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United States Patent Application20030088872
Kind CodeA1
Maissel, Jonathan ; et al.May 8, 2003
Advanced television system
Abstract
In a digital television recording method, programs are selected for recording based on analysis of program schedule information, user preferences, and the priority of previously recorded programs if there is insufficient memory.
Inventors:Maissel; Jonathan (Modi'in, IL), Tsuria; Yossef  (Jerusalem, IL), Wachtfogel; Reuven  (Jerusalem, IL), Richardson; David  (Ramat Hasharon, IL), Kipnis; Shlomo  (Jerusalem, IL), Silver; Yonatan  (Jerusalem, IL), Eilat; Amir  (Tel Aviv, IL), Kranc; Moshe  (Jerusalem, IL), Sered; Yishai  (Newton, MA), Bar-On; Gershon  (Kochav Hashachar, IL), Atlow; Shabtai  (Efrat, IL)
Correspondence Name and Address:L. Friedman 22nd Floor 120 South Riverside Plaza
Welsh & Katz, Ltd.
Chicago
IL
60606
US
Series Code:287283
Filed:November 4, 2002
U.S. Current Class:725/46; 725/44; 725/47
U.S. Class at Publication:725/46; 725/44; 725/47
Intern'l Class:G06F 003/00; H04N 005/445; G06F 013/00
Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A television system comprising: a television network; and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, at least one of said multiplicity of subscriber units including: a receiving unit for receiving said program schedule information from said television network; a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer; an intelligent agent for customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide comprising customized program schedule information; and display apparatus for displaying the program guide.

2. A subscriber unit for use in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information. the subscriber unit comprising: a receiving unit for receiving said program schedule information; a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer; an intelligent agent for customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide comprising customized program schedule information; and display apparatus for displaying the program guide.

3. A television system comprising: a television network; and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the transmitting apparatus comprising a head end, the headend including: a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; and an intelligent agent for customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information, wherein said transmitting apparatus is operative to transmit the customized program schedule information to said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units, and at least one of said multiplicity of subscriber units includes: a receiving unit for receiving said customized program schedule information from said television network; and display apparatus for displaying a program guide comprising the customized program schedule information.

4. A head end for use in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information to at least one subscriber unit, the headend comprising: a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with said at least one subscriber unit; and an intelligent agent for customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information.

5. Apparatus according to any of the above claims and wherein said transmitting apparatus comprises network transmitting apparatus for transmitting over said television network.

6. Apparatus according to any of the above claims and wherein said transmitting apparatus comprises: recording apparatus for recording information on a removable medium; and means for sending said removable medium to a subscriber location comprising said subscriber unit, and said subscriber unit includes loading apparatus for loading said information from said removable medium into said subscriber unit.

7. Apparatus according to any of the above claims and wherein said intelligent agent also comprises profile determination apparatus for determining viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and for providing said viewer preference profile information to said profile storage unit for storage as a viewer preference profile, wherein said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information by monitoring television viewing behavior of said at least one television viewer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 and wherein said television viewing behavior comprises viewing at least a portion of at least one viewed television program.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 and wherein said television viewing behavior comprises said television viewer viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 and wherein said profile determination apparatus compares a length of said portion of said at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether said length is greater than said threshold length, and wherein said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on whether said length is greater than said threshold length.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 and wherein, when said length is determined to be less than said threshold length, said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information without regard to said viewing only a portion of said at least one television program.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 and wherein, when said portion is determined to be less than said threshold, said profile determination apparatus determines that said viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior, and said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on said channel surfing behavior.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 7-12 and wherein said program schedule information comprises a first plurality of criteria, at least one of said first plurality of criteria being associated with each of a second plurality of television programs, and said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on at least one of said plurality of criteria associated with said at least one viewed television program.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 7-13 and wherein said profile determination apparatus determines said viewer preference profile information, at least in part, in accordance with input provided by said at least one television viewer.

15. Apparatus according to any of claims 7-14 and wherein said profile determination apparatus determines viewer preference profile information from a reaction of said at least one television viewer to previously displayed customized program schedule information.

16. Apparatus according to any of the above claims and wherein each said viewer preference profile comprises a viewer preference profile of exactly one viewer.

17. Apparatus according to any of claims 1-15 and wherein at least one said viewer preference profile comprises a viewer preference profile of a plurality of viewers.

18. Apparatus according to any of the above claims and also comprising viewer preference profile loading apparatus for providing a recorded viewer preference profile to the profile storage unit for storage.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said viewer preference profile loading apparatus receives said recorded viewer preference profile via said television network.

20. Apparatus according to either claim 18 or claim 19 and wherein said viewer preference profile loading apparatus receives said viewer preference profile from profile storage apparatus located remotely thereto.

21. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said customizing comprises emphasizing at least a portion of said customized program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

22. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said customizing comprises deemphasizing at least a portion of said customized program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

23. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said customizing comprises tailoring a custom channel based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

24. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said customizing comprises automatically tuning to a program selected based, at least in past, on said viewer preference profile.

25. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said customizing comprises automatically recording, on recording apparatus, a program selected based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

26. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said customizing comprises ordering at least some of said customized program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

27. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said display apparatus is operative to display an on-screen alert comprising at least part of said customized program schedule information.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27 and wherein said alert comprises an unsolicited alert.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 and wherein said unsolicited alert comprises audience viewing information comprising an indication of a proportion of an audience currently viewing a program.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29 and wherein said program comprises a program currently being viewed by a viewer.

31. Apparatus according to claim 29 and wherein said program comprises a program not currently being viewed by a viewer.

32. Apparatus according to either claim 27 or claim 28 and wherein said display apparatus displays said on-screen alert a predetermined period of time before a scheduled starting time of a television program, said at least part of said customized program schedule information comprising information associated with said television program.

33. Apparatus according to any of the above claims and wherein said customizing comprises displaying an indication of a proportion of an audience currently viewing a program.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33 and wherein said proportion of an audience comprises a proportion of an audience viewing a program currently being viewed by a viewer.

35. Apparatus according to claim 33 and wherein said proportion of an audience comprises a proportion of an audience viewing a program not currently being viewed by a viewer.

36. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said display apparatus comprises an icon-based guide generator for producing an icon-based hierarchical program guide comprising said program schedule information, and the program guide comprises the icon-based hierarchical program guide.

37. A television system comprising: a television network; and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, each subscriber unit including: a receiving unit for receiving said program schedule information from said television network; an icon-based guide generator for producing a program guide comprising an icon-based hierarchical program guide comprising said program schedule information; and display apparatus for displaying said program guide.

38. A subscriber unit for use in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the subscriber unit comprising: a receiving unit for receiving said program schedule information from said television network; an icon-based guide generator for producing a program guide comprising an icon-based hierarchical program guide comprising said program schedule information; and display apparatus for displaying said program guide.

39. A method for providing a program guide in a television system, the method comprising: providing a television network; and transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, each subscriber unit performing the following steps: receiving said program schedule information from said television network; storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer; employing an intelligent agent to customize said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide comprising customized program schedule information; and displaying the program guide.

40. A method for providing a program guide in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the method comprising: receiving said program schedule information; storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer; employing an intelligent agent to customize said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide comprising customized program schedule information; and displaying the program guide.

41. A method for providing a program guide in a television system, the method comprising: providing a television network; and transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, wherein the step of transmitting comprises: storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; employing an intelligent agent to customize said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information; transmitting the customized program schedule information to said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; receiving, at said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units, said customized program schedule information from said television network; and displaying a program guide comprising the customized program schedule information.

42. A method for providing a program guide in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information, the method comprising: storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; and customizing said program schedule information based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information.

43. A method for providing a program guide in a television system, the method comprising: providing a television network; and transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, each subscriber unit performing the following steps: receiving said program schedule information; producing a program guide comprising an icon-based hierarchical program guide comprising said program schedule information; and displaying said program guide.

44. A method for providing a program guide in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the method comprising: receiving said program schedule information; producing a program guide comprising an icon-based hierarchical program guide comprising said program schedule information; and displaying said program guide.

45. A headend for use in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the transmitting apparatus comprising the headend, the headend comprising: a profile creation unit for creating at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units, based on viewer information associated with said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; and a transmission unit for transmitting said at least one viewer preference profile to said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units.

46. A method for providing a program guide in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the method comprising: creating at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units, based on viewer information associated with said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; and transmitting said at least one viewer preference profile to said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units.

47. A method for providing a viewer preference profile in a television system comprising a plurality of subscriber units, the method comprising: recording, at a first subscriber unit, a viewer preference profile on a removable medium; loading, at a second subscriber unit, said viewer preference profile from said recording medium; and customizing a program guide, at said second subscriber unit, based, at least in part, on said viewer preference profile.

48. A method for providing audience information to a viewer of a television system, the method comprising: collecting viewing data from a multiplicity of viewers of a television system; computing audience information from the collected viewing data; and transmitting the computed audience information to a viewer of the television system.

49. A method according to claim 48 and also comprising: displaying the computed audience information to the viewer of the television system.

50. A method according to either claim 48 or claim 49 and wherein the computed audience information comprises real-time computed audience information.

51. A method for providing a program guide in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the method comprising: creating at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of said multiplicity of subscriber units, based on viewer information associated with said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units; creating a customized program guide based, at least in part, on said at least one viewer preference profile; and transmitting said customized program guide to said one of said multiplicity of subscriber units.

52. A method according to claim 51 and wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting via at least one of the following: conventional mail; electronic mail; provision of a World Wide Web site comprising said customized program guide; and wireless transmission to a portable electronic receiving device.

53. Apparatus according to any of claims 36-38 and wherein said icon-based hierarchical program guide comprises a plurality of icons, and at least one of said plurality of icons is associated with additional information, said additional information being provided to a user upon request.

54. Apparatus according to claim 53 and wherein said additional information comprises at least one of the following: audio material; visual material; audio-visual material; multimedia material; a computer program; and at least one preview of at least one program.

55. Apparatus according to either claim 53 or claim 54 and wherein said additional information comprises a plurality of customized items of information, and at least one of said plurality of customized items of information is provided to said user based, at least in part, on at least one of the following: a user preference; a conditional access parameter; and a region in which said user is located.

56. A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying said at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include said user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited addressable program; and storing the edited addressable program.

57. A method according to claim 56 and wherein said agent set of parameters is operative to override at least a portion of the broadcaster set of parameters.

58. A method according to claim 56 or clam 57 and wherein said user set of parameters is operative to override at least one of the following: a portion of the broadcaster set of parameters; and a portion of the agent set of parameters.

59. A method according to any of claims 56-58 and wherein said broadcaster set of parameters comprises a subset of parameters which cannot be overridden by any of the following: the agent set of parameters; and the user set of parameters.

60. A method according to any of claims 56-59 and wherein at least one of said broadcaster set of parameters, said agent set of parameters, and said user set of parameters comprises a tag determining at least one of the following: a program retrieval parameter; and a content retrieval parameter.

61. A method according to any of claims 56-60 and wherein said agent set of parameters comprises a recording quality parameter determining a quality of recording of the program.

62. A method according to any of claims 56-60 and wherein said user set of parameters comprises a rating parameter determining a rating of the program as provided by the user.

63. A method according to any of claims 56-62 and wherein the television program comprises a commercial and the broadcaster set of parameters comprises a commercial set of parameters.

64. A method according to any of claims 56-63 and wherein the television program comprises a commercial and the broadcaster set of parameters comprises a parameter determining a request for additional information related to at least one of the following: the commercial; and the program.

65. A method according to any of claims 56-64 and wherein the television program comprises a commercial and the broadcaster set of parameters comprises a parameter determining expiration of the commercial after an event comprising at least one of the following: a predetermined number of people having seen the commercial; and the user having seen the commercial a predetermined number of times.

66. A method according to any of claims 56-65 and wherein the broadcaster set of parameters comprises a parameter disabling fast-forward/fast backward browsing through the program.

67. A method according to any of claims 56-62 and wherein the television program comprises two separate television programs displayed simultaneously in a picture-in-picture (PIP) mode on a television screen, and the user set of parameters comprises a parameter determining a viewing selection for viewing only one of the two separate television programs on the full television screen.

68. A method according to any of claims 56-67 and wherein the broadcaster set of parameters comprises at least one parameter determining at least one of the following information fields: a type of the program; supplementary information accompanying the program; an associated audio channel in a language which differs from a language used in an original audio channel associated with the program; program delete enabled/disabled; parental control associated with at least a portion of the program which requires parental control; an expiration time of the program; picture-in-picture availability; a program title; a time when the program is broadcast; a length of the program; a determination whether the program is encrypted; a compression format of the program; characteristics of the program; cancellation of material already transmitted in the program; selective routing of part of the material to selected users; context specific tagging; and a media item.

69. A method according to any of claims 56-60 and 62-68 and wherein the agent set of parameters comprises at least one parameter determining at least one of the following information fields: a quality of recording of the program; a type of program whose recording is required; at least a title of a favorite program whose recording is required; a time and a date when recording of the program is required; and existence of a review attached to the program; context specific tagging; a media item; and a category of the program.

70. A method according to any of claims 56-61 and 63-69 and wherein the user set of parameters comprises at least one parameter determining at least one of the following information fields: a program rating provided by the user; a review of the program; a request for additional information relating to the program; a format of the program after editing operations; at least one highlight in the program; compression preferences for compressing the program prior to storage; image manipulation; and video wallpaper selection.

71. A method according to any of claims 56-70 and wherein said first set of predetermined portions of the program, said second set of predetermined portions of the program, and said third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program include identical portions of the program.

72. A digital recording method comprising: determining whether to record a program; and recording the program in response to a recording determination at a recording quality determined by a recording quality parameter.

73. A digital recording method comprising: determining whether to record a program; storing the program in response to a recording determination; and retrieving the program in accordance with a rating given to the program.

74. A digital recording method comprising: determining whether to record a program; storing the program in response to a recording determination; and retrieving the program in accordance with a browsing hierarchy.

75. A digital recording method comprising: determining whether to record a program; recording the program in a circular buffer upon first activation of a freeze selector from a moment of the first activation of the freeze selector; conditionally accessing the program recorded in the circular buffer for retrieval of the program from the circular buffer upon second activation of the freeze selector; and playing the program retrieved from the circular buffer from the moment of the first activation of the freeze selector.

76. Apparatus for digital recording of a program comprising: a receiver for receiving the program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; an agent module operatively associated with the receiver and operative to determine whether to record the program and to associate with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; a memory operatively associated with the agent module and operative to store an addressable program, the addressable program including the program associated with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters; a display operatively associated with the agent module, the receiver and the memory and operative to display at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; an input/output (I/O) interface operatively associated with the agent module and operative to receive from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; and a user programming manager operatively associated with the memory, the I/O interface, the agent module, the receiver and the display and operative to generate an edited addressable program by editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the program, and to store the edited addressable program in the memory.

77. Apparatus for digital recording of a television program comprising: a processor for determining whether to record the television program; a memory associated with the processor and operative to store the television program in response to a recording determination received from the processor; and a recording quality selector associated with the processor and the memory and operative to select a recording quality parameter determining a quality of storage of the television program in the memory.

78. Apparatus according to claim 77 and also comprising a freeze selector operatively associated with the processor, wherein upon a first activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to record the program in the memory from a moment of first activation of the freeze selector, and upon a second activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to play the program recorded in the memory from the moment of first activation.

79. Apparatus according to claim 77 or claim 78 and also comprising: a rating activator associated with the processor and the memory and operative to input information determining a rating given to the program.

80. Apparatus according to any of claims 77-79 and also comprising: a NEXT key selector associated with the processor and the memory and operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory.

81. Apparatus according to claim 76 and wherein said NEXT selector is operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory in accordance with an order determined by at least one of the following: the user; the agent; and the broadcaster.

82. Apparatus according to claim 80 and wherein said NEXT selector is operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory in accordance with a hierarchy.

83. Apparatus according to claim 82 and wherein said hierarchy is determined by at least one of the following: the user; the agent; and the broadcaster.

84. Apparatus for digital recording of a television program comprising: a processor for determining whether to record the television program; a memory associated with the processor and operative to store the television program in response to a recording determination received from the processor; and a rating activator associated with the processor and the memory and operative to input information determining a rating given to the television program.

85. Apparatus according to claim 84 and also comprising a freeze selector operatively associated with the processor, wherein upon a first activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to record the program in a circular buffer from a moment of first activation of the freeze selector, and upon a second activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to play the program recorded in the circular buffer from the moment of first activation.

86. Apparatus according to claims 84 or 85 and also comprising: a NEXT key selector associated with the processor and the memory and operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory.

87. Apparatus for digital recording of a television program comprising: a processor for determining whether to record the television program; a memory associated with the processor and operative to store the television program in response to a recording determination received from the processor; and a NEXT key selector associated with the processor and the memory and operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory.

88. Apparatus for digital recording of a program comprising: a processor for determining whether to record the program; a circular buffer associated with the processor and operative to store the program in response to a recording determination received from the processor; a conditional access module for providing conditional access to the program stored in the circular buffer; and a freeze selector operatively associated with the processor, wherein upon a first activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to record the program in the circular buffer from a moment of first activation of the freeze selector, and upon a second activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to play the program recorded in the circular buffer from the moment of first activation in accordance with conditions determined by the conditional access module.

89. Apparatus according to claim 88 and wherein said conditions determined by the conditional access module comprise disabling of fast-forward/fast-backward over selected portions of the program.
Description


[0001] The present application is a continuation of currently pending application Ser. No. 09/515,118, filed on Feb. 24, 2000 and entitled Advanced Television System, which is a continuation of PCT/IL99/00344, filed on Jun. 23, 1999 and entitled Advanced Television System. The present application is also a continuation in part of currently pending application Ser. No. 09/242,871, filed on Jun. 10, 1999 and entitled Intelligent Electronic Program Guide, which is a 371 application of PCT/IL98/00307, filed on Jun. 30, 1998 and entitled Intelligent Electronic Program Guide.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to television systems in general, and in particular to electronic program guides for television systems and to digital television recording systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Electronic program guides are well-known in the art. Electronic program guides provide television program schedule information on the television screen. Typically, electronic program guides display a rectangular grid schedule on the television screen, and allow the viewer to navigate through the schedule and to perform a variety of functions for one or more programs appearing on the schedule. Typical prior art program guides and related technologies are described in the following patents and published applications:

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,121 to Young and Reexamination Certificate B1
4,706,121 to Young;

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,455 to Young;

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,211 to Hallenbeck;

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,789 to Young;

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,240 to Amano et al.;

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,121 to Young et al.;

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,499 to Saitoh

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,266 to Young et al.;

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,268 to Young et al.;

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,106 to Chaney et al.;

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,195 to Clanton, ill et al.;

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,576 to Klosterman;

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,088 to Saitoh;

[0017] PCT published application WO 90/00847, assigned to Insight Telecast, Inc.;

[0018] PCT published application WO 91/07050, assigned to Insight Telecast, Inc.;

[0019] PCT published application 92/04801, assigned to Insight Telecast, Inc.; and

[0020] PCT published application WO 95/31069, assigned to Starsight Telecast, Inc.

[0021] Customization of program guide information based on information explicitly entered by a viewer is known in the art and is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,479,266 and 5,479,268, mentioned above. Customization of program guide information based on the channel watched and time watched is described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,323,240; 5,444,499; and 5,564,088.

[0022] Broadcast methods of interest in the field of the present invention are described in DVB standard ETS 300-468.

[0023] The terms "agent" and "intelligent agent" are used interchangeably throughout the present specification and claims to refer to any machine-based assistant, including but not limited to a machine-based assistant implemented in software, with authority delegated from the user or users of the agent. Specifically, the terms "agent" and "intelligent agent", as used herein, are not limited to agents used by a particular person and may include agents used by one person or a plurality of people, whether used in a domestic, commercial, or other context.

[0024] Intelligent agents are both in use and proposed for future use in computer systems, particularly computer systems connected to an internetwork such as the Internet. Publications describing the intelligent agent prior art and proposals for the future use of intelligent agents include the following:

[0025] 1. Fah-Chun Cheong, Internet Agents: Spiders, Wanderers, Brokers, and 'Bots, published by New Riders Publishing, 1996, describes the state of the art in agents in general and in Internet agents in particular. Chapter 1, pages 3-35 and the bibliography thereto on pages 387-390 are particularly relevant to the agent prior art. On page 9, Cheong describes surrogate bots, which are agents to "relieve users of low-level administrative and clerical tasks, such as setting up meetings, sending out papers, locating information, tracking whereabouts of people, and so on." Cheong gives the example of a visitor scheduling bot whose purpose is to assist in scheduling the visitors of the user of the bot.

[0026] On page 19, Cheong describes learning agents, a type of personal agent envisioned in the future for which "learning about the particular user's habits and goals, and tailoring to them accordingly" is the essential principle of operation. As an example of a learning agent, Cheong gives a calendar apprentice which helps a user organize the user's meeting schedule.

[0027] 2. A World Wide Web Document found on the Internet at www.raleigh.ibm.com/iag/iaghome.html describes intelligent agents in general and IBM intelligent agents in particular. A copy of the document was obtained from the Internet on Sep. 24, 1996 at 2:14 PM.

[0028] 3. A World Wide Web Document found on the Internet at www.raleigh.ibm.com/iag/iagptc2.html, entitled "The Role of Intelligent Agents in the Information Infrastructure", describes various application areas that intelligent agents can enhance. In section 3.8, Adaptive User Interfaces, mention is made that "agent technology allows systems to monitor the user's actions, develop models of user abilities, and automatically help out when problems arise." The document neither describes nor suggests the use of intelligent agents to customize an electronic program guide or any similar system component. A copy of the document was obtained from the Internet on Sep. 24, 1996 at 2:16 PM.

[0029] The above-mentioned prior art does not appear to describe or suggest the use of intelligent agents in any of the following contexts: in television systems; with a program guide in any context; or with an entity similar to a program guide in a computer system.

[0030] Today, television programs are recorded at home on low capacity magnetic tape storage devices using video cassette recorders (VCRs). Typically, conventional video cassettes store only three or four hours of good quality movies. Thus, in order to record many programming hours, a user must use several video cassettes.

[0031] A conventional VCR is typically a passive recorder since it does not determine what television material to record. Typically, the VCR must be programmed by the user in order to initiate recording, and programming options typically include only selection of a time to begin recording and a time to end recording.

[0032] When the user wants to see a portion of a recorded movie, the user must first determine in which cassette the movie is recorded since VCRs do not provide a recording content guide. Although the user may write on each cassette titles of movies recorded therein, most users do not keep track of the movies recorded on their video cassettes. This makes searching of movies in video cassettes difficult.

[0033] Even after the user determines which video cassette includes the required movie, the user must rewind the cassette or move forward to find the portion of the movie. Such operations are inconvenient and typically cause wear to the video cassette and several electromechanical parts of a VCR thereby resulting in a need for frequent repairs in video laboratories.

[0034] Some VCRs also provide an editing function which enables the user to edit a recorded movie. However, editing with a VCR is difficult and requires frequent rewinding or moving forward of video cassettes which, as mentioned above, causes wear to the video cassettes and several electromechanical parts of the VCR.

[0035] Thus, it is appreciated that a recording and retrieval system which enables easy access to selected portions of stored movies and simple editing of movies will be highly desired.

[0036] In a publication titled "Double Agent--Presentation and Filtering Agents for a Digital Television Recording system" by Meuleman et al. of Philips Research, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, dated Apr. 18-23, 1998, there is described a double agent which explores scenarios for automated selection of television programs and their presentation via anthropomorphic interfaces. The double agent operates on data recorded by an experimental digital VCR.

[0037] In a publication titled "SMASH--a concept for advanced use of storage at home" by Persoon of Philips Research, Eindhoven. The Netherlands, dated May 3, 1998, the concept of SMASH (Storage for Multimedia Applications and Systems) is described. The main goal of the project is to explore the future possibilities offered on the one hand by the massive amount of new digital services that enter the consumers home and on the other hand the impressive progress of storage technologies that are suitable for home use.

[0038] In a publication titled "Mediators--Guides through online TV services" by Kohar et al. of Philips Research, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, dated May 3, 1998, there are described anthropomorphic guides who aid users in selection and navigation to content in interactive television services.

[0039] The following US Patents are related to special effects in television: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,080,626; 4,272,787; 4,768,095; 4,774,582; 4,777,531; 5,519,448; 5,621,473.

[0040] Israel Patent Application 121230, submitted Jul. 3, 1997 and corresponding published PCT Application WO 99/01984 both assigned to NDS Limited describe one system for using intelligent agents to customize an electronic program guide (EPG) based on user behavior, and is incorporated into this application.

[0041] Israel Patent Application 120174, submitted Feb. 8, 1997 and corresponding published UK Patent Application 2,322,030 both assigned to NDS Limited describes a method for producing and recording a digital data stream, and particularly for protecting recording of digital data streams including digital television data.

[0042] In a DAVIC (The Digital Audio-Visual Council) publication DAVIC/TC/APP/98/05/001 titled "Applications for Home Storage Based Systems", dated May 1, 1998, there are described a number of applications which can be realized through the provision of home storage systems, made easy to use by appropriate use of content descriptions, markers, links and agent technologies.

[0043] The disclosures of all references mentioned above and throughout the present specification are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0044] The present invention seeks to provide an improved electronic program guide for use in a television system. Throughout the present specification and claims, the term "television system" is used in a broad sense to include all types of television systems, including but not limited to any one or combination of the following: one-way systems; two-way systems; systems utilizing cable communication networks, satellite communication networks, telephone communication networks, other communication networks, or any combination thereof; and CATV systems. Particularly, both pay television systems and non-pay or free television systems are included in the term "television system".

[0045] The present invention provides for customization of an electronic program guide by an intelligent agent. Typically, the intelligent agent monitors viewing behavior of one viewer or a plurality of viewers and creates a preference profile based on the monitored viewing behavior. The intelligent agent then preferably employs the preference profile to customize the electronic program guide based on the preference profile.

[0046] There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a television system including a television network, and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, at least one of the multiplicity of subscriber units including a receiving unit for receiving the program schedule information from the television network, a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer, an intelligent agent for customizing the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide including customized program schedule information, and display apparatus for displaying the program guide.

[0047] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a subscriber unit for use in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the subscriber unit including a receiving unit for receiving the program schedule information, a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer, an intelligent agent for customizing the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide including customized program schedule information, and display apparatus for displaying the program guide.

[0048] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the transmitting apparatus including a headend, the headend including a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, and an intelligent agent for customizing the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information, wherein the transmitting apparatus is operative to transmit the customized program schedule information to the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, and at least one of the multiplicity of subscriber units includes a receiving unit for receiving the customized program schedule information from the television network, and display apparatus for displaying a program guide including the customized program schedule information.

[0049] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a headend for use in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information to at least one subscriber unit, the headend including a profile storage unit for storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with the at least one subscriber unit, and an intelligent agent for customizing the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information.

[0050] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the transmitting apparatus includes network transmitting apparatus for transmitting over the television network.

[0051] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the transmitting apparatus includes recording apparatus for recording information on a removable medium, and means for sending the removable medium to a subscriber location including the subscriber unit, and the subscriber unit includes loading apparatus for loading the information from the removable medium into the subscriber unit.

[0052] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the intelligent agent also includes profile determination apparatus for determining viewer preference profile information for at least one television viewer and for providing the viewer preference profile information to the profile storage unit for storage as a viewer preference profile, and the profile determination apparatus determines the viewer preference profile information by monitoring television viewing behavior of the at least one television viewer.

[0053] Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the television viewing behavior includes viewing at least a portion of at least one viewed television program.

[0054] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the television viewing behavior includes the television viewer viewing only a portion of at least one viewed television program.

[0055] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the profile determination apparatus compares a length of the portion of the at least one viewed television program to a predetermined viewing threshold length to determine whether the length is greater than the threshold length, and the profile determination apparatus determines the viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on whether the length is greater than the threshold length.

[0056] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention when the length is determined to be less than the threshold length, the profile determination apparatus determines the viewer preference profile information without regard to the viewing only a portion of the at least one television program.

[0057] Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention when the portion is determined to be less than the threshold, the profile determination apparatus determines that the viewer is engaged in channel surfing behavior, and the profile determination apparatus determines the viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on the channel surfing behavior.

[0058] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the program schedule information includes a first plurality of criteria, at least one of the first plurality of criteria being associated with each of a second plurality of television programs, and the profile determination apparatus determines the viewer preference profile information based, at least in part, on at least one of the plurality of criteria associated with the at least one viewed television program.

[0059] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the profile determination apparatus determines the viewer preference profile information, at least in part, in accordance with input provided by the at least one television viewer.

[0060] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the profile determination apparatus determines viewer preference profile information from a reaction of the at least one television viewer to previously displayed customized program schedule information.

[0061] Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention each the viewer preference profile includes a viewer preference profile of exactly one viewer.

[0062] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one the viewer preference profile includes a viewer preference profile of a plurality of viewers.

[0063] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus also includes viewer preference profile loading apparatus for providing a recorded viewer preference profile to the profile storage unit for storage.

[0064] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the viewer preference profile loading apparatus receives the recorded viewer preference profile via the television network.

[0065] Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the viewer preference profile loading apparatus receives the viewer preference profile from profile storage apparatus located remotely thereto.

[0066] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the customizing includes emphasizing at least a portion of the customized program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile.

[0067] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the customizing includes deemphasizing at least a portion of the customized program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile.

[0068] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the customizing includes tailoring a custom channel based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile.

[0069] Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the customizing includes automatically tuning to a program selected based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile.

[0070] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the customizing includes automatically recording, on recording apparatus, a program selected based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile.

[0071] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the customizing includes ordering at least some of the customized program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile.

[0072] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the display apparatus is operative to display an on-screen alert including at least part of the customized program schedule information.

[0073] Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the alert includes an unsolicited alert.

[0074] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the unsolicited alert includes audience viewing information including an indication of a proportion of an audience currently viewing a program.

[0075] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the program includes a program currently being viewed by a viewer.

[0076] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the program includes a program not currently being viewed by a viewer.

[0077] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the display apparatus displays the on-screen alert a predetermined period of time before a scheduled starting time of a television program, the at least part of the customized program schedule information including information associated with the television program.

[0078] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the customizing includes displaying an indication of a proportion of an audience currently viewing a program.

[0079] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the proportion of an audience includes a proportion of an audience viewing a program currently being viewed by a viewer.

[0080] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the proportion of an audience includes a proportion of an audience viewing a program not currently being viewed by a viewer.

[0081] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the display apparatus includes an icon-based guide generator for producing an icon-based hierarchical program guide including the program schedule information, and the program guide includes the icon-based hierarchical program guide. The term "icon", as used throughout the present specification and claims, is used in the sense commonly accepted in the art of computer programming, particularly computer interface design, to refer to a small picture, photograph, or other representation which is meant to pictorially recall to the user a function or functions associated therewith.

[0082] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a television system including a television network, and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, each subscriber unit including a receiving unit for receiving the program schedule information from the television network, an icon-based guide generator for producing a program guide including an icon-based hierarchical program guide including the program schedule information, and display apparatus for displaying the program guide.

[0083] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a subscriber unit for use in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the subscriber unit including a receiving unit for receiving the program schedule information from the television network, an icon-based guide generator for producing a program guide including an icon-based hierarchical program guide including the program schedule information, and display apparatus for displaying the program guide.

[0084] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a program guide in a television system, the method including providing a television network, and transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, each subscriber unit performing the following steps receiving the program schedule information from the television network, storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer, employing an intelligent agent to customize the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide including customized program schedule information and displaying the program guide.

[0085] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a program guide in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the method including receiving the program schedule information, storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer, employing an intelligent agent to customize the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce a program guide including customized program schedule information, and displaying the program guide.

[0086] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a program guide in a television system, the method including providing a television network, and transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, wherein the step of transmitting includes storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, employing an intelligent agent to customize the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information transmitting the customized program schedule information to the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, receiving, at the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, the customized program schedule information from the television network, and displaying a program guide including the customized program schedule information.

[0087] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a program guide in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information, the method including storing at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, and customizing the program schedule information based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile, to produce customized program schedule information.

[0088] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a program guide in a television system, the method including providing a television network, and transmitting program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, each subscriber unit performing the following steps receiving the program schedule information, producing a program guide including an icon-based hierarchical program guide including the program schedule information, and displaying the program guide.

[0089] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a program guide in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting program schedule information, the method including receiving the program schedule information, producing a program guide including an icon-based hierarchical program guide including the program schedule information, and displaying the program guide.

[0090] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a headend for use in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the transmitting apparatus including the headend, the headend including a profile creation unit for creating at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, based on viewer information associated with the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, and a transmission unit for transmitting the at least one viewer preference profile to the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units.

[0091] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a program guide in a television system including a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting customized program schedule information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the method including creating at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, based on viewer information associated with the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, and transmitting the at least one viewer preference profile to the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units.

[0092] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a viewer preference profile in a television system including a plurality of subscriber units, the method including recording. at a first subscriber unit, a viewer preference profile on a removable medium, loading, at a second subscriber unit, the viewer preference profile from the recording medium, and customizing a program guide, at the second subscriber unit, based, at least in part, on the viewer preference profile.

[0093] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing audience information to a viewer of a television system, the method including collecting viewing data from a multiplicity of viewers of a television system, computing audience information from the collected viewing data, and transmitting the computed audience information to a viewer of the television system.

[0094] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method also includes displaying the computed audience information to the viewer of the television system.

[0095] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computed audience information comprises real-time computed audience information.

[0096] There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing a program guide in a television system comprising a television network and transmitting apparatus for transmitting information to a multiplicity of subscriber units, the method including creating at least one viewer preference profile of at least one television viewer associated with one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, based on viewer information associated with the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units, creating a customized program guide based, at least in part, on the at least one viewer preference profile, and transmitting the customized program guide to the one of the multiplicity of subscriber units.

[0097] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the transmitting step includes transmitting via at least one of the following:

[0098] conventional mail, electronic mail, provision of a World Wide Web site comprising said customized program guide, and wireless transmission to a portable electronic receiving device.

[0099] Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the icon-based hierarchical program guide includes a plurality of icons, and at least one of the plurality of icons is associated with additional information, the additional information being provided to a user upon request.

[0100] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the additional information includes at least one of the following: audio material; visual material; audio-visual material; multimedia material; a computer program; and at least one preview of at least one program.

[0101] Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the additional information includes a plurality of customized items of information, and at least one of the plurality of customized items of information is provided to the user based, at least in part, on at least one of the following: a user preference; a conditional access parameter; and a region in which said user is located.

[0102] The present invention seeks to provide digital television recording apparatus having a powerful yet simple user interface which enables manipulation of information recorded by the digital television recording apparatus.

[0103] In the present invention, television programs are recorded in a high capacity memory based on a continuously updated user profile. The television programs are also presented to a viewer based on the user profile. The television programs include various types of television material, such as programs, commercials, video clips, program guides, data, multimedia information, hypermedia links and teletex. The high capacity memory may include a high capacity hard disk and a high capacity external memory.

[0104] A user may either watch broadcast television or programs retrieved from the high capacity memory or link to other networks, such as the Internet. When viewing a program retrieved from the memory, the user has a variety of possibilities to manipulate the program, such as editing, marking and combining highlights in the program, tagging the program for retrieval under determinable conditions, changing parental control criteria and using special features, such as picture-in-picture (PIP). The user also has additional interactive features.

[0105] The user may switch from broadcast television to the stored program in a simple way. Additionally, one of the features provided by the digital television recording apparatus is program freezing in which the program is frozen when the user is required to stop watching television, and then automatically recorded in the memory from the moment of freeze. When the user is able to watch television again, the program is retrieved from the memory and the user may resume watching the program in a delayed mode from the moment of freeze.

[0106] Storage of television programs makes it possible to treat the programs as computer software programs and thus many advantages arise. Additionally, flexible programming tools may be adapted which are tailored to specific needs of television viewers. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a digital television recording method including broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program, operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program, storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program, retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program, displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program, editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited addressable program, and storing the edited addressable program.

[0107] Preferably, the agent set of parameters is operative to override at least a portion of the broadcaster set of parameters. The user set of parameters is preferably operative to override at least one of a portion of the broadcaster set of parameters, and a portion of the agent set of parameters.

[0108] Preferably, the broadcaster set of parameters includes a subset of parameters which cannot be overridden by any of the agent set of parameters and the user set of parameters.

[0109] Additionally, at least one of the broadcaster set of parameters, the agent set of parameters, and the user set of parameters may include a tag determining at least one of a program retrieval parameter and a content retrieval parameter.

[0110] Further additionally, the agent set of parameters includes a recording quality parameter determining a quality of recording of the program. The user set of parameters preferably includes a rating parameter determining a rating of the program as provided by the user.

[0111] The television program may include a commercial and the broadcaster set of parameters may include a commercial set of parameters. Preferably, the broadcaster set of parameters includes a parameter determining a request for additional information related to at least one of the commercial and the program. The broadcaster set of parameters also preferably includes a parameter determining expiration of the commercial after a predetermined number of people have seen the commercial or after the user has seen the commercial a predetermined number of times.

[0112] Additionally, the broadcaster set of parameters also includes a parameter disabling fast-forward/fast backward browsing through the program.

[0113] Alternatively or additionally, the television program includes two separate television programs displayed simultaneously in a picture-in-picture (PIP) mode on a television screen, and the user set of parameters includes a parameter determining a viewing selection for viewing only one of the two separate television programs on the full television screen.

[0114] Preferably, the broadcaster set of parameters includes at least one parameter determining at least one of the following information fields: a type of the program; supplementary information accompanying the program; an associated audio channel in a language which differs from a language used in an original audio channel associated with the program; program delete enabled/disabled; parental control associated with at least a portion of the program which requires parental control; an expiration time of the program; picture-in-picture availability; a program title; a time when the program is broadcast; a length of the program; a determination whether the program is encrypted; a compression format of the program; characteristics of the program; cancellation of material already transmitted in the program; selective routing of part of the material to selected users; context specific tagging; and a media item.

[0115] Additionally, the agent set of parameters includes at least one parameter determining at least one of the following information fields: a quality of recording of the program; a type of program whose recording is required; at least a title of a favorite program whose recording is required; a time and a date when recording of the program is required; and existence of a review attached to the program; context specific tagging; a media item; and a category of the program.

[0116] Further additionally, the user set of parameters includes at least one parameter determining at least one of the following information fields: a program rating provided by the user: a review of the program; a request for additional information relating to the program; a format of the program after editing operations; at least one highlight in the program; compression preferences for compressing the program prior to storage; image manipulation; and video wallpaper selection.

[0117] Preferably, the first set of predetermined portions of the program, the second set of predetermined portions of the program, and the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program include identical portions of the program.

[0118] There is also provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a digital recording method including determining whether to record a program, and recording the program in response to a recording determination at a recording quality determined by a recording quality parameter.

[0119] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a digital recording method including determining whether to record a program, storing the program in response to a recording determination, and retrieving the program in accordance with a rating given to the program.

[0120] There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a digital recording method including determining whether to record a program, storing the program in response to a recording determination, and retrieving the program in accordance with a browsing hierarchy.

[0121] Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a digital recording method including determining whether to record a program, recording the program in a circular buffer upon first activation of a freeze selector from a moment of the first activation of the freeze selector, conditionally accessing the program recorded in the circular buffer for retrieval of the program from the circular buffer upon second activation of the freeze selector, and playing the program retrieved from the circular buffer from the moment of the first activation of the freeze selector.

[0122] There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention apparatus for digital recording of a program including a receiver for receiving the program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program, an agent module operatively associated with the receiver and operative to determine whether to record the program and to associate with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program, a memory operatively associated with the agent module and operative to store an addressable program, the addressable program including the program associated with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters, a display operatively associated with the agent module, the receiver and the memory and operative to display at least a portion of the addressable program to a user, an input/output (I/O) interface operatively associated with the agent module and operative to receive from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program, and a user programming manager operatively associated with the memory, the I/O interface, the agent module, the receiver and the display and operative to generate an edited addressable program by editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the program, and to store the edited addressable program in the memory.

[0123] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is also provided apparatus for digital recording of a television program including a processor for determining whether to record the television program, a memory associated with the processor and operative to store the television program in response to a recording determination received from the processor, and a recording quality selector associated with the processor and the memory and operative to select a recording quality parameter determining a quality of storage of the television program in the memory.

[0124] Additionally, the apparatus includes a freeze selector operatively associated with the processor, wherein upon a first activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to record the program in the memory from a moment of first activation of the freeze selector, and upon a second activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to play the program recorded in the memory from the moment of first activation.

[0125] Further additionally, the apparatus includes a rating activator associated with the processor and the memory and operative to input information determining a rating given to the program. The apparatus also preferably includes a NEXT key selector associated with the processor and the memory and operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory.

[0126] Preferably, the NEXT selector is operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory in accordance with an order determined by at least one of the following: the user; the agent; and the broadcaster. Additionally, the NEXT selector is operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory in accordance with a hierarchy. The hierarchy is preferably determined by at least one of the following: the user; the agent; and the broadcaster.

[0127] There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention apparatus for digital recording of a television program including a processor for determining whether to record the television program, a memory associated with the processor and operative to store the television program in response to a recording determination received from the processor, and a rating activator associated with the processor and the memory and operative to input information determining a rating given to the television program.

[0128] Additionally, the apparatus includes a freeze selector operatively associated with the processor, wherein upon a first activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to record the program in a circular buffer from a moment of first activation of the freeze selector, and upon a second activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to play the program recorded in the circular buffer from the moment of first activation.

[0129] Preferably, the apparatus also includes a NEXT key selector associated with the processor and the memory and operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory.

[0130] Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is also provided apparatus for digital recording of a television program including a processor for determining whether to record the television program, a memory associated with the processor and operative to store the television program in response to a recording determination received from the processor, and a NEXT key selector associated with the processor and the memory and operative to browse through television programs stored in the memory.

[0131] There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention apparatus for digital recording of a program including a processor for determining whether to record the program, a circular buffer associated with the processor and operative to store the program in response to a recording determination received from the processor, a conditional access module for providing conditional access to the program stored in the circular buffer, and a freeze selector operatively associated with the processor, wherein upon a first activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to record the program in the circular buffer from a moment of first activation of the freeze selector, and upon a second activation of the freeze selector, the processor is operative to play the program recorded in the circular buffer from the moment of first activation in accordance with conditions determined by the conditional access module.

[0132] Preferably, the conditions determined by the conditional access module include disabling of fast-forward/fast-backward over selected portions of the program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0133] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

[0134] FIG. 1 is a simplified partly pictorial, partly block diagram illustration of a television system comprising a subscriber unit constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0135] FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0136] FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a preferred implementation of the intelligent agent of FIG. 2;

[0137] FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the viewing information analysis apparatus of FIG. 3;

[0138] FIG. 5 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred implementation of step 260 of FIG. 4;

[0139] FIG. 6 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of determining whether a viewer is engaged in surfing behavior in step 280 of FIG. 5;

[0140] FIG. 7 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the program schedule customization apparatus of FIG. 3;

[0141] FIG. 8A is a simplified partly pictorial, partly block diagram illustration of a television system comprising a subscriber unit constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0142] FIG. 8B is a simplified partly pictorial, partly block diagram illustration of a television system comprising a subscriber unit constructed and operative in accordance with another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0143] FIGS. 9A-9L are simplified pictorial representations of preferred embodiments of an electronic program guide, which may be displayed on the display of FIG. 1, FIG. 8A or FIG. 8B.

[0144] FIG. 10A is a simplified pictorial illustration of a system for playing programs stored and retrieved by digital television recording apparatus, the system being constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0145] FIG. 10B is a simplified block diagram illustration of digital television recording apparatus in the system of FIG. 10A, the digital television recording apparatus being constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0146] FIG. 11 is a simplified flow chart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 10A and 10B; and

[0147] FIGS. 12A and 12B together constitute a simplified flow chart illustration of a preferred method of manipulation of television programs recorded in the apparatus of FIGS. 10A and 10B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0148] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which is a simplified partly pictorial, partly block diagram illustration of a television system comprising a subscriber unit constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus of FIG. 1
comprises display apparatus 100 for display of an electronic program guide, the display apparatus 100 typically comprising a television set as shown in FIG. 1. The television set may comprise any suitable commercially available television set.

[0149] It is appreciated that the display apparatus 100 may alternatively comprise any other suitable display apparatus such as, for example, a computer display, another suitable display, or suitable projection equipment, as is well known in the art. In a case where a display other than a television set is used, it is appreciated that a television set is typically provided separately. For the purpose of simplicity in description, a case where the display apparatus 100 comprises a television set is generally described throughout the present specification, but it is appreciated that another type of appropriate display apparatus may generally be used.

[0150] On the display apparatus 100 an on-screen alert 105 is shown. The onscreen alert 105 is described more fully below. The on-screen alert 105
is shown as an example of a component of an electronic program guide, as described below. It is appreciated that the electronic program guide may take a wide variety of forms and that, typically, the on-screen alert 105
is comprised in the electronic program guide and that the electronic program guide may comprise other components alternatively, or in addition to, the on-screen alert 105.

[0151] The apparatus of FIG. 1 also comprises an interface unit 110. The interface unit 110 is also known as a set top box (STB). The interface unit 110 is operative to provide a least a one-way interface, and optionally a two-way interface, between the display apparatus 100 and a television network, which may be either a pay television network or a non-pay or free television network. It is appreciated that, in certain preferred embodiments of the present invention such as, for example, the embodiments of FIGS. 8A and 8B, described below, a two-way interface is preferable. The interface unit 110 typically comprises a variety of conventional STB components (not shown), as is well known in the art, to receive, tune and, as necessary, decode television broadcasts received from the television network and to send display signals representing the received broadcasts to the display apparatus 100.

[0152] The interface unit 110 also typically comprises a receiving unit 120, an intelligent agent 130, and a profile storage unit 140, the receiving unit 120 and the profile storage unit 140 being operatively attached to the intelligent agent 130. The receiving unit 120, the intelligent agent 130, and the profile storage unit 140 are typically implemented in software in one or more suitable microprocessors suitably equipped with memory, but it is appreciated that a hardware implementation may also be used. The functions of the receiving unit 120, the intelligent agent 130, and the profile storage unit 140 are described in more detail below. The apparatus of FIG. 1 may also comprise a recording device such as a VCR (not shown), or any other appropriate conventional recording device including a DVCR (digital VCR) or DVD (digital video disc) recording device.

[0153] The operation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 is now briefly described. The interface unit 110 receives television broadcasts from the television network. A user of the apparatus of FIG. 1 chooses a channel to watch, using means well-known in the art such as, for example, a commercially-available remote control unit. The interface unit 110, responsive to the user's choice of channel, transmits display signals representing received broadcasts on the chosen channel to the display apparatus 100, as is well-known in the art.

[0154] As is well-known in the art, the television broadcasts typically also comprise television program schedule information. It is appreciated that program schedule information may alternatively or additionally be distributed by other non-broadcast methods such as, for example: by sending a removable medium to the user for insertion in an appropriate unit (not shown) for receiving the medium in the apparatus of FIG. 1; by publishing coded information, such as in a newspaper or magazine, and by providing equipment (not shown) for use with the apparatus of FIG. 1 to read the coded information into the apparatus of FIG. 1; or otherwise.

[0155] The terms "program schedule information" and "television program schedule information" are used interchangeably throughout the present specification and claims to refer to information describing a television program schedule. Program schedule information is typically intended to assist a television viewer in choosing a television program to watch, either at the current time or in the future. Program schedule information typically comprises one or more of the following:

[0156] channel number;

[0157] starting date;

[0158] starting time;

[0159] ending date;

[0160] ending time;

[0161] name of program;

[0162] description of program;

[0163] name of at least one actor in program;

[0164] name of director of program;

[0165] program provider;

[0166] price of program; and

[0167] classification criteria.

[0168] The classification criteria may typically comprise one or more of the following: indications of whether the program is a comedy, a drama, a documentary, a news program, etc.; an indication of whether the program contains material unsuited for younger viewers; the country of origin of the program; and any other appropriate classification criteria. A typical example of such criteria is described in DVB standard ETS 300-468, referred to above.

[0169] Reference is now additionally made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified block diagram illustration of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1. The apparatus of FIG. 2 comprises the receiving unit 120, the intelligent agent 130, the profile storage unit 140, and the display apparatus 150 of FIG. 2, and illustrates the connections therebetween as well as the inputs thereto and outputs therefrom. The apparatus of FIG. 2 also comprises an optional viewer preference profile loading apparatus 160
(not shown in FIG. 1), described below.

[0170] The receiving unit 120 is typically operative to receive the program schedule information from the television network and to pass the program schedule information to the intelligent agent 130. The receiving unit 120 may also be operative, as is well known in the art, to filter the program schedule information from other information broadcast via the television network, such as television programs, thus producing the information passed by the receiving unit 120 to the intelligent agent 130. The intelligent agent 130 also typically receives television viewing information representing current television viewing behavior of one or more individual viewers. The television viewing information, typically comprising an indication of the channel currently being watched and, optionally, viewer identification information, may be received from conventional components of the interface unit 110, as is well known in the art, or from another appropriate source.

[0171] It is appreciated that, in a case where the television viewing information comprises viewer identification information, the viewer identification information is typically obtained using methods well-known in the art for identifying viewers such as, for example, requiring one or more viewers to supply identifying information such as, for example, a personal identification number (PIN) before viewing television. Thus, the television viewing information may be associated with one or more viewers. It is also appreciated that, in a case where the television viewing information does not comprise viewer identification information the television viewing information is preferably taken to be general, that is, not to be associated with any particular viewer. For the sake of simplicity in description, a case where the television viewing information is associated with one or more viewers is generally described herein, but it is appreciated that the present invention also applies to the case where the television viewing information is not associated with any particular viewer.

[0172] The intelligent agent 130 is preferably operable to combine the television viewing information with the program schedule information and to extract therefrom characteristics, typically comprising components similar to those described above with respect to program schedule information, which characterize the television program currently being viewed by the viewer. Such components are also known herein as current program characteristics. The intelligent agent 130 is typically operative to store the current program characteristics in a viewer preference profile, typically in the profile storage unit 140, the viewer preference profile typically comprising information, obtained over a period of time, on the various current program characteristics of programs viewed by a viewer at various times. The period of time may be as short as a few minutes or as long as a year or more. The viewer preference profile also typically comprises information on the amount of time or proportion of duration of the program during which each program was viewed by the viewer.

[0173] Typically, the viewer preference profile may contain information on preference strength, that is, on how strongly a certain program or type of program is preferred by the viewer. Preference strength may reflect the number of times that the program was viewed in a given period of time, the percentage of all occurrences of the program that were viewed, or any other appropriate criterion. Typically, the viewer preference profile is accumulated over an unlimited amount of time. Alternatively, old information may be eliminated from the profile or the profile may be reset upon receipt of a signal from the television network.

[0174] Optionally, the apparatus of FIG. 1 may be operative to display a viewer preference profile on the display apparatus 100 or otherwise and to allow the viewer to edit or otherwise modify the viewer preference profile, typically using user interface methods well known in the art. In this case, the viewer is preferably enabled to add, delete, or modify any information in the viewer's viewer preference profile, it being appreciated that the apparatus of FIG. 1 is preferably operative to provide an appropriate questionnaire or other assisted data input method, as is well known in the art, in order to assist the viewer in adding, deleting, or modifying information. Particularly, the viewer is preferably enabled to provide information on programs or types of programs which the viewer prefers to view or prefers not to view. Furthermore, the viewer is preferably enabled to do one or more of the following:

[0175] turn off or on the collection of viewer preference profile information;

[0176] define different levels of highlighting, as described below;

[0177] turn the delivery of alerts on or off,

[0178] instruct the apparatus of FIG. 1 to include or not to include popular programs in the program guide;

[0179] instruct the apparatus of FIG. 1 to include or not to include programs having a certain rating, such as programs having a rating as unsuitable for children, in the program guide;

[0180] instruct the apparatus of FIG. 1 to include or not to include programs recommended by one or more critics in the program guide; and

[0181] perform any other appropriate action.

[0182] As described below, the viewer preference profile stored by the intelligent agent 130 and used as described below may comprise a simple data structure describing current program characteristics of programs viewed by a viewer and other information as stated above. It is appreciated, however, that the viewer preference profile may, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, take a wide variety of forms. For example, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the viewer preference profile may comprise one or more rules abstracted from at least the current program characteristics of programs viewed by a viewer, the extraction and/or abstraction of such rules from the current program characteristics of programs viewed by a viewer and other information as stated above being possible using methods well-known in the art, particularly methods in use with rule-based expert systems.

[0183] Such rules, as is well known in the art, may comprise conditions and results to be carried out if the conditions are true. For example, such a rule might state that if the user preference level for news is greater than a given threshold and if a news program is scheduled within the next 30 minutes, a news alert should be presented on the screen. For the sake of simplicity in description, the case of a simple data structure will generally be described below, it being appreciated that other methods, such as, for example, a rule-based method, may also be used.

[0184] The intelligent agent 130 is also operative to customize the program schedule information received from the receiving unit 120 in accordance with one or more viewer preference profiles belonging to one or more viewers and to output a program guide comprising the customized program schedule information to the display apparatus 150 for display. It is appreciated that, in a case where more than one viewer preference profile is used, the plurality of viewer preference profiles may be combined by any appropriate method, including simply combining the profiles, giving complete preference to one profile over another profile, giving partial preference to one profile over another profile, or by any other appropriate combining method.

[0185] The term "customize" in its various forms, as used throughout the present specification and claims with reference to program schedule information to be comprised in a program guide, is used generally to refer to any kind of customization including, for example, one or more of the following:

[0186] changing the order in which programs appear in the program guide;

[0187] changing the order in which channels appear in the program guide;

[0188] removing certain programs from or adding certain programs to the program guide, the added programs typically comprising programs that were not previously displayed due to another customization;

[0189] highlighting or emphasizing certain programs in the program guide, possibly including multiple levels of highlighting or emphasis;

[0190] de-highlighting or deemphasizing certain programs in the program guide, possibly including multiple levels of de-highlighting or de-emphasis;

[0191] modifying a hierarchy, such as, for example, an icon-based hierarchy, of programs in the program guide;

[0192] modifying the appearance of an element of the program guide such as, for example, an icon, including modifying an icon to be non-objectionable for viewing by children;

[0193] displaying an alert comprising program schedule information;

[0194] customizing a channel to contain selected programs from the program guide, typically by creating a virtual channel comprising, for example, a list of times and channels on which preferred programs are broadcast at those times, to give a viewer the appearance that the viewer's preferred programs are all broadcast on the customized channel;

[0195] delivering an alert remind the viewer to record a program;

[0196] automatically recording a program; and

[0197] any other appropriate kind of customization.

[0198] It is appreciated that other factors in addition to a viewer preference profile may also be applied by the intelligent agent 130. Examples of such other factors and their typical use by the intelligent agent 130 include the following:

[0199] parental control information, which is well known in the art, may be used to eliminate certain programs from the program guide or to modify objectionable descriptions and/or icons so that they are suitable for viewing by children;

[0200] parental control or other information may be used to limit total viewing time or viewing during certain times of the day by removing programs falling outside the limitation from the program guide;

[0201] subscription information, typically including information on television services which have been subscribed to by a viewer, may be used to eliminate programs not subscribed for from the program guide;

[0202] rating information, typically including information on general viewer popularity of a program based on ratings as are well known in the art, may be used to modify the customization of the program guide, typically by including or promoting the importance of highly rated programs but possibly by excluding or reducing the importance of highly rated programs, and further possibly by modifying the viewer preference profile based on the rating information; and

[0203] language choice information, typically including information on a preferred language, may be used to display listings in a particular language or for program versions in a particular language, it being appreciated that viewer preference profile information on language viewing preferences may override language choice information.

[0204] The optional viewer preference profile loading apparatus 160, if present, may be used to load a recorded viewer preference profile of another viewer, including a viewer who has used another apparatus, similar to that of FIG. 1, at a different time and place. Such a recorded viewer preference profile may be provided on any appropriate recording medium, may be broadcast via the television network, or may be delivered from profile storage apparatus by any appropriate means. It is appreciated that a recorded viewer preference profile may typically be a profile of a well-known person, may be intended to provide customization of the program guide in a way similar to that which would be provided to the famous person, and may be provided for a fee or other consideration. The effect of using such a recorded viewer preference profile would be, approximately, to receive a customized program guide customized according to the preferences of the person who is the source of the recorded viewer preference profile.

[0205] Alternatively, a recorded viewer preference profile could be used as an anti-profile in the sense that customization could occur opposite to what would be the result of using the recorded preference profile; that is, a particular program that was preferred according to the recorded viewer preference profile could be, for example, deemphasized.

[0206] Optionally, the profile loading apparatus 160, if present, may also be operative to record a viewer preference profile on any appropriate recording medium such as, for example, a diskette or an appropriate smart card. The recorded viewer preference profile may then be provided to another viewer having apparatus similar to that of FIG. 1 for loading as described above.

[0207] It is appreciated that the implementation of the present invention described above, wherein a program guide is transmitted to a television, comprises one particular implementation of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above-described implementation. In particular, it is appreciated that, with minor variations as is well known in the art, a customized program guide could be delivered to a viewer by, for example, one or more of the following methods:

[0208] conventional mail;

[0209] electronic mail, including conventional electronic mail, electronic mail delivered to a television, text-based electronic mail, graphics-based electronic mail, HTML-based electronic mail, or any other suitable type of electronic mail;

[0210] a personalized World Wide Web site on the Internet; and

[0211] wireless delivery to a portable electronic device such as a suitable beeper, palmtop device, personal organizer, watch, radio receiver, or any other suitable portable electronic device.

[0212] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a simplified block diagram illustration of a preferred implementation of the intelligent agent 130 of FIG. 2. The apparatus of FIG. 3 preferably comprises viewing information analysis apparatus 170, which typically receives program schedule information from the receiving unit 120 of FIG. 2, as described above, as well as receiving television viewing information, as described above with reference to FIG. 2.

[0213] The apparatus of FIG. 3 also preferably comprises viewer preference profile update and storage apparatus 180. The viewing information and analysis apparatus 170 is preferably operative to provide current program information and information on the current viewer, typically comprised in the television viewing information, as described above with reference to FIG. 2, to the update and storage apparatus 180. The update and storage apparatus 180 is preferably operative to store the received information in an appropriate viewer preference profile in the profile storage unit 140 of FIG. 2.

[0214] The apparatus of FIG. 3 also preferably comprises viewer preference profile retrieval apparatus 190 and program schedule customization apparatus 200. The retrieval apparatus 190 typically retrieves the viewer preference profile of a viewer under control of the program schedule customization apparatus 200 and sends the viewer preference profile to the program schedule customization apparatus 200.

[0215] The program schedule customization apparatus 200 preferably receives the viewer preference profile, as well as the program schedule information from the receiving unit 120 of FIG. 2. The program schedule customization apparatus 200 is preferably operative to customize the program schedule information received from the receiving unit 120 in accordance with one or more viewer preference profiles belonging to one or more viewers and to output a program guide comprising the customized program schedule information.

[0216] The viewing information analysis apparatus 170, the viewer preference profile update and storage apparatus 180, the view preference profile retrieval apparatus 190, and the program schedule customization apparatus 200 are typically implemented in software in one or more suitable microprocessors suitably equipped with memory, but it is appreciated that a hardware implementation may also be used.

[0217] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the viewing information analysis apparatus of FIG. 3. The method of FIG. 4 preferably includes the following steps:

[0218] When program schedule information is received, the information is processed (step 210). Program schedule information is generally received when the program schedule information is sent over the television network. The program schedule information may be sent periodically, may be sent when there is a change in program schedule information, or may be sent at other times. Processing program schedule information preferably comprises updating a working copy of program schedule information kept in the intelligent agent 130 and used in other steps of the method of FIG. 4.

[0219] A check is made as to whether television viewing information has been received (step 220). Generally, television viewing information is received when there is a change in television viewing such as, for example: a new viewer begins viewing television according to viewer identification information; a television channel change occurs; or the television is turned on or turned off. Television viewing information may also comprise an indication that a viewer has responded to a customized alert positively, by tuning to the program named in the alert, or negatively, by not tuning to the program named in the alert. Preferably, such a positive response is taken to reinforce the preference which led to the alert. A negative response, on the other hand, is preferably taken to weaken or erase the preference which led to the alert.

[0220] If no television viewing information