System and method for customizing content-access lists
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for customizing the presentation of a content-access list based on subscriber-specific information, such as historic viewing preferences and related information are described. An embodiment of the present invention includes a content-access-history database, a content database, and an option list creator, which combines data in the content-access-history and content databases to create lists of content-access options that are customized for individual subscribers. In one embodiment, a subscribers television viewing patterns and related behaviors are analyzed and the options in an electronic program guide (EPG) are filtered and sorted based on the results of the analysis.
1. A method for providing a content option list, comprising:
receiving a preference for a subscriber from a content-access-history database;
searching a content database for content related to said preference;
searching said content database for content unrelated to said preference;
receiving a first option list from said content database, wherein said first option list comprises an option;
receiving a non-preference-related option from said content database;
adding said non-preference-related option to said option list; and
delivering said first option list to said subscriber.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sorting said first option list based on said preference.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sorting said first option list by a preference rating attribute.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said content-access-history database comprises a category attribute.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising sorting said first option list by said category attribute.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said content-access-history database comprises a television-viewing-history database.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said content database comprises a television-programming database.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first option list comprises a multi-level menu.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first option list comprises an electronic program guide.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first option list comprises an image displayed on a television screen.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said option provides access to a second option list.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said option provides access to a content source.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said delivering comprises sending said first option list to a television set-top box.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said delivering comprises displaying said first option list.
15. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded computer-readable instructions for providing a content option list comprising:
program code for receiving a preference for a subscriber from a content-access-history database;
program code for searching a content database for content related to said preference;
program code for searching said content database for content unrelated to said preference;
program code for receiving a first option list from said content database, wherein said first option list comprises an option;
program code for receiving a non-preference-related option from said content database;
program code for adding said non-preference-related option to said option list; and
program code for delivering said first option list to said subscriber.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising program code for sorting said first option list by a said preference rating attribute.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising program code for sorting said first option list by a category attribute.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein said program code for delivering comprises program code for sending said first option list to a television set-top box.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein said program code for delivering comprises program code for displaying said first option list.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising program code for sorting said first option list based on a preference.