IP Library Granted Patent US 12,368,932
Granted Patent B2
US 12,368,932 · App. 17/546,623 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

System and method for a self adaptive multi-user program guide

Inventors: Paul D. Arling (Irvine, CA); Patrick H. Hayes (Mission Viejo, CA)
Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
H04N21/4825H04N5/76H04N21/23109H04N21/4143H04N21/4147H04N21/42204H04N21/4223H04N21/4415H04N21/44204H04N21/44218H04N21/44231H04N21/4532H04N21/4622H04N21/4753H04N21/482H04N21/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,368,932
App. No.
17/546,623
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A programming access device such as, for example, a cable or satellite set top box (STB), a digital video recorder (DVR), a personal computer, and/or a digital media receivers automatically optimizes an order of or filters content choices presented in a content listing, such as a program guide display, favorite channel display, and/or a recording listing display based on the past viewing and/or recording history of a current user or group of users.

Claims (26)

1. A content consumption device, comprising:

one or more hardware processors and memory configured to:

assign a plurality of identifying devices to a user group in response to detecting a contemporaneous presence of the plurality of identifying devices on a local area network that includes the content consumption device;

monitor interactions with the content consumption device to accumulate behavior history data for the user group;

and

provide access to content via the content consumption device according to the behavior history data for the user group in response to a subsequent detection of the contemporaneous presence of the plurality of identifying devices on the local area network that includes the content consumption device.

2. The content consumption device of claim 1 , wherein the identifying devices comprise smart phones.

3. The content consumption device of claim 1 , wherein the identifying devices comprise remote control devices.

4. The content consumption device of claim 1 , wherein the content consumption device comprises a set-top box device.

5. The content consumption device of claim 1 , wherein the content consumption device comprises a television.

6. A method, comprising:

assigning a plurality of identifying devices to a user group in response to detecting a contemporaneous presence of the plurality of identifying devices on a local area network that includes a content consumption device;

monitoring interactions with the content consumption device to accumulate behavior history data for the user group; and

providing access to content via the content consumption device according to the behavior history data for the user group in response to a subsequent detection of the contemporaneous presence of the plurality of identifying devices on the local area network that includes the content consumption device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the identifying devices comprise smart phones.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the identifying devices comprise remote control devices.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the content consumption device comprises a set-top box device.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the content consumption device comprises a television.

11. A non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a performance of steps comprising:

assigning a plurality of identifying devices to a user group in response to detecting a contemporaneous presence of the plurality of identifying devices on a local area network that includes a content consumption device;

monitoring interactions with the content consumption device to accumulate behavior history data for the user group; and

providing access to content via the content consumption device according to the behavior history data for the user group in response to a subsequent detection of the contemporaneous presence of the plurality of identifying devices on the local area network that includes the content consumption device.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the identifying devices comprise smart phones.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the identifying devices comprise remote control devices.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the content consumption device comprises a set-top box device.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the content consumption device comprises a television.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2024
From: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 067417/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2021
From: ARLING, PAUL D; HAYES, PATRICK H.
To: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 058349/0230 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16595023 · Oct 7, 2019
Continuation 14949085 · Nov 23, 2015
Division 13570399 · Aug 9, 2012
Related Publication 20220103909A1 · Mar 31, 2022
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