Method and apparatus for providing a personalized television channel
A method and apparatus for providing a personalized channel on packet networks are disclosed. For example, a customer may subscribe to a personalized channel service. In one embodiment, a network service provider determines a customer's viewing preference and matches the customer's viewing preference to at least one program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels. In turn, the personalized channel is populated with the at least one program, i.e., with the program of most interest to the customer.
1. A method for providing a personalized channel to a customer, comprising:
determining, via a processor of an application server of a service provider network, a customer's viewing preference;
matching, via the processor, the customer's viewing preference to a program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels;
creating, via the processor, a personalized channel populated with the program, wherein the personalized channel is different from the plurality of broadcast channels;
detecting, via the processor, an availability of another program of interest that is different from the program;
detecting, via the processor, a commercial on the program on the personalized channel; and
splicing, via the processor, a portion of the another program of interest onto the personalized channel to replace the commercial on the program on the personalized channel, wherein the another program comprises a program that is derived from another channel, wherein the portion of the another program of interest is not a commercial.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a program guide for the personalized channel.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the customer's viewing preference is determined in accordance with a user profile.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the customer's viewing preference is determined dynamically by monitoring the customer's viewing selections.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the customer's viewing preference is determined dynamically via a set-top box.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving feedback from the customer for changing the program on the personalized channel.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of an application server of a service provider network, cause the processor to perform operations for providing a personalized channel to a customer, the operations comprising:
determining a customer's viewing preference;
matching the customer's viewing preference to a program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels;
creating a personalized channel populated with the program, wherein the personalized channel is different from the plurality of broadcast channels;
detecting an availability of another program of interest that is different from the program;
detecting a commercial on the program on the personalized channel; and
splicing a portion of the another program of interest onto the personalized channel to replace the commercial on the program on the personalized channel, wherein the another program comprises a program that is derived from another channel, wherein the portion of the another program of interest is not a commercial.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising:
providing a program guide for the personalized channel.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the customer's viewing preference is determined in accordance with a user profile.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the customer's viewing preference is determined dynamically by monitoring the customer's viewing selections.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the customer's viewing preference is determined dynamically via a set-top box.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving feedback from the customer for changing the program on the personalized channel.
13. A system for providing a personalized channel to a customer, comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
determining a customer's viewing preference;
matching the customer's viewing preference to a program that is currently being broadcasted on one of a plurality of broadcast channels;
creating a personalized channel populated with the program, wherein the personalized channel is different from the plurality of broadcast channels;
detecting an availability of another program of interest that is different from the program;
detecting a commercial on the program on the personalized channel; and
splicing a portion of the another program of interest onto the personalized channel to replace the commercial on the program on the personalized channel, wherein the another program comprises a program that is derived from another channel, wherein the portion of the another program of interest is not a commercial.
14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
providing a program guide for the personalized channel.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the customer's viewing preference is determined in accordance with a user profile.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the customer's viewing preference is determined dynamically via a set-top box.