Enhanced electronic program guides
A method and system for rating programs, the method including, receiving a sample of viewing logs from a plurality of set top boxes (STBs), determining, from the sample of viewing logs, at least groups of viewers sharing similar interests, and groups of programs sharing similar audience, computing time dynamics of rating distribution for the groups of viewers and the groups of programs, and incorporating at least one of the following into broadcast metadata: the time dynamics of rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each of the groups of programs, rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each of the groups of programs marginalized by time, rating distributions of the groups of viewers for each program marginalized by time, relative sizes of each group of viewers, and a mapping of each program to groups of programs, thereby making the broadcast metadata available to the plurality of STBs for use in computing ratings. Related systems and methods are described.
1 - 5 . (canceled)
6 . A method for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the method comprising:
assigning a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100% each time any type of signaling activity is detected; and
smoothly decreasing the level of confidence in viewer presence over time.
7 . The method according to claim 6 and wherein the signaling comprises electrical appliance remote control signaling.
8 . The method according to claim 7 and wherein the signaling comprises TV remote control signaling.
9 . The method according to claim 7 and wherein the signaling comprises air conditioning signaling.
10 . The method according to claim 6 and wherein the signaling comprises infrared signaling.
11 . The method according to claim 6 and wherein the signaling comprises Bluetooth signaling.
12 . The method according to claim 6 and wherein the signaling comprises FM signaling.
13 . A method for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the method comprising:
initially setting a level of confidence in viewer preference to be “undefined”;
whenever any type of signaling activity is detected, assigning a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100%; and
whenever the level of confidence in viewer preference is less than or equal to 100% and more than 0%, smoothly decreasing the level of confidence in viewer presence over time.
14 . The method according to claim 13 and wherein the signaling comprises electrical appliance remote control signaling.
15 . The method according to claim 14 and wherein the signaling comprises TV remote control signaling.
16 . The method according to claim 14 and wherein the signaling comprises air conditioning signaling.
17 . The method according to claim 13 or and wherein the signaling comprises infrared signaling.
18 . The method according to claim 13 and wherein the signaling comprises Bluetooth signaling.
19 . The method according to claim 13 and wherein the signaling comprises FM signaling.
20 . A method for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the method comprising:
receiving a first remote control signal at the STB;
assigning a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100% in response to receiving the first remote control signal;
smoothly decreasing the level of confidence in viewer presence over time;
receiving a second remote control signal at the STB; and
setting the level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100%.
21 . The method according to claim 20 and wherein the decreasing comprises exponential decreasing.
22 . The method according to claim 20 and wherein the level of confidence in viewer presence drops at the end of a broadcast program.
23 . The method according to claim 20 and wherein the signaling comprises electrical appliance remote control signaling.
24 . The method according to claim 23 and wherein the signaling comprises TV remote control signaling.
25 . The method according to claim 23 and wherein the signaling comprises air conditioning signaling.
26 . The method according to claim 20 and wherein the signaling comprises infrared signaling.
27 . The method according to claim 20 and wherein the signaling comprises Bluetooth signaling.
28 . The method according to claim 20 and wherein the signaling comprises FM signaling.
29 - 46 . (canceled)
47 . A system for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the system comprising:
a level of confidence assigning unit operative to assign a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100% each time any type of signaling activity is detected; and
the level of confidence assigning unit further operative to smoothly decrease the level of confidence in viewer presence over time.
48 . A system for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the system comprising:
a level of confidence assigning unit initially sets a level of confidence in viewer preference to be “undefined”;
whenever any type of signaling activity is detected, the level of confidence assigning unit assigns a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100%; and
whenever the level of confidence in viewer preference is less than or equal to 100% and more than 0%, the level of confidence assigning unit smoothly decreases the level of confidence in viewer presence over time.
49 . A system for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the system comprising:
a level of confidence assigning unit receives a first remote control signal at the STB;
the level of confidence assigning unit assigns a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100% in response to receiving the first remote control signal;
the level of confidence assigning unit smoothly decreases the level of confidence in viewer presence over time;
the level of confidence assigning unit receives a second remote control signal at the STB; and
the level of confidence assigning unit sets the level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100%.
50 . A system for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the system comprising:
level of confidence assigning means for assigning a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100% each time any type of signaling activity is detected; and
level of confidence decreasing means for smoothly decreasing the level of confidence in viewer presence over time.
51 . A system for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the system comprising:
level of confidence assigning means for initially setting a level of confidence in viewer preference to be “undefined”;
the level of confidence assigning means assigning a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100% whenever any type of signaling activity is detected; and
level of confidence decreasing means for smoothly decreasing the level of confidence in viewer presence over time whenever the level of confidence in viewer preference is less than or equal to 100% and more than 0%.
52 . A system for determining confidence in viewer presence near a set top box (STB), the system comprising:
receiving means for receiving a first remote control signal at the STB;
level of confidence assigning means for assigning a level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100% in response to receiving the first remote control signal;
level of confidence decreasing means for smoothly decreasing the level of confidence in viewer presence over time;
second receiving means for receiving a second remote control signal at the STB; and
the level of confidence assigning means operative to set the level of confidence in viewer presence to be 100%.