio, video, data). The demodulator and descrambler circuit  110  also decrypts encrypted information in accordance with a decryption algorithm to prevent unauthorized access to programming content, for example.  
         [0023]    Audio packets from the demultiplexer  110  (those identified with an audio PID) are decrypted and forwarded to an audio decoder  114  where they may be converted to analog audio to drive a speaker system (e.g. stereo or home theater multiple channel audio systems) or other audio system  116  (e.g. stereo or home theater multiple channel amplifier and speaker systems) or may simply provide decoded audio out at  118 . Video packets from the demultiplexer  110  (those identified with a video PID) are decrypted and forwarded to a video decoder  122 . In a similar manner, data packets from the demultiplexer  110  (those identified with a data PID) are decrypted and forwarded to a data decoder  126 .  
         [0024]    Decoded data packets from data decoder  126  are sent to the set-top box&#39;s computer system via the system bus  130 . A central processing unit (CPU)  132  can thus access the decoded data from data decoder  126  via the system bus  130 . Video data decoded by video decoder  122  is passed to a graphics processor  136 , which is a computer optimized to process graphics information rapidly. Graphics processor  136  is particularly useful in processing graphics intensive data associated with Internet browsing, gaming and multimedia applications such as those associated with MHEG (Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Experts Group) set-top box applications. It should be noted, however, that the function of graphics processor  136  may be unnecessary in some set-top box designs having lower capabilities, and the function of the graphics processor  136  may be handled by the CPU  132  in some applications where the decoded video is passed directly from the demultiplexer  110  to a video encoder. Graphics processor  136  is also coupled to the system bus  130  and operates under the control of CPU  132 .  
         [0025]    STB  22  may incorporate a smart card reader  140  for communicating with a so called “smart card”, often serving as a Conditional Access Module (CAM). The CAM typically includes a central processor unit (CPU) of its own along with associated RAM and ROM memory. Smart card reader  140  is used to couple the system bus of STB  22  to the smart card serving as a CAM (not shown). Such smart card based CAMs are conventionally utilized for authentication of the user and authentication of transactions carried out by the user as well as authorization of services and storage of authorized cryptography keys. For example, the CAM can be used to provide the key for decoding incoming cryptographic data for content that the CAM determines the user is authorized to receive.  
         [0026]    STB  22  can operate in a bi-directional communication mode so that data and other information can be transmitted not only from the system&#39;s head end to the end user, or from a service provider to the end user of the STB  22 , but also, from the end user upstream using an out-of-band channel. In one embodiment, such data passes through the system bus  130  to a modulator  144  through the tuner (operating as a return path OOB tuner) and out through the transmission medium  20 . This capability is used to provide a mechanism for the STB  22  and/or its user to send information to the head end (e.g. service requests or changes, registration information, etc.) as well as to provide fast outbound communication with the Internet or other services provided at the head end to the end user.  
         [0027]    Set-top box  22  may include any of a plurality of I/O (Input/Output) interfaces represented by  1 / 0  interfaces  146  that permit interconnection of I/O devices to the set-top box  22 . By way of example, and not limitation, a serial RS-232 port  150  can be provided to enable interconnection to any suitable serial device supported by the STB  22 &#39;s internal software. Similarly, communication with appropriately compatible devices can be provided via an Ethernet port  152 , a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port  154 , an IEEE 1394 (so-called firewire or i-link) or IEEE 1394 wide port  156 , S-video port  158  or infrared port  160 . Such interfaces can be utilized to interconnect the STB  22  with any of a variety of accessory devices such as storage devices, audio/visual devices  26 , gaming devices (not shown), Internet Appliances  28 , etc.  
         [0028]    I/O interfaces  146  can include a modem (be it dial-up, cable, DSL or other technology modem) having a modem port  162  to facilitate high speed or alternative access to the Internet or other data communication functions. In one preferred embodiment, modem port  162  is that of a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable System Interface Specification) cable modem to facilitate high speed network access over a cable system, and port  162  is appropriately coupled to the transmission medium  20  embodied as a coaxial cable. Thus, the STB  22  can carry out bi-directional communication via the DOCSIS cable modem with the STB  22  being identified by an unique URL (Universal Resource Locator).  
         [0029]    A PS/ 2  or other keyboard/mouse/joystick interface such as  164  can be provided to permit ease of data entry to the STB  22 . Such inputs provide the user with the ability to easily enter data and/or navigate using pointing devices. Pointing devices such as a mouse or joystick may be used in gaming applications.  
         [0030]    Of course, STB  22  also may incorporate basic video outputs  166  that can be used for direct connection to a television set such as  24  instead of (or in addition to) an IEEE 1394 connection such as that illustrated as  30 . In one embodiment, video output  166  can provide composite video formatted as NTSC (National Television System Committee) video. In some embodiments, the video output  166  can be provided by a direct connection to the graphics processor  136  or the demultiplexer/descrambler  110  rather than passing through the system bus  130  as illustrated in the exeplary block diagram. S-Video signals from output  158  can be similarly provided without passing through the system bus  130  if desired in other embodiments.  
         [0031]    The infrared port  160  can be embodied as an infrared receiver  34  as illustrated in FIG. 1, to receive commands from an infrared remote control  36 , infrared keyboard or other infrared control device. Although not explicitly shown, front panel controls may be used in some embodiments to directly control the operation of the STB  22  through a front panel control interface as one of interfaces  146 . Selected interfaces such as those described above and others can be provided in STB  22  in various combinations as required or desired.  
         [0032]    STB  22  may include a disc drive interface  170  and disc drive mass storage  172  for user storage of content and data as well as providing storage of programs operating on CPU  132 . STB  22  may also, include floppy disc drives, CD ROM drives, CD R/W drives, DVD drives, etc. CPU  132 , in order to operate as a computer, is coupled through the system bus  130  to memory  176 . Memory  178  may include a combination of any suitable memory technology including Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Flash memory, Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), etc.  
         [0033]    While the above exemplary system including STB  22  is illustrative of the basic components of a digital set-top box suitable for use with the present invention, the architecture shown should not be considered limiting since many variations of the hardware configuration are possible without departing from the present invention.  
         [0034]    In general during operation of the STB  22 , an appropriate operating system  180  such as Sony Corporation&#39;s Aperios™ real time operating system is loaded into, or is permanently stored in, active memory along with the appropriate drivers for communication with the various interfaces. Along with the operating system and associated drivers, the STB  22  usually operates using browser software  182  in active memory or may permanently reside in ROM or EEPROM. The browser software  182  typically operates as the mechanism for viewing not only web pages on the Internet, but also serves as the mechanism for viewing an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) formatted as an HTML document. The browser  182  can also provide the mechanism for viewing normal programming (wherein normal programming is viewed as an HTML video window—often occupying the entire area of screen  26 ).  
         [0035]    STB software architectures vary depending upon the operating system. However, in general, all may include at the lowest layer various hardware interface layers. Next is an operating system layer as previously described. The software architectures of the STB may include a next layer referred to as “middleware”. Such middleware permits applications to run on multiple platforms with little regard for the actual operating system in place. Middleware standards may be based upon JavaScript and HTML (HyperText Markup Language) virtual machines. At the top layer is the application layer where user applications and the like reside (e.g. browsing, email, EPG, Video On Demand (VOD), rich multimedia applications, pay per view, etc.). The current invention can be utilized with any suitable set-top box software architecture.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 illustrates a system  200  for a providing a display of items pertaining to a user. Such items may include a television program or programs watched by a user, television program or programs to be watched by the user, an activity or activities in which the user has participated, an activity or activities the user is scheduled to participated, radio programs listened to by the user, radio programs to be listened to by the user, and so forth.  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 3, the system  200  may include a number of display arrangements  202  each located in a respective home, office or the like. Each display arrangement  202  may include STB  22  and a television  24  having a display  26  which may be arranged in a manner as previously described. Further, each STB  22  may be connected to service provider  10 , the Internet  44  and/or remote server  48  (FIG. 1) in a manner as previously described. Additionally, each STB  22  may include an input device  206 , a viewer recognition circuit  208  coupled to a camera  210 , a timer  212 , and a processor such as CPU  132  (FIG. 2).  
         [0038]    The input device  206 , which may be a keyboard or the like, is adapted to receive inputs from a user. Such inputs may include instructional commands pertaining to the set-up of the system  200 , viewer information, a television program or programs a viewer or viewers has watched or will watch, the addition of comments which may be added to a display as hereinafter more fully described, and so forth.  
         [0039]    The viewer recognition circuit  208 , which may be coupled to the CPU  132  and which may utilize the CPU  132 , is adapted to receive video inputs from the camera  210  and determine therefrom which person or persons are currently watching a television program. More specifically, the viewer recognition circuit  208  may initially receive a video input image or signature from each potential viewer in a home or office and may store the same in a memory such as memory  176  (FIG. 2). Thereafter, when the respective display arrangement  202  is activated, the camera  210  may automatically capture a video image of the person or persons currently watching the television  24  and may supply the same to the viewer recognition circuit  208 , whereupon a comparison may be made between such captured image(s) and the stored signatures. Upon determination of a match, the viewer recognition circuit  208  may supply the identity of the person(s) currently watching the television  24  to the CPU  132 . The viewer recognition circuit  208  may constantly monitor the identity of the person(s) watching the television  24  in a similar manner and may supply such identity information to the CPU  132 .  
         [0040]    In the event that the viewer recognition circuit  208  is unable to properly recognize a viewer, or in the event that the viewer recognition circuit is not included in a STB  22 , information pertaining to the identity of the person or persons currently watching the television  24  may be manually inputted by the respective person(s) by use of the input device  206  and supplied to the CPU  132 . Additionally, such person or persons may also input information pertaining to the television programs which they are watching or have watched by use of the input device  206  which may be supplied to the CPU  132 .  
         [0041]    The CPU  132  may receive information pertaining to the identity of the person(s) watching the television  24  from the viewer recognition circuit  208  or the input device  206 , in a manner as previously described. The CPU  132  may also receive information pertaining to the amount of time a respective channel was “on” by use of timer  212 , and information pertaining to each television program that was broadcast and received through the STB  22 . Based upon such information, the CPU  132  may generate a television program signal which is representative of each television program each person watched and arranged in a predetermined manner. Such television program signal may be supplied to the television  24  in a respective home or office associated with the respective STB by way of the interface  30  or to a number of other televisions  24  associated with other STBs located at other homes or offices by way of the service provider  10  and Internet  44 , whereupon a corresponding display may be presented on the respective display unit(s)  26 .  
         [0042]    Examples of the above-described television program display are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown therein, the displays illustrate a plurality of television which were broadcasted along with highlighted programs  300  which represent the television programs watched by a respective viewer (FIG. 4) and viewers (FIG. 5). As is to be appreciated, although only the three channels which the viewer(s) watched between the hours indicated are illustrated in FIG. 4, the present invention is not so limited. Instead, other arrangements may also be utilized. For example, all television programs broadcasted between the desired hours may be displayed along with an indication (e.g., by highlighting) of the programs watched by the viewer(s).  
         [0043]    Additionally, a viewer or viewers may insert comments into a television program display. These comments may include comments pertaining to a particular program or to non-television program related items such as activities in which the viewer may have participated or will participate, and so forth. Such comments may be inputted by use of the input device  206 , whereupon a signal may be supplied to the CPU  132  which, in turn, may generate a corresponding signal which may modify or be combined with the television program signal. An example of such a display is illustrated in FIG. 6. Further, a display may also be created which illustrates activities and/or television programs which a person(s) may participate in and/or watch in the future, as indicated in FIG. 6.  
         [0044]    As indicated above, the present displays may be generated and displayed in the same home or office  202  or, alternatively, the displays may be generated and displayed in more than one home or office  202 . In this latter situation, a group of people in a plurality of homes or offices may be established. Such group may be established by use of the input device  206  and destination address information (such as URL) pertaining to each respective STB  22  of the group. Further, each member within the group may be entitled to a different privilege or level of access with regard to the display. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, some members may be able to do one or more of viewing past programs, viewing upcoming programs, viewing past activities, and viewing upcoming activities. Additionally, some members may be able to add comments and/or edit material contained in a display.  
         [0045]    Although the above displays were described as pertaining to television programs and/or activities, the present invention is not so limited. Instead, the present invention may be applied to other types of items. For example, the present invention may provide an indication of literature which a user read or will read, radio programs a user listened to or will listen to, and so forth.  
         [0046]    As is to be appreciated, the present invention provides a means wherein parent may monitor the television programs their children watch. Further, the present invention provides a means wherein people within a household or a group within a plurality of households may easily notify others of day to day events such as television programs they watched or are planning to watch, activities such as sporting events and the like in which they have participated or are scheduled to participate, and so forth.  
         [0047]    Although preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to these embodiments and modifications, and that other modifications and variations may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7