US20050125823A1 - Promotional philosophy for a video-on-demand-related interactive display within an interactive television application - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an interactive display having indicators of video-on-demand programs are described. The systems and methods select indicators for inclusion in the interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm.

Description

• This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/607,208, filed Jun. 28, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/141,575 filed Jun. 29, 1999. All of these prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to television application systems, and more particularly, to interactive television application systems such as interactive television program guide systems that provide indicators of video-on-demand offerings.
• Interactive television program guides are typically implemented on set-top boxes connected to televisions. Such program guides may be used to present screens of interactive television program listings to users. Video-on-demand systems allow users to order videos for immediate delivery to the home over a cable or other suitable path.
• It is an object of the present invention to provide an interactive display indicators for video-on-demand offerings using a promotional selection algorithm such as a promotional philosophy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• This and other objects of the present invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an interactive display of indicators, such as promotions or listings, for video-on-demand offerings to a user based on a promotional selection algorithm as described, for example, in McCoy et al. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/141,575, filed Jun. 29, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The promotional selection algorithm according to which promotions or listings are displayed may be based on, for example, a promotional philosophy. If desired, the indicators may be presented in a passive display within an otherwise interactive application.
• Generally, promotional philosophies are promotional event selection algorithms. A particular promotional philosophy may be designed to attempt to maximize returns from content such as promotions or advertisements by positioning certain types of promotions and advertisements at particular times of the day to reach certain types of television viewers. Promotional material distribution systems in which promotional philosophies are used to distribute promotions are described, for example, in Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Systems in which users are “targeted” for specific advertisements are described, for example, in Reynolds et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/217,100, filed Dec. 16, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• An interactive application presents an interactive display containing indicators of video-on-demand offerings (e.g., on demand movies, television programs, video clips, or any other suitable type of programming). The interactive application may be any suitable application, such as interactive television program guide, web browser, or other application. The offerings are displayed according to a particular promotional selection algorithm designed to have indicators presented so as to attempt to maximize, for example, the return on or the viewer rate of video-on-demand programs. Promotional selection algorithms may also be designed to have indicators selected so that any other suitable paradigm for the display of indicators is met. For example, it may be undesirable to have certain programs indicated at a certain time of day (e.g., adult programs), or it may be desirable to have some programs indicated more often based on upcoming holidays or events.
• The display may include, for example, a series of buttons or other selectable on-screen display elements that contain listings for video-on-demand programs. The interactive display may include, for example, a browse display that provides a user with an opportunity to browse video-on-demand program listings while watching a television program. The interactive display may include, for example, a screening room within which users may view trailers or clips of video-on-demand offerings. Systems in which video-on-demand listings are displayed in a browse display are described, for example, in Ellis U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/262,870, filed Mar. 4, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Any other suitable approach for the display indicators of video-on-demand offerings.
• The interactive application may obtain application data and data that define the promotional selection algorithm using any suitable approach. The application may, for example, obtain data continuously, periodically, on-demand or using any other suitable approach. The interactive application may also receive templates that define a desired promotional selection algorithm such as a promotional philosophy.
• The promotional philosophy may be designed to include promotions or programs in the interactive application based on and suitable criteria. The promotional philosophy may be based on, for example, the availability of a video-on-demand offering or the availability a promotion for such an offering (e.g., when sent by satellite via Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), or a videodisc in a player). The promotional philosophy may be defined to cause the selection of promotions or programs based on, for example, conditional play attributes. For example, a listing or promotion (or group of listings or promotions) may be designated for inclusion in the interactive display only on Fridays if the weather is cold outside and the local system has HBO in its channel line up. The display characteristics of a promotion or program listing may also be determined according to the promotional philosophy. For example, a promotion or program listing may be displayed first in an interactive display before other types of program listings or promotions for programs (e.g., sitcoms). If desired, the application may monitor user actions to determine if a given promotional philosophy results in desirable video-on-demand program selection.
• The indicators of video-on-demand offerings and corresponding promotional philosophies may be based on, for example, what data the interactive application requests, detectable environmental situations, or what is provided by the video-on-demand system. Some examples of environmentally detectable situations include: the specific clip played in relation to a title selected by a user, the channel line up provided to the user, the weather, local channels, promotional media available, and specific customer behaviors or profiles (e.g., whether the user subscribes to adult or children's programming). In these examples, the promotional philosophies may be designed using alternates, playability levels, and keywords as described, for example in above-mentioned Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, filed Jun. 11, 1999.
• User selections of indicators or other user activity may be analyzed to determine whether the promotional philosophy of the interactive display facilitates a desirable result (e.g., purchases of particular video-on-demand programming), or whether the promotional philosophy needs to be modified. Interactive program guide systems in which user usage of advertisements is monitored are described, for example, in Thomas et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/139,798, filed Aug. 25, 1998, which is hereby incorporate by reference herein in its entirety. The interactive display may be updated to display only the promotions or programs that a user is most interested in viewing, or that the video-on-demand system or interactive application provider desires to present to the user (which may be based on, for example, particular environmental situations and user demographics).
• The interactive display may be based on templates that are modified for each user based on, for example, the individual user's profile, the hardware on which the interactive display is displayed (e.g., the configuration of the user's set-top box), or other user specific information. Thus, the interactive display may look different for each user, but is derived from the same basic template that has been provided according to the chosen selection algorithm, such as a promotional philosophy algorithm. The user's profile may include, for example information suitable to select indicators in a way that personalizes the interactive display to the user in accordance with the selection algorithm. For example, a playability level may include user preferences. User preferences may be generated or obtained using any suitable scheme for monitoring user behavior and targeting the user with indicators for appropriate content. In another suitable approach, the user may define a preference profile that is used for indicator selection.
• In another suitable approach, the system may maintain a record that includes environmentally detectable situations and specifics of resulting interactive display. This may be combined with the actual behavior of the user to form a log that is available to a master processing system. The record may be maintained on a disc drive in the system and may be available to the master processing system via suitable transmission media. The system may analyze this record and may correct the promotional philosophy. The system may, for example, modify the promotional philosophy based on desirable or undesirable results from a recorded log. Systems in which promotional philosophy algorithms are automatically updated are described, for example, in Lumley et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/227,401, filed Jan. 8, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system in accordance with the present invention;
• FIGS. 2a-2eare schematic block diagrams of illustrative arrangements for the interactive application equipment ofFIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the user television equipment ofFIGS. 2a-2din accordance with the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a more generalized schematic block diagram of the user television equipment ofFIG. 4 in accordance with the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is an illustrative dataflow diagram for analyzing a selection log to determine if indicators are being selected optimally in accordance with the present invention;
• FIGS. 6-9 are illustrative interactive displays in accordance with the present invention; and
• FIGS. 10 and 11 are flow charts of illustrative steps involved in providing indicators of video-on-demand programing in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Anillustrative system10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1.Main facility12 may provide application data, such as program guide data, fromdata source14 tointeractive application equipment17 via communications link18. There may be multiple data sources but only one has been shown to avoid over complicating the drawing. If desired, data sources may be located at facilities separate frommain facility12, such as atlocal information services15, and may have their data provided tomain facility12 for localization and distribution.Data sources14 may be any suitable computer or computer based system for obtaining data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically via a computer network or other connection, or via storage media) and providing the data in electronic form for distribution bymain facility12.Data sources14 may also receive promotional material for distribution tointeractive application equipment17.Link18 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link. Video signals may also be transmitted overlink18 if desired.
• Local information service15 may be any facility suitable for obtaining data particular to a localized region and providing the data tomain facility12 over communications link141.Local information service15 may be, for example, a local weather station that measures weather data, a local newspaper that obtains local high school and college sporting information, or any other suitable provider of information.Local information service15 may be a local business with a computer for providingmain facility12 with, for example, local ski reports, fishing conditions, menus, etc., or any other suitable provider of information.Link141 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link.
• Local information service15 may includeenvironmental detector41.Environmental detector41 may be equipment suitable for detecting local environmental conditions and providing them tomain facility12 for inclusion in the application data. For example, the local temperature may be supplied bylocal information service15 as part of local weather data.Environmental detector41 may, for example, have a digital thermometer connected to the input-output port of a suitable computer and provide detectable environmental situation information (e.g., temperature data) to a communications device for transmission tomain facility12.Environmental detector41 may be any other device suitable for detecting environmental situations, such as a barometer, windspeed measuring device, or other suitable device, that is capable of supplying detectable environmental information tomain facility12.
• The application data transmitted bymain facility12 tointeractive application equipment17 may include any data suitable for the chosen interactive application. For an interactive program guide, for example, the application data may include television programming data (e.g., program identifiers, times, channels, titles, and descriptions) and other data for services other than television program listings (e.g., help text, pay-per-view information, weather information, sports information, music channel information, associated Internet web links, associated software, etc.). There are preferably numerous pieces or installations ofinteractive application equipment17, although only one is shown inFIG. 1 to avoid over-complicating the drawing. The application data may also include data defining the rules of the promotional selection algorithm, such as, for example, promotional philosophy templates. Promotional philosophy templates are described, for example, in above-mentioned Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, filed Jun. 11, 1999. If desired, promotional material for video-on-demand offerings may also be provided bymain facility12 using, for example, a store-and-forward approach as described in the same application. The promotional material may include any suitable text, graphics, animation, video, audio, or other multimedia.
• Application data may be transmitted bymain facility12 tointeractive application equipment17 using any suitable approach. Data files may, for example, be encapsulated as objects and transmitted using a suitable Internet based addressing scheme and protocol stack (e.g., a stack which uses the user datagram protocol (UDP) and Internet protocol (IP)). Systems in which program guide data is transmitted from a main facility to television distribution facilities as objects are described, for example, in Gollahon et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,624, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• Main facility12 may includelog analyzer31.Log analyzer31 may include any suitable storage, processing, and communications circuitry or devices for monitoring the indicator selection process or other processes carried out byinteractive application equipment17.Interactive application equipment17 may provide a selection log tomain facility12. The selection log may list the actual indications (e.g., promotions, listings, etc.) that are included by the interactive application within the interactive display. Logging the indicators that are actually displayed may be useful when, for example, indicators are selected for display but are unavailable during screen generation. This may occur when, for example, indicators are received corrupted such as when link18 is very noisy. In another suitable approach, the selection log may log what is selected, or a combination of these approaches may be used.Log analyzer31 may also monitor changes to the selection log over communications link18 or another communications link to observe the selecting of indicators at about the same time they are selected. The selection log may be used bylog analyzer31 to modify the promotional philosophy used byinteractive application equipment17 in order to maximize the probability of achieving the desired results for the system, or to test how changes to a promotional philosophy might affect indicator selection.
• Interactive application equipment17 may includeindicator selector44,log system43, andenvironmental detector41.Indicator selector44 may be any combination of hardware and software suitable for generating a playlist, set, database, or other data structure that either indicates or includes indicators of video-on-demand selections for presentation in the interactive display according to the chosen selection algorithm. The indicator list may be, for example, a playlist of video-on-demand promotions chosen according to a promotional philosophy as described, for example, in above-mentioned Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, filed Jun. 11, 1999. The indicator list may be, for example, a set, database or other data structure of program listings for video-on-demand program listings that are incorporated into the interactive display. In still another suitable approach, the indicator list may be generated in real time; that is,indicator selector44 may select indicators for presentation and immediately display them without first creating a list.Indicator selector44 may be, for example, a process running on a computer acting as an application server, a process running on a set-top box, or any other suitable combination of hardware and software.
• Log generator43 may be any combination of hardware and software suitable for generating a list or other data structure of the indicators that are actually presented by the interactive application in the interactive display. Log generator may be for example, a process running on a computer acting as an application server, a process running on a set-top box, or any other suitable combination of hardware and software.
• Indicator selector44 may use data regarding local environmental conditions when determining if a particular indicator meets a particular selection algorithm. For example, whether a particular video-on-demand offering is promoted or included in a list of listings may depend on the local temperature. The local temperature may be supplied bymain facility12 as part of local weather data contained in the data stream, or may be supplied by a local operator or device responsible for supplying local environmental information, such asenvironmental detector41.Environmental detector41 may, for example, have a digital thermometer connected to the input-output port of a suitable computer and provide detectable environmental situation information (e.g., temperature data) toindicator selector44.Environmental detector41 may be any other device suitable for detecting environmental situations, such as a barometer, windspeed measuring device, or other suitable device, that is capable of supplying detectable environmental situation information toindicator selector44 for use in detecting if an environmentally detectable situation parameter has been met.
• Indicator selector44 may use user preference profiles to personalize the interactive display to a particular used. The profiles may be modified for each user based on, for example, the individual user's profile, the hardware on which the interactive display is displayed (e.g., the configuration of the user's set-top box), or other user specific information. Thus, the interactive display may look different for each user, but is derived from the same basic template that has been provided according to the chosen selection algorithm, such as a promotional philosophy algorithm. The user's profile may include, for example information suitable to select indicators in a way that personalizes the interactive display to the user in accordance with the selection algorithm. For example, a playability level may include user preferences. User preferences may be generated or obtained using any suitable scheme for monitoring user behavior and targeting the user with indicators for appropriate content. In another suitable approach, the user may define a preference profile that is used for indicator selection.
• An interactive application is implemented oninteractive application equipment17. The interactive application may be any application suitable for providing users with the interactive display. The application may be, for example, an interactive television program guide, search engine, or any other suitable application. For purposes of clarity and not by way of limitation, the following discussion will describe the invention implemented as an illustrative interactive television program guide implemented oninteractive application equipment17. Five illustrative arrangements forinteractive application equipment17 are shown inFIGS. 2a-2e. As shown,interactive application equipment17 may include one or more ofdistribution equipment21, located atdistribution facility16, anduser television equipment22 orpersonal computer23.
• To avoid over-complicatingFIGS. 2a-2e,indicator selector44,environmental detector41, andlog generator43 have been shown generally inFIG. 1 and are not shown inFIGS. 2a-2e.Indicator selector44,environmental detector41, andlog generator43 may be included indistribution facility16 if desired as one or more separate systems, or one or more of their functionalities may be incorporated into any suitable component shown inFIGS. 2a-2e. For example, the functionalities of one or more ofindicator list generator44,environmental detector41, orlog generator43 may reside in or be integrated withdistribution equipment21,application guide server25,Internet service system61,application server25, oruser television equipment22. When incorporated intouser television equipment22,user television equipment22 may be configured to communicate information, such as environmental conditions or indicator logs, back todistribution facility16 ormain facility12.
• The interactive television program guide (or other interactive application) may run totally onuser television equipment22 as shown inFIGS. 2aand2c, or may run partially onuser television equipment22 and partially oninteractive application equipment17 using a suitable client-server or distributed processing approach as shown inFIGS. 2band2d.Distribution facility16 may be any suitable distribution facility (e.g., a cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, an Internet site, or any other suitable type of television distribution facility).Distribution facility16 may havedistribution equipment21.
• Distribution equipment21 ofFIGS. 2a,2b,2c, and2dmay be any equipment suitable for providing application data touser television equipment22 overcommunications path20.Distribution equipment21 may include, for example, suitable transmission hardware for distributing application data on a television channel sideband, in the vertical blanking interval of a television channel, using an in-band digital signal (e.g., MPEG tables), using an out-of-band digital signal, using Internet streaming techniques or by any other suitable data transmission technique. Analog or digital video signals (e.g., television programs, pay-per-view programs, video-on-demand programs, etc.) may also be distributed bydistribution equipment21 touser television equipment22 overcommunications paths20 on multiple television channels.
• Communications paths20 may be any communications paths suitable for distributing application data and, if desired, video signals.Communications paths20 may include, for example, a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a data-over-cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) link, a digital subscriber line (DSC) link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link.Communications paths20 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allowdistribution facility16 to distribute television programming touser television equipment22. There are typically multiple pieces ofuser television equipment22 and multiple associatedcommunications paths20, although only one piece ofuser television equipment22 andcommunications path20 are shown inFIGS. 2a-2dto avoid over complicating the drawings. If desired, television programming may be provided over separate communications paths (not shown).
• FIG. 2bshows an illustrative arrangement forinteractive application equipment17 in a client-server based or distributed interactive program guide system. As shown inFIG. 2b,distribution equipment21 may includeapplication server25.Application server25 may be any suitable software, hardware, or combination thereof for providing a client-server based application such as a program guide.Application server25 may, for example, run a suitable database engine (e.g., SQL Server by Microsoft) and provide program guide data in response to queries generated by a program guide client implemented onuser television equipment22. If desired,application server25 may be located at main facility12 (not shown).
• Application server25 may be based on any suitable combination of server software and hardware.Application server25 may retrieve application data such as program guide data, promotion files, or any suitable combination thereof fromstorage device56 in response to requests for program guide or promotional material generated by an interactive application client implemented onuser television equipment22. As shown inFIGS. 2aand2b,application server25 may include processingcircuitry54 andstorage device56.Processing circuitry54 may include any suitable processor, such as a microprocessor or group of microprocessors, and other processing circuitry such as caching circuitry, video decoding circuitry, direct memory access (DMA) circuitry, input/output (I/O) circuitry, etc.
• Storage device56 may be a memory or other storage device, such as random access memory (RAM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, etc., that is suitable for storing application data and, if desired, promotional material. User data, such as user preference profiles (whether generated by the system or defined by the user), parental control settings, record and reminder settings, viewing histories, the configuration of the user's equipment and other suitable data may also be stored onstorage device56 byapplication server25. Program guide data and user data may be stored onstorage device56 in any suitable format (e.g., a Structured Query Language (SQL) database). User data may be used byindicator list generator44 to select indicators for the interactive display. If desired,storage device56 may also store video-on-demand programs for playing back on demand.
• Processing circuitry54 may process requests for application data by searching the application data stored onstorage device56 for the requested data, retrieving the data, and providing the retrieved data todistribution equipment21 for distribution touser television equipment22.Processing circuitry54 may also process storage requests generated by the application client thatdirect application server25 to store user data. Alternatively,application server25 may distribute application data to and receive user data fromuser television equipment22 directly. Ifcommunications paths20 include an Internet link, DOCSIS link, or other high speed computer network link (e.g., 10BaseT, 100BaseT, 10BaseF, T1, T3, etc.), for example, processingcircuitry54 may include circuitry suitable for transmitting application and user data and receiving application data and storage requests over such a link.
• Application server25 may communicate withuser television equipment22 using any suitable communications protocol. For example,application server25 may use a communications protocol stack that includes transmission control protocol (TCP) and Internet protocol (IP) layers, sequenced packet exchange (SPX) and internetwork packet exchange (IPX) layers, Appletalk transaction protocol (ATP) and datagram delivery protocol (DDP) layers, DOCSIS, or any other suitable protocol or combination of protocols.User television equipment22 may also include suitable hardware for communicating withapplication server25 over communications paths20 (e.g., Ethernet cards, modems (digital, analog, or cable), etc.)
• The program guide client onuser television equipment22 may retrieve program guide data from and store user data onapplication server25 using any suitable client-server based approach. The program guide may, for example, pass SQL requests as messages toapplication server25. In another suitable approach, the program guide may invoke remote procedures that reside onapplication server25 using one or more remote procedure calls.Application server25 may execute SQL statements for such invoked remote procedures. In still another suitable approach, client objects executed by the program guide may communicate with server objects executed byapplication server25 using, for example, an object request broker (ORB). This may involve using, for example, Microsoft's Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) approach. As used herein, “record requests” and “storage requests” are intended to encompass any of these types of inter-process or inter-object communications, or any other suitable type of inter-process or inter-object communication.
• FIGS. 2cand2dshow illustrative Internet-based systems.Distribution facility16 may, for example, includeInternet service system61.Internet service system61 may use any suitable combination of hardware and software capable of providing program guide data to the guide using an Internet based approach (e.g., the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)).
• If the program guide is implemented onuser television equipment22 ofinteractive application equipment17 as shown inFIG. 2c, Internet service system61 (or other suitable equipment atdistribution facility16 that is connected to Internet service system61) may provide program guide data touser television equipment22 via the Internet, or viaapplication distribution equipment21 using any suitable Internet-based approach (e.g., using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) type link). If the program guide implemented oninteractive application equipment17 is a client-server guide as shown inFIG. 2d, for example,application server25 may obtain program guide data fromInternet service system61. In another suitable approach, the program guide may obtain program guide data fromInternet service system61 via an Internet connection.
• In still another embodiment,distribution equipment21 may include suitable hardware (not shown) on which a first portion or version of the interactive television program guide is implemented. A second portion or version of the program guide may be implemented onuser television equipment22. The two versions or portions of the interactive program guide may communicate using any suitable peer-to-peer communications scheme (e.g., messaging, remote procedure calls, etc.) and perform interactive program guide functions distributively betweentelevision distribution facility16 anduser television equipment22.
• Another suitable arrangement forinteractive application equipment17 is shown inFIG. 2e.Interactive application equipment17 may include, for example,distribution facility16 havingapplication server25 andInternet service system61. A program guide client application (or other client application) may run onpersonal computer23. The client may accessapplication server25 viaInternet service system61 andcommunications path20.Personal computer23 may include processingcircuitry27,memory29,storage device31,communications device35, and monitor39.
• Processing circuitry27 may include any suitable processor, such as a microprocessor or group of microprocessors, and other processing circuitry such as caching circuitry, direct memory access (DMA) circuitry, input/output (I/O) circuitry, etc.Processing circuitry27 may also include suitable circuitry for displaying television programming.Personal computer23 may include, for example, a PC/TV card.Memory29 may be any suitable memory, such as random access memory (RAM) or read only memory (ROM), that is suitable for storing the computer instructions and data.Storage device31 may be any suitable storage device, such as a hard disk, floppy disk drive, flash RAM card, recordable CD-ROM drive, or any other suitable storage device.Communications device35 may be any suitable communications device, such as a conventional analog modem or cable modem.
• An illustrative arrangement foruser television equipment22 ofFIGS. 2a-2dis shown inFIG. 3.User television equipment22 ofFIG. 3 receives video or a digital video stream and data from distribution facility16 (FIG. 1) atinput26. During normal television viewing, a user tunes set-top box28 to a desired television channel. The signal for that television channel is then provided atvideo output30. The signal supplied atoutput30 is typically either a radio-frequency (RF) signal on a predefined channel (e.g., channel 3 or 4), or a analog demodulated video signal, but may also be a digital signal provided totelevision36 on an appropriate digital bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)1394 standard, (not shown)). The video signal atoutput30 is received by optionalsecondary storage device32.
• The interactive television program guide (or other application) may run on set-top box28, on television36 (iftelevision36 has suitable processing circuitry and memory), on a suitable analog or digital receiver connected totelevision36, or ondigital storage device31 ifdigital storage device31 has suitable processing circuitry and memory. The interactive television program guide may also run cooperatively on a suitable combination of these devices. Interactive television program guide systems in which a cooperative interactive television program guide runs on multiple devices are described, for example, in Ellis U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/186,598, filed Nov. 5, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• Secondary storage device32 can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device or player (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled by set-top box28 usingcontrol path34. Ifsecondary storage device32 is a videocassette recorder, for example, atypical control path34 involves the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to the infrared receiver in the videocassette recorder that normally accepts commands from a remote control such asremote control40.Remote control40 may be used to control set-top box28,secondary storage device32, andtelevision36.
• If desired, a user may record programs, program guide data, or a combination thereof in digital form on optionaldigital storage device31.Digital storage device31 may be a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. Interactive television program guide systems that have digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/157,256, filed Sep. 17, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• Digital storage device31 can be contained in set-top box28 or it can be an external device connected to set-top box28 via an output port and appropriate interface. If necessary, processing circuitry in set-top box28 formats the received video, audio and data signals into a digital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard or the Moving Joint Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG) standard. The resulting data is streamed todigital storage device31 via an appropriate bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)1394 standard), and is stored ondigital storage device31. In another suitable approach, an MPEG-2 data stream or series of files may be received fromdistribution equipment21 and stored.
• Television36 receives video signals fromsecondary storage device32 viacommunications path38. The video signals oncommunications path38 may either be generated bysecondary storage device32 when playing back a prerecorded storage medium (e.g., a videocassette or a recordable digital video disc), bydigital storage device31 when playing back a pre-recorded digital medium, may be passed through from set-top box28, may be provided directly totelevision36 from set-top box28 ifsecondary storage device32 is not included inuser television equipment22, or may be received directly bytelevision36. During normal television viewing, the video signals provided totelevision36 correspond to the desired channel to which a user has tuned with set-top box28. Video signals may also be provided totelevision36 by set-top box28 when set-top box28 is used to play back information stored ondigital storage device31.
• Set-top box28 may havememory44.Memory44 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing program guide instructions and program guide data for use by the program guide.
• Set-top box28 may havecommunications device37 for communicating directly withapplication server25 orInternet service system61 overcommunications path20.Communications device37 may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable communications device.Television36 may also have such a suitable communications device if desired. In another suitable approach,user television equipment22 may communicate withInternet service system61 viadistribution equipment21 using a suitable return path.
• A more generalized embodiment ofuser television equipment22 ofFIG. 3 is shown inFIG. 4. As shown inFIG. 4, program guide data from distribution facility16 (FIG. 1) is received bycontrol circuitry42 ofuser television equipment22. The functions ofcontrol circuitry42 may be provided using the set-top box arrangement ofFIGS. 2aand2b. Alternatively, these functions may be integrated into an advanced television receiver, personal computer television (PC/TV), or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such arrangements may be used.
• User television equipment22 may also havesecondary storage device47 anddigital storage device49 for recording programming.Secondary storage device47 can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled bycontrol circuitry42.Digital storage device49 may be, for example, a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device.
• User television equipment22 may also havememory63.Memory63 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing program guide instructions and program guide data for use bycontrol circuitry42.
• User television equipment22 ofFIG. 4 may also havecommunications device51 for supporting communications between the program guide (or other application) anddistribution equipment21 orInternet service system61 viacommunications path20.Communications device51 may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable communications device.
• Main facility12 ofFIG. 1 may includelog analyzer31 as described above.Log analyzer30 may make changes to a promotional selection algorithm if the algorithm does not provide for optimal selection of indicators of video-on-demand offerings. Updating promotional selection algorithms may be performed as described, for example, in above-mentioned Lumley et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/227,401, filed Jan. 9, 1999.FIG. 5 is an illustrative dataflow diagram for analyzing a selection log to determine if indicators are being selected optimally.Log analyzer31 may, for example, be programmed withdesirable occurrences database400 andundesirable occurrences database410.Desirable occurrences database400 may include a number of rules that define desirable selections.Desirable occurrences database400 may, for example, define as desirable having a large number of indicators for programs of a particular theme during a particular time slot, having certain indicators for programs in certain time slots for different time zones, having particular indicators sent to distribution facilities of a certain service configuration (e.g., providers of multiple video-on-demand channels as opposed to those with few), or any other suitable desirable occurrence.
• Undesirable occurrences database410 may include a number of rules that define undesirable selections.Undesirable occurrences database410 may define as undesirable, for example, having the same indicator presented more than one time in a row or more than a number of times an hour, having indicators of a particular theme during a particular time slot (e.g., adult video-on-demand promotions at 3:00 p.m.), or any other undesirable occurrence.
• Selectionlog analyzer engine420 running onlog analyzer31 may compare the selection log430 withdesirable occurrences database400 andundesirable occurrences database410. Selectionlog analyzer engine420 may be any suitable process or application capable of, for example, comparingselection log430,desirable occurrences database400, andundesirable occurrences database410. Selectionlog analyzer engine420 may make changes to the promotional selection algorithm to increase the likelihood of having desirable occurrences and to reduce the likelihood of having undesirable occurrences. The new promotional selection algorithm may be generated by selectionlog analyzer engine420 and provided bydata source14 tointeractive application equipment17 for use byindicator selector44 during indicator selection.
• The selection log may also be used bymain facility12 to test planned changes for a promotional selection algorithm.Main facility12 may have, for example, anindicator selector44 and alog generator43 to which indicators are supplied and selected according to a test promotional selection algorithm. The test promotional selection algorithm may, for example, be a modified version of the current algorithm used byindicator list generator44 at thedistribution facilities16, or it may be a totally new algorithm. The test selection log may be analyzed bylog analyzer31, and the system may change the test promotional selection algorithm if indicators are not being presented optimally. This process may continue until the test promotional selection algorithm selects indicators as close to optimally as may be determined without running the promotional selection algorithm in the field.
• The promotional selection algorithm already running oninteractive application equipment17 may be modified or may be replaced by the test promotional selection algorithm. Promotional selection algorithm testing may also be accomplished by running a test promotional selection algorithm oninteractive application equipment17 in addition to an already running promotional selection algorithm (e.g., as a separate process).
• The interactive display generated by the program guide or other interactive application may include any suitable indicator of video-on-demand offerings and any other suitable content. Indicators of video-on-demand offerings may include, for example, promotions for video-on-demand offerings, program listings for video-on-demand offerings, or any other suitable indicator. The interactive display may include, for example, a browse display that provides a user with an opportunity to browse video-on-demand program listings while watching a television program. The interactive display may include, for example, a series of buttons or other selectable on-screen display elements that contain listings for video-on-demand program listings. In still another suitable approach, the interactive display may include a screening room that allows users to watch previews or clips of video-on-demand programs by selecting video-on-demand program listings. Indicators of video-on-demand offerings are included in the interactive display based on the promotional selection algorithm.
• FIG. 6 shows illustrative “BROWSE”overlay230 that the program guide may display when a user opts to browse through program listings for a given time slot while watching a program. A user may browse through program listings by, for example, using remote control arrow keys. The BROWSE overlay allows a user to continue to watch a program on a particular channel (e.g., channel 2) while browsing for information on programs that are playing on other channels and at other times.
• The program guide may provide a user with an opportunity to change time slots and channels in order to browse through additional program listings for video-on-demand programs according to the selection algorithm.Indicator list generator44 may, for example, select program listings for video-on-demand programs before listings for regular channels. A user may indicate a desire to browse through additional program listings by, for example, pressing “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right” arrows to access additional channels and time slots. After the user browses through listing for video-on-demand programs, the program guide may provide listings for non-video-on-demand programs.
• Browseoverlay230 may also include selectable advertisements, such asselectable advertisements221.Selectable advertisements221 may, for example, include text, graphics, video, audio, animations, or other multimedia advertising the video-on-demand programs or other television programs, channels, or products. When a user selects aselectable advertisement221, the program guide may display information (e.g., video-on-demand program information) or take other actions related to the content of the advertisement.Advertisements221 may be included inbrowse overlay230 according to the selection algorithm. If desired, different selection algorithms may be run for selecting indicators and for selecting promotions.
• A main menu screen, such as illustrativemain menu screen100 ofFIG. 7, may includemenu102 of selectable program guide features106. If desired, program guide features106 may be organized according to feature type. Inmenu102, for example, program guide features106 have been organized into three columns. The column labeled “TV GUIDE” is for listings related features, the column labeled “MSO SHOWCASE” is for multiple service organization (MSO) related features, and the column labeled “VIEWER SERVICES” is for viewer related features. The interactive television program guide may generate a display screen for a particular program guide feature when a user selects that feature frommenu102.
• Main menu screen100 may include one or moreselectable advertisements108.Selectable advertisements108 may, for example, include text, graphics, video, audio, animations, or other multimedia advertising video-on-demand programs or other programs, channels, or products, based on the promotional selection algorithm. When a user selects aselectable advertisement108, the program guide may display information (e.g., video-on-demand program information) or take other actions related to the content of the advertisement. Pure text advertisements may be presented, if desired, as illustrated byselectable advertisement banner110.Advertisements108 and110 may be included in main menu screen100 (or other screens) according to one or more promotional selection algorithms if desired.
• Main menu screen100 may also include other screen elements. The brand of the program guide product may be indicated, for example, using a product brand logo graphic such as productbrand logo graphic112. The identity of the television service provider may be presented, for example, using a service provider logo graphic such as serviceprovider logo graphic114. The logos may be included in the program guide data allowing for on-the-fly configurability of the display screens. The current time may be displayed inclock display region116. In addition, a suitable indicator such as indicator graphic118 may be used to indicate to a user that mail from a cable operator or program guide provider is waiting for a user if the program guide supports messaging functions.
• The interactive television program guide may provide a user with an opportunity to view video-on-demand program listings. A user may indicate a desire to view video-on-demand program listings by, for example,positioning highlight region120 over a desiredprogram guide feature106, such as “VOD Listings”feature106. Alternatively, the program guide may present video-on-demand program listings when a user presses a suitable key (e.g., a “guide” key) onremote control40. When a user indicates a desire to view video-on-demand program listings, the program guide generates an appropriate video-on-demand program listings screen for display on display device45 (FIG. 4). A video-on-demand program listings screen may contain one or more groups or lists of video-on-demand program listings organized according to one or more organization criteria (e.g., by time, by program category, etc.).
• The program guide may, for example, provide a user with an opportunity to view video-on-demand listings by time, according to a number of categories (e.g., movies, sports, children, etc.), or may allow a user to search for a listing by title. Video-on-demand program listings may be displayed using any suitable list, table, grid, or other suitable display arrangement. If desired, video-on-demand program listings screens may include selectable advertisements, product brand logo graphics, service provider brand graphics, clocks, or any other suitable indicator or graphic.
• An illustrative video-on-demand by time program listings screen130 is shown inFIG. 8. Program listings screen130 ofFIG. 8 may includehighlight region151, which highlights thecurrent program listing150. A user may positionhighlight region151 by entering appropriate commands withuser interface46. For example, ifuser interface46 has a keypad, a user can positionhighlight region151 using “up” and “down” arrow keys onremote control40. A user may select a listing by, for example, pressing on the “OK” or “info” key onremote control40. Alternatively, a touch sensitive screen, trackball, voice recognition device, or other suitable device may be used to movehighlight region151 or to select program listings without the use ofhighlight region151. In still another approach, a user may speak a television program listing into a voice request recognition system. These methods of selecting program listings are merely illustrative. Any other suitable approach for selecting program listings may be used if desired.
• A user may view additional video-on-demand listings for the time slot indicated intimebar111 by, for example, pressing an “up” or “down” arrow, or a “page up” or “page down” key onremote control40. The user may also see listings for the next 24 hour period, or the last 24 hour period, by pressing a “day forward” or “day backward” key onremote control40, respectively. If there are no listings starting exactly 24 hours in the indicated direction, the program guide may pick programs starting at either closer or further than 24 hours away. If desired, the program guide may require a user to scroll throughadvertisement banner110. A user may view program listings for other time slots by, for example, pressing “right” and “left” arrows onremote control40, or by scrolling up or down until listings for the next time slot are displayed.Timebar111 may change its display to the previous or next time slot accordingly.
• As shown inFIG. 7, the displayed indicators, in thisexample listings150, are not displayed in channel or source order because the listings are displayed according to a promotional selection algorithm which may causeindicator selector44 to select listings from video-on-demand channels or sources in a way that presents the most desirable indicators (e.g., the indicators that satisfy primary playability levels of a promotional philosophy) before other indicators. If desired, the sources for the indicators may be generated in real time, andlistings150 labeled accordingly, so that the user is not aware that the listings are presented out of order.
• FIG. 9 shows another illustrative interactive display in which indicators of video-on-demand programming are displayed according to a promotional selection algorithm.Screening room900 ofFIG. 9 may provide users with an opportunity to preview one or more video-on-demand programs by, for example, selecting alisting150. Thelistings150 are selected for presentation byindicator selector44 according to the promotional selection algorithm. In this example, the promotional philosophy may require that only movies starring Arnold Schwarzeneggar are available for previewing.Video window910 may display a clip of a movie or a trailer associated with a movie when the user selects alisting150. In another suitable approach, the display ofvideo window910 may be synchronized with the currently highlightedlistings150; that is, as the user navigates withinlistings150, video window810 may display a clip or preview associated with the currently highlighted listing.
• FIGS. 10-11 are flowcharts of illustrative steps involved in providing indicators of video-on-demand programs according to a promotional selection algorithm in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The steps shown inFIGS. 10-12 are illustrative and may generally be performed in any suitable order.FIG. 10 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in operating the system ofFIG. 1.Main facility12 provides data on promotions for indicators tointeractive application equipment17 atstep1000. Atstep1010, environmental situations, e.g., the weather, are detected and detectable environmental situation information is provided toindicator selector44.
• Atstep1020, indicators are selected fordisplay1020 byindicator selector44. Indicators are selected for display according to the promotional selection algorithm, such as a promotional philosophy. The selected indicators are presented in the interactive display atstep1030. The interactive display may be any suitable display such as, for example, a browse display, listings screen, screening room, or any other suitable interactive display.
• Information on which indicators are selected or presented is stored bylog generator43 in a selection log atstep1040. Atstep1050, the selection log may be provided tomain facility12 for analysis. The selection log may be provided tomain facility12 using any suitable transmission method (e.g., telephone dial-up, very small aperture transmission (VSAT), portable storage media, etc.). The selection log may be analyzed bylog analyzer31 to determine if indicators are being optimally selected or presented (step1060). For example, the selection log may be compared with a desirable occurrences and an undesirable occurrences database. If desired, the promotional selection algorithm can be changed to increase the likelihood of desirable occurrences and to decrease the likelihood of undesirable occurrences (step1070). Atstep1080, the changed promotional selection algorithm may be provided tointeractive application equipment17.
• FIG. 11 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in testing a promotional selection algorithm in accordance with the present invention. Testing of a promotional selection algorithm may be desirable when changes to the promotional selection algorithm are proposed and it is desirable to see how the new promotional selection algorithm will affect the selection of indicators for the interactive display. Atstep1100, a promotional selection algorithm is tested using the selection log to determine if the system will select indicators optimally. This may be accomplished, for example, by comparing the selection log with a desirable occurrence database and an undesirable occurrences database. The testing may be performed at the main facility or other interested testing facility, or by monitoring a separate process running oninteractive application equipment17. System testing information (e.g., the types or number of desirable and undesirable occurrences that occur) may be generated atstep1110. If the promotional selection algorithm as tested is desirable, changes to the existing promotional selection algorithm are made accordingly at step144. The existing promotional selection algorithm may be replaced by the test promotional selection algorithm.
• Thus, an interactive display having indicators of video-on-demand programs selected according to a promotional selection algorithm is provided. The principles of the present invention may be applied to any suitable system in which any type of information or programming, whether data, audio, video, test or graphic, and whether analog or digital, is provided on demand. For example, the principles of the present invention may be used in an audio-on-demand system. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims (24)

1. A method for providing video-on-demand program listings in an interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm comprising:

receiving video-on-demand program listings, advertisements associated with video-on-demand programs, and data that define the promotional selection algorithm;

selecting one or more of the video-on-demand program listings for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm as defined by the data; and

selecting one or more of the advertisements for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm; and

generating an interactive display that presents the video-on-demand program listings and the advertisements selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.

2. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein the interactive display is a browse display that provides a user with an opportunity to browse through the video-on-demand program listings selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.

3. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein the interactive display is a video-on-demand program listings display that provides a user with an opportunity to navigate within the video-on-demand program listings selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.

4. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein the interactive display is a screening room that provides a user with an opportunity to preview a video-on-demand program associated with a program listing selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.

5. (canceled)

6. The method defined inclaim 1 further comprising providing the video-on-demand program listings.

7. The method defined inclaim 1 wherein selecting one or more of the video-on-demand program listings comprises selecting the one or more of the video-on-demand program listings according to a user preference profile.

8. The method defined inclaim 1 further comprising:

generating a selection log; and

updating the promotional selection algorithm based on the selection log.

9. A system in which video-on-demand program listings are provided in an interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm comprising:

means for receiving video-on-demand program listings, advertisements associated with video-on-demand programs, and data that define the promotional selection algorithm;

means for selecting one or more of the video-on-demand program listings for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm as defined by the data;

means for selecting one or more of the advertisements for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm; and

means for generating an interactive display that presents the video-on-demand program listings and the advertisements selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.

10. The system defined inclaim 8 wherein the interactive display is a browse display that provides a user with an opportunity to browse through the video-on-demand program listings selected by the means for selecting according to the promotional selection algorithm.

11. The system defined inclaim 9 wherein the interactive display is a video-on-demand program listings display that provides a user with an opportunity to navigate within the video-on-demand program listings selected by the means for selecting according to the promotional selection algorithm.

12. The system defined inclaim 9 wherein the interactive display is a screening room that provides a user with an opportunity to preview a video-on-demand program associated with a program listing selected by the means for selecting according to the promotional selection algorithm.

13. (canceled)

14. The system defined inclaim 9 further comprising means for providing the video-on-demand program listings.

15. The system defined inclaim 9 wherein the means for selecting one or more of the video-on-demand program listings comprises means for selecting the one or more of the video-on-demand program listings according to a user preference profile.

16. The system defined inclaim 9 further comprising:

means for generating a selection log; and

means for updating the promotional selection algorithm based on the selection log.

17. A system in which video-on-demand program listings are provided in an interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm comprising:

a communications device configured to receive video-on-demand program listings, advertisements associated with video-on-demand programs, and data that define the promotional selection algorithm;

an indicator selector configured to select one or more of the video-on-demand program listings for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm as defined by the data, the indicator selector is further configured to select one or more of the advertisements for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm; and

an interactive application configured to generate an interactive display that presents the video-on-demand program listings and the advertisements selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.

18. The system defined inclaim 15 wherein the interactive display is a browse display that provides a user with an opportunity to browse through the video-on-demand program listings selected by the indicator selector according to the promotional selection algorithm.

19. The system defined inclaim 17 wherein the interactive display is a video-on-demand program listings display that provides a user with an opportunity to navigate within the video-on-demand program listings selected by the indicator selector according to the promotional selection algorithm.

20. The system defined inclaim 17 wherein the interactive display is a screening room that provides a user with an opportunity to preview a video-on-demand program associated with a program listing selected by the indicator selection according to the promotional selection algorithm.

21. (canceled)

22. The system defined inclaim 17 further comprising a data source configured to provide the video-on-demand program listings.

23. The system defined inclaim 17 wherein the indicator selector is further configured to select one or more of the video-on-demand program listings according to a user preference profile.

24. The system defined inclaim 17 further comprising:

a log generator configured to generate a selection log; and

a log analyzer configured to receive the selection log and update the promotional selection algorithm based on the selection log.

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