INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH DATA COLLECTION

SYSTEMES TELEVISUELS INTERACTIFS A RECOLTE DE DONNEES

English Abstract

A system is provided based on user equipment such as a set-top box or computer
on which an interactive television application may be implemented. Information
may be collected on the television viewing activities of a user and the user's
interactions with the interactive television application. The interactive
television application may be an interactive television program guide. The
collected information may be transmitted to a data collection facility using e-
mail protocols, using the communications capabilities of a web browser, using
a stand-alone FTP application, or using the communications capabilities of an
operating system installed on the user equipment.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un système s'appuyant sur l'équipement de l'utilisateur, par exemple un décodeur ou un ordinateur, sur lequel on peut mettre en oeuvre une application télévisuelle interactive. Des informations peuvent être recueillies sur les activités d'écoute télévisuelles d'un utilisateur et les interactions de ce dernier avec l'application télévisuelle interactive. Ladite application peut être un guide de programme de télévision interactive. Les informations récoltées peuvent être transmises à une installation de récolte de données à l'aide de protocoles de courrier électronique, des capacités de communications d'un navigateur web, d'une application de protocole de transfert de fichier (FTP) autonome ou des capacités de communications d'un système d'exploitation installé sur l'équipement de l'utilisateur.

Claims

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What is Claimed is:
1. A method for collecting information on
the television viewing activities of a user at user
equipment and providing that information to a data
collection facility, comprising:
collecting information on the television
viewing activities of the user by monitoring which
television channels the user tunes to with the user
equipment; and
transmitting the collected information
on the viewing activities of the user to the data
collection facility using e-mail protocols.
2. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising using an e-mail application to transmit the
collected information.
3. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising using the post office protocol to transmit
the collected information.
4. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising using the Simple Mail Transport Protocol to
transmit the information.
5. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising collecting the information on the television
viewing habits of the user with an interactive
television program guide.
6. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising:

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collecting the information on the
television viewing habits of the user with an
interactive television program guide; and
transmitting the information on the
television viewing habits of the user that were
collected with the interactive television program guide
to the data collection facility.
7. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising collecting the information on the television
viewing habits of the user with an interactive
television application.
8. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising:
collecting the information on the
television viewing habits of the user with an
interactive television application; and
transmitting the information on the
television viewing habits of the user that were
collected with the interactive television application
to the data collection facility.
9. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising collecting information on interactions of
the user with an interactive television program guide.
10. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising using an interactive television program
guide to collect information on interactions of the
user with the interactive television program guide.

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11. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising:
collecting information on interactions
of the user with an interactive television program
guide; and
transmitting the information collected
on the interactions of the user with the interactive
television program guide to the data collection
facility.
12. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising collecting information on interactions of
the user with an interactive television application.
13. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising using an interactive television application
to collect information on interactions of the user with
the interactive television application.
14. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising:
collecting information on interactions
of the user with an interactive television application;
and
transmitting the information collected
on the interactions of the user with the interactive
television application to the data collection facility.
15. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising collecting information on what times the
user tunes to the television channels.

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16. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
the user equipment includes a set-top box, the method
further comprising allowing the user to use an
interactive television program guide to tune the set-
top box to a given television channel.
17. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
the user equipment includes a digital video recorder,
the method further comprising allowing the user to use
an interactive television program guide to tune the
digital video recorder to a given television channel.
18. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
the user equipment includes a personal computer, the
method further comprising allowing the user to use an
interactive television program guide to tune the
personal computer to a given television channel.
19. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising using an interactive television program
guide to display program listings on the user equipment
for the user.
20. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising displaying an interactive menu on the user
equipment that includes options that allow the user to
invoke at least an interactive television program guide
and a video-on-demand application.
21. The method defined in claim 1 wherein
collecting information on the television viewing habits
of the user comprises collecting information on the

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television viewing habits of the user by monitoring the
time and by monitoring the channels tuned to by the
user with an interactive television program guide.
22. The method defined in claim 1 wherein
collecting information on the television viewing habits
of the user comprises storing information on the
television viewing habits of the user in storage on the
user equipment.
23. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
an interactive television program guide is implemented
on the user equipment, the user equipment is connected
to a television distribution facility by a
communications path, and program listings data is
provided from a program listings source, the method
further comprising:
receiving the program listings data at
the television distribution facility from the program
listings source; and
providing the program listings data from
the television distribution facility to the interactive
television program guide on the user equipment over the
communications path.
24. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises
transmitting the collected information using paging
frequencies.
25. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises

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transmitting the collected information using digital
subscriber line communications.
26. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises
transmitting the collected information using cable
communications.
27. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises
transmitting the collected information using
communications over telephone lines.
28. The method defined in claim 1, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises
transmitting the collected information to a server.
29. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising transmitting the collected information to
the data collection facility over a wireless path.
30. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising notifying the user before transmitting the
collected information to the data collection facility.
31. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising:
notifying the user before transmitting
the collected information to the data collection
facility; and

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providing the user with an opportunity
to choose whether to send the collected information to
the data collection facility.
32. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising transmitting the collected information in an
e-mail attachment.
33. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising transmitting the collected information in
the body of an e-mail message.
34. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising:
using a program guide to generate an e-
mail message with which to provide the collected
information to the data collection facility as a
report; and
automatically setting the reply address
in the e-mail message to the e-mail address of the data
collection facility.
35. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising sending an e-mail message to an in-box
associated with the user equipment before transmitting
the collected information to the data collection
facility.
36. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising providing the user with an opportunity to
authorize submission of the collected information

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before transmitting the collected information to the
data collection facility.
37. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising analyzing the collected information at the
data collection facility.
38. The method defined in claim 1 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
television distribution facility.
39. The method defined in claim 1 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
cable system headend.
40. The method defined in claim 1 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
television distribution facility and wherein the user
equipment is in communication with the television
distribution facility, the method further comprising
transmitting the collected information to the data
collection facility through the television distribution
facility.
41. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising transmitting the collected information to
the data collection facility over the Internet.
42. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising allowing the user to authorize transmission
of the collected information using a setup option.

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43. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising allowing the user to select a desired
frequency for transmitting the collected information.
44. The method defined in claim 1 further
comprising providing the user with a setup option that
allows the user to choose whether to notify the user
prior to transmitting the collected information to the
data collection facility.
45. A system including user equipment in
which information on the television viewing activities
of a user at the user equipment is provided to a data
collection facility, comprising:
control circuitry;
a display; and
a user input interface, wherein the
control circuitry, display, and user interface are
configured to:
collect information on the television
viewing activities of the user by monitoring which
television channels the user tunes to with the control
circuitry; and
transmit the collected information on
the viewing activities of the user to the data
collection facility using e-mail protocols.
46. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an e-mail application to
transmit the collected information.

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47. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use the post office protocol to
transmit the collected information.
48. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use the Simple Mail Transport
Protocol to transmit the information.
49. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect the information on the
television viewing habits of the user with an
interactive television program guide.
50. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
collect the information on the
television viewing habits of the user with an
interactive television program guide; and
transmit the information on the
television viewing habits of the user that were
collected with the interactive television program guide
to the data collection facility.
51. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect the information on the
television viewing habits of the user with an
interactive television application.

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52. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
collect the information on the
television viewing habits of the user with an
interactive television application; and
transmit the information on the
television viewing habits of the user that were
collected with the interactive television application
to the data collection facility.
53. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on
interactions of the user with an interactive television
program guide.
54. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an interactive television
program guide to collect information on interactions of
the user with the interactive television program guide.
55. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
collect information on interactions of
the user with an interactive television program guide;
and
transmit the information collected on
the interactions of the user with the interactive

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television program guide to the data collection
facility.
56. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on
interactions of the user with an interactive television
application.
57. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an interactive television
application to collect information on interactions of
the user with the interactive television application.
58. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
collect information on interactions of
the user with an interactive television application;
and
transmit the information collected on
the interactions of the user with the interactive
television application to the data collection facility.
59. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on what times
the user tunes to the television channels.
60. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
the user equipment includes a set-top box, and wherein

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the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to allow the user to use an
interactive television program guide to tune the set-
top box to a given television channel.
61. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
the user equipment includes a digital video recorder,
and wherein the control circuitry, display, and user
interface are further configured to allow the user to
use an interactive television program guide to tune the
digital video recorder to a given television channel.
62. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
the user equipment includes a personal computer, and
wherein the control circuitry, display, and user
interface are further configured to allow the user to
use an interactive television program guide to tune the
personal computer to a given television channel.
63. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an interactive television
program guide to display program listings on the user
equipment for the user.
64. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to display an interactive menu on
the user equipment that includes options that allow the
user to invoke at least an interactive television
program guide and a video-on-demand application.

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65. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on the
television viewing habits of the user by monitoring the
time and by monitoring the channels tuned to by the
user with an interactive television program guide.
66. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to store the collected information
on the television viewing habits of the user in storage
on the user equipment.
67. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
an interactive television program guide is implemented
on the user equipment, the user equipment is connected
to a television distribution facility by a
communications path, and program listings data is
provided from a program listings source, and the
television distribution facility is configured to
receive the program listings data at the television
distribution facility from the program listings source
and provide the program listings data from the
television distribution facility to the interactive
television program guide on the user equipment over the
communications path.
68. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using paging frequencies.

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69. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using digital subscriber line
communications.
70. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using cable communications.
71. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using communications over telephone lines.
72. The system defined in claim 45, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information to a server.
73. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information to the data collection facility over a
wireless path.
74. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to notify the user before
transmitting the collected information to the data
collection facility.

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75. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
notify the user before transmitting the
collected information to the data collection facility;
and
provide the user with an opportunity to
choose whether to send the collected information to the
data collection facility.
76. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information in an e-mail attachment.
77. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information in the body of an e-mail message.
78. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
use a program guide to generate an e-
mail message with which to provide the collected
information to the data collection facility as a
report; and
automatically set the reply address in
the e-mail message to the e-mail address of the data
collection facility.

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79. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to send an e-mail message to an in-
box associated with the user equipment before
transmitting the collected information to the data
collection facility.
80. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to provide the user with an
opportunity to authorize submission of the collected
information before transmitting the collected
information to the data collection facility.
81. The system defined in claim 45 further
comprising means for analyzing the collected
information at the data collection facility.
82. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
television distribution facility.
83. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
cable system headend.
84. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
television distribution facility, wherein the user
equipment is in communication with the television
distribution facility, and wherein the control
circuitry, display, and user interface are further

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configured to transmit the collected information to the
data collection facility through the television
distribution facility.
85. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information to the data collection facility over the
Internet.
86. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to allow the user to authorize
transmission of the collected information using a setup
option.
87. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to allow the user to select a
desired frequency for transmitting the collected
information.
88. The system defined in claim 45 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to provide the user with a setup
option that allows the user to choose whether to notify
the user prior to transmitting the collected
information to the data collection facility.
89. A method for collecting information on
interactions of a user at user equipment with an
interactive television application implemented on the

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user equipment and providing that information to a data
collection facility, comprising:
collecting information on the
interactions of the user with the interactive
television application; and
transmitting the collected information
on interactions of the user with the interactive
television application to the data collection facility
using e-mail protocols.
90. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising using an e-mail application to transmit the
collected information.
91. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising using the post office protocol to transmit
the collected information.
92. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising using the Simple Mail Transport Protocol to
transmit the information.
93. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising collecting the information with an
interactive television program guide.
94. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising collecting information on the television
viewing habits of the user with an interactive
television program guide and collecting the information
on the user's interactions with the interactive

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television application using the interactive television
program guide.
95. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising:
collecting information on the television
viewing activities of the user with an interactive
television program guide; and
transmitting the information collected
on the television viewing activities of the user to the
data collection facility.
96. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising collecting information on the television
viewing activities of the user with the interactive
television application.
97. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising using an interactive television program
guide to collect information on the television viewing
habits of the user.
98. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising collecting information on what times the
user tunes to television channels.
99. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
the user equipment includes a set-top box, the method
further comprising allowing the user to use an
interactive television program guide to tune the set-
top box to a given television channel.

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100. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
the user equipment includes a digital video recorder,
the method further comprising allowing the user to use
an interactive television program guide to tune the
digital video recorder to a given television channel.
101. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
the user equipment includes a personal computer, the
method further comprising allowing the user to use an
interactive television program guide to tune the
personal computer to a given television channel.
102. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising using an interactive television program
guide to display program listings on the user equipment
for the user.
103. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising displaying an interactive menu on the user
equipment that includes options that allow the user to
invoke at least an interactive television program guide
and a video-on-demand application.
104. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising collecting information on the television
viewing habits of the user comprises by monitoring the
time and by monitoring the channels tuned to by the
user with an interactive television program guide.
105. The method defined in claim 89 wherein
collecting the information comprises storing the
information in storage on the user equipment.

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106. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
an interactive television program guide is implemented
on the user equipment, the user equipment is connected
to a television distribution facility by a
communications path, and program listings data is
provided from a program listings source, the method
further comprising:
receiving the program listings data at
the television distribution facility from the program
listings source; and
providing the program listings data from
the television distribution facility to the interactive
television program guide on the user equipment over the
communications path.
107. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises
transmitting the collected information using paging
frequencies.
108. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises
transmitting the collected information using digital
subscriber line communications.
109. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises
transmitting the collected information using cable
communications.
110. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises

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transmitting the collected information using
communications over telephone lines.
111. The method defined in claim 89, wherein
transmitting the collected information comprises
transmitting the collected information to a server.
112. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising transmitting the collected information to
the data collection facility over a wireless path.
113. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising notifying the user before transmitting the
collected information to the data collection facility.
114. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising:
notifying the user before transmitting
the collected information to the data collection
facility; and
providing the user with an opportunity
to choose whether to send the collected information to
the data collection facility.
115. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising transmitting the collected information in an
e-mail attachment.
116. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising transmitting the collected information in
the body of an e-mail message.

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117. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising:
using a program guide to generate an e-
mail message with which to provide the collected
information to the data collection facility as a
report; and
automatically setting the reply address
in the e-mail message to the e-mail address of the data
collection facility.
118. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising sending an e-mail message to an in-box
associated with the user equipment before transmitting
the collected information to the data collection
facility.
119. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising providing the user with an opportunity to
authorize submission of the collected information
before transmitting the collected information to the
data collection facility.
120. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising analyzing the collected information at the
data collection facility.
121. The method defined in claim 89 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
television distribution facility.

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122. The method defined in claim 89 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
cable system headend.
123. The method defined in claim 89 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
television distribution facility and wherein the user
equipment is in communication with the television
distribution facility, the method further comprising
transmitting the collected information to the data
collection facility through the television distribution
facility.
124. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising transmitting the collected information to
the data collection facility over the Internet.
125. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising allowing the user to authorize transmission
of the collected information using a setup option.
126. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising allowing the user to select a desired
frequency for transmitting the collected information.
127. The method defined in claim 89 further
comprising providing the user with a setup option that
allows the user to choose whether to notify the user
prior to transmitting the collected information to the
data collection facility.

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128. A system including user equipment on
which an interactive television application is
implemented in which information on the interactions of
a user at the user equipment with the interactive
television application is provided to a data collection
facility, comprising:
control circuitry;
a display; and
a user input interface, wherein the
control circuitry, display, and user interface are
configured to:
collect information on the interactions
of the user with the interactive television
application; and
transmit the collected information on
interactions of the user with the interactive
television application to the data collection facility
using e-mail protocols.
129. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an e-mail application to
transmit the collected information.
130. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use the post office protocol to
transmit the collected information.
131. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are

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further configured to use the Simple Mail Transport
Protocol to transmit the information.
132. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect the information with an
interactive television program guide.
133. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on the
television viewing habits of the user with an
interactive television program guide and collecting the
information on the user's interactions with the
interactive television application using the
interactive television program guide.
134. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
collect information on the television
viewing activities of the user with an interactive
television program guide; and
transmit the information collected on
the television viewing activities of the user to the
data collection facility.
135. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on the
television viewing activities of the user with the
interactive television application.

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136. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on the
television viewing habits of the user.
137. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on what times
the user tunes to television channels.
138. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
the user equipment includes a set-top box, and wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to allow the user to use an
interactive television program guide to tune the set-
top box to a given television channel.
139. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
the user equipment includes a digital video recorder,
and wherein the control circuitry, display, and user
interface are further configured to allow the user to
use an interactive television program guide to tune the
digital video recorder to a given television channel.
140. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
the user equipment includes a personal computer, and
wherein the control circuitry, display, and user
interface are further configured to allow the user to
use an interactive television program guide to tune the
personal computer to a given television channel.

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141. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an interactive television
program guide to display program listings on the user
equipment for the user.
142. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to display an interactive menu on
the user equipment that includes options that allow the
user to invoke at least an interactive television
program guide and a video-on-demand application.
143. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to collect information on the
television viewing habits of the user comprises by
monitoring the time and by monitoring the channels
tuned to by the user with an interactive television
program guide.
144. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to store the information in storage
on the user equipment.
145. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
an interactive television program guide is implemented
on the user equipment, the user equipment is connected
to a television distribution facility by a
communications path, and program listings data is
provided from a program listings source, and wherein

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the television distribution facility is configured to
receive the program listings data at the television
distribution facility from the program listings source
and provide the program listings data from the
television distribution facility to the interactive
television program guide on the user equipment over the
communications path.
146. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using paging frequencies.
147. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using digital subscriber line
communications.
148. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using cable communications.
149. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using communications over telephone lines.
150. The system defined in claim 128, wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are

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further configured to transmit the collected
information to a server.
151. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information to the data collection facility over a
wireless path.
152. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to notify the user before
transmitting the collected information to the data
collection facility.
153. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
notify the user before transmitting the
collected information to the data collection facility;
and
provide the user with an opportunity to
choose whether to send the collected information to the
data collection facility.
154. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information in an e-mail attachment.
155. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are

-61-
further configured to transmit the collected
information in the body of an e-mail message.
156. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to:
use a program guide to generate an e-
mail message with which to provide the collected
information to the data collection facility as a
report; and
automatically set the reply address in
the e-mail message to the e-mail address of the data
collection facility.
157. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to send an e-mail message to an in-
box associated with the user equipment before
transmitting the collected information to the data
collection facility.
158. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to provide the user with an
opportunity to authorize submission of the collected
information before transmitting the collected
information to the data collection facility.
159. The system defined in claim 128 further
comprising means for analyzing the collected
information at the data collection facility.

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160. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
television distribution facility.
161. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
cable system headend.
162. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the data collection facility is in communication with a
television distribution facility and wherein the user
equipment is in communication with the television
distribution facility, and wherein the control
circuitry, display, and user interface are further
configured to transmit the collected information to the
data collection facility through the television
distribution facility.
163. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information to the data collection facility over the
Internet.
164. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to allow the user to authorize
transmission of the collected information using a setup
option.
165. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are

-63-
further configured to allow the user to select a
desired frequency for transmitting the collected
information.
166. The system defined in claim 128 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to provide the user with a setup
option that allows the user to choose whether to notify
the user prior to transmitting the collected
information to the data collection facility.
167. A method for collecting information on
the television viewing activities of a user at user
equipment and providing that information to a data
collection facility, comprising:
collecting information on the television
viewing activities of the user by monitoring which
television channels the user tunes to with the user
equipment; ~
transmitting the collected information
on the viewing activities of the user to the data
collection facility using a web browser's
communications capabilities when the user has
authorization submission.
168. The method defined in claim 167 further
comprising using the browser's forms capabilities to
transmit the collected information.
169. The method defined in claim 167 further
comprising transmitting the collected information using
the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
<providing the user with an opportunity to
authorize submission of the collected information to the
data collection facility; and>

-64-
170. The method defined in claim 167 further
comprising using an interactive television program
guide to access the web browser's communications
capabilities.
171. The method defined in claim 167 further-
comprising using an interactive television program
guide to generate inputs for the web browser to emulate
user commands.
172. A system including user equipment in
which information on the television viewing activities
of a user at the user equipment is provided to a data
collection facility, comprising:
control circuitry;
a display; and
a user input interface, wherein the
control circuitry, display, and user interface are
configured to:
collect information on the television
viewing activities of the user by monitoring which
television channels the user tunes to with the control
circuitry;
<transmit the collected information on
the viewing activities of the user-to the data
collection facility using a web browser's
communications capabilities when the user has
authorization submission.
173. The system defined in-claim 172 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use the browser's forms
capabilities to transmit the collected information.
<provide the user with an opportunity to
authorize submission of the collected information to the
data collection facility; and>

-65-
174. The system defined in claim 172 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
175. The system defined in claim 172 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use.an interactive television
program guide to access the web browser's
communications capabilities.
176. The system defined in claim 172 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an interactive television
program guide to generate inputs for the web browser to
emulate user commands.
177. A method for collecting information on
the interactions of a user at user equipment with an
interactive television application implemented on the
user equipment and providing that information to a data
collection facility, comprising:
collecting information on the
interactions of the user with the interactive
television application implemented on the user
equipment:
transmitting the collected information
to the data collection facility using,a web browser's
communications capabilities when the user has
authorization submission.
<providing the user with an opportunity to
authorize submission of the collected information to the
data collection facility; and>

-66-
178. The method defined in claim 177 further
comprising using the browser's forms capabilities to
transmit the collected information.
179. The method defined in claim 177 further
comprising, transmitting the collected information using
the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
180. The method defined in claim 177 further
comprising using an interactive television program
guide to access the web browser's communications
capabilities.
181. The method defined in claim 177 further
comprising using an interactive television program
guide to generate inputs for the web browser to emulate
user commands.
182. A system including user equipment in
which information is collected on the interactions of a
user with an interactive television program guide
implemented on the user equipment is provided to a data
collection facility, comprising:
control circuitry;
a display; and
a user input interface, wherein the
control circuitry, display, and user interface are
configured to:
collect information on the interactions
of the user with the interactive television application
implemented on the user equipment;
provide the user with an opportunity to
authorize submission of the collected information to the
data collection facility; and

-67-
transmit the collected information to
the data collection facility using a web bowser's
communications capabilities.
183. The system defined in claim 182 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use the browser's forms
capabilities to transmit the collected information.
184. The system defined in claim 182 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to transmit the collected
information using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
185. The system defined in claim 182 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an interactive television
program guide to access the web,browser's
communications capabilities.
186. The system defined in claim 182 wherein
the control circuitry, display, and user interface are
further configured to use an interactive television
program guide to generate inputs for the web browser to
emulate user commands.
187. A method for collecting information on
the television viewing activities of a user at user
equipment and providing that information to a data
collection facility, comprising:
collecting information on the television
viewing activities of the user by monitoring which

-68-
television channels the user tunes to with the user
equipment;
transmitting the collected information
on the viewing activities of the user to the data
collection facility using a stand-alone FTP
application
188. A system including user equipment in
which information on the television viewing activities
of a user at the user equipment is provided to a data
collection facility, comprising:
control circuitry;
a display; and
a user input interface, wherein the
control circuitry, display, and user interface are
configured to:
collect information on the television
viewing activities of the user by monitoring which
television channels the user tunes to with the control
circuitry;
transmit the collected information on
the viewing activities of the user to the data
collection facility using a stand-alone FTP
application
189. A method for collecting information on
the interactions of a user at user equipment with an
interactive television application implemented on the
user,equipment and providing that, information to a data
collection facility, comprising:
collecting information on the
interactions of the user with the interactive
the user with an opportunity to
authorize submission of the collected information to the
data collection facility; and

-69-
television application implemented on the user
equipment; and
transmitting the collected information
to the data collection facility using a stand-alone FTP
application
190. A system including user equipment in
which information is collected on the interactions of a
user with an interactive television program guide
implemented on the user equipment is provided to a data
collection facility,comprising:
control circuitry;
a display; and
a user input interface, wherein the
control circuitry, display, and user interface are
configured to:
collect information on the interactions
of the user with the interactive television application
implemented on the user equipment;
transmit the collected information to
the data collection facility using a stand-alone FTP
application.
191. A method for collecting information on
the television viewing activities of a user at user
equipment and providing that information to a data
collection facility, comprising:
collecting information on the television
viewing activities of the user by monitoring which
television channels the user tunes to with the user
equipment;

-70-
transmitting the collected information
on the viewing activities of the user to the data
collection facility using the communications
capabilities of an operating system installed on the
user equipment.
192. A system including user equipment in
which information on the television viewing activities
of a user at the user equipment is provided to a data
collection facility,comprising:
control circuitry;
a display; and
a user input interface,wherein the
control circuitry, display, and user interface are
configured to:
collect information on the television
viewing activities of the user by monitoring which
television channels the user tunes to with the control
circuitry; and
transmit the collected information on
the viewing activities of the user to the data
collection facility using the communications
capabilities of an operating system installed on the
user equipment.
193. A method for collecting information on
the interactions of a user at user equipment with an
interactive television application implemented on the
user equipment and providing that information to a data
collection facility, comprising:
collecting information on the
interactions of the user with the interactive

-71-
television application implemented on the user
equipment:
transmitting the collected information
to the data collection facility using the
communications capabilities of an operating system
installed on the user equipment.
194. A system including user equipment in
which information is collected on the interactions of a
user with an interactive television program guide
implemented on the user equipment is provided to a data
collection facility, comprising:
control circuitry:
a display; and
a user input interface, wherein the
control circuitry, display, and user interface are
configured to:
collect information on the interactions
of the user with the interactive television application
implemented on the user equipment:
transmit the collected information to
the data collection facility using the communications
capabilities of an operating system installed on the
user equipment,

Description

CA 02380165 2002-O1-18
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INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH DATA COLLECTION
Backcrround of the Invention
This invention relates to television systems,
and more particularly, to interactive television
systems such as interactive television program guide
systems in which data is collected on user activities.
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.
Program guides may also be used to control
which television channels the set-top box tunes to when
a user is watching television. For example, a program
guide may tune to different television channels in
response to channel-changing commands from the user's
remote control. Users may also select programs from
the program guide for recording or viewing. Additional
information may be obtained for a program by selecting
the displayed listing for that program with a highlight
region. Reminders may be set for programs.

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The user's interactions with the program
guide and the television programs that the user watches
are indicative of the user's interests. These
activities may be monitored. The information that is
collected on the viewer's interests may be used for
marketing purposes. For example, information that is
collected on the viewer's interests may be used to
target program guide advertisements to the user as
described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application
Serial No. 09/034,939, filed March 4, 1998, which is
hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety. Viewer monitoring is described, for example,
in Thomas et al. U.S. patent application Serial No.
09/139,798, filed August 25, 1998, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide arrangements for collecting information on the
viewing habits and other activities of the user.
Summary of the Invention
A system is provided that gathers information
on a user's television viewing activities and
interactions with an interactive television program
guide or other interactive television application.
The user's activities may be monitored by an
interactive television program guide or other
application. The monitoring software may maintain, for
example, information on which channels the user
watches, the duration that each channel is watched, and
information on which household members are in the room
while the television is being viewed. Information may
also be collected on the user's interactions with the

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interactive television program guide or other
interactive television application. For example,
information may be collected on which interactive
buttons the user selects, which screens the user views,
etc.
The user information that is collected may be
transmitted to a data collection facility for analysis.
Analysis may reveal that certain television programs
are more popular than others, that certain program
guide screens are more popular than others, etc.
Analysis may also reveal the particular interests of a
viewer and may reveal data trends. Correlations may be
observed between certain viewer interactions with the
program guide and certain viewer activities.
The user may participate in a monitoring
scheme that requires the user to periodically submit
information to a data collection facility for analysis.
If desired, user information may be collected and
transmitted to the data collection facility
automatically and without user intervention.
User data may be transmitted to the data
collection facility using e-mail, using the
communications capabilities of the user's browser
application (e. g., the forms capabilities of such
browsers), using communications capabilities associated
with the operating system on the user's equipment,
using a stand-alone FTP application, etc.
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.

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Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative
interactive television system with data collection
capabilities in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of illustrative user
television equipment in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of additional
illustrative user television equipment in accordance
with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative remote
control in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of illustrative user
computer equipment in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 6 is a generalized diagram of
illustrative user equipment in accordance with the
present invention.
FIG. 7 shows an illustrative menu screen in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows an illustrative program guide
screen in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart of illustrative steps
involved in gathering user information and
automatically reporting such information to a data
collection facility in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart of illustrative steps
involved in gathering user information and reporting
such information to a data collection facility when
authorized by the user in accordance with the present
invention.

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FIG. 11 shows an illustrative e-mail message
that may be presented to the user to allow the user to
authorize transmission of a user report to a data
collection facility in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart of illustrative steps
involved in providing the e-mail message of FIG. 11 in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 13 shows an illustrative program guide
screen containing an interactive prompt that allows a
user to decide whether or not to submit a user report
in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 14 shows an illustrative program guide
settings screen that may be provided in accordance with
the present invention.
FIG. 15 shows an illustrative personalization
settings screen that may be provided by a program guide
in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
An illustrative interactive television system
10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in
FIG. 1. Television programming and digital music may
be provided from programming sources 12 to television
distribution facilities such as television distribution
facility 14 using communications path 16. Programming
sources 12 may be any suitable sources of television
and music programming, such as television and music
production studios, etc.
Television distribution facility 14 may be a
cable system headend, a satellite television
distribution facility, a television broadcast facility,

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or any other suitable facility for distributing
television and music programming to users. There are
typically numerous television distribution facilities
14 in system 10, but only one is shown in FIG. 1 to
avoid overcomplicating the drawings.
Communications path 16 may be a satellite
path, a fiber-optic path, a cable path, or any other
suitable wired or wireless communications paths or
combinations of such paths.
Television distribution facility 14 may be
connected to various user equipment devices 18. Such
user equipment 18 may, for example, be located in the
homes of users. User equipment 18 may include user
television equipment 20 or user computer equipment 22.
The user equipment may receive television and
music programming and other information from television
distribution facility 14 over communications paths such
as communications paths 26, 27, and 28. The user
equipment may also transmit signals to television
distribution facility 14 over paths 26, 27, and 28.
Paths 26, 27, and 28 may be cables or other wired
connections, free-space connections (e.g., for
broadcast or other wireless signals), satellite links,
etc.
Program listings source 30 may be used to
provide the user with television program schedule
information such as scheduled broadcast times, titles,
channels, ratings information (e. g., parental ratings
and critic's ratingsj, detailed title descriptions,
genre or category information (e. g., sports, news,
movies, etc.), information on actors and actresses,
running times, etc.

CA 02380165 2002-O1-18
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Program listings source 30 may provide
program schedule information to television distribution
facility 14 over communications path 32 for
distribution to the associated user equipment over
paths 26, 27, and 28. Communications path 32 may be
any suitable communications path such as a satellite
communications path or other wireless path, a fiber-
optic or other wired communications path, a combination
of such paths, etc.
User equipment devices such as user
television equipment and personal computers may use the
program schedule information to display program
listings and information on digital music for the user.
An interactive television program guide application or
other suitable application may be used to display such
information on the user's display.
An on-line program guide may be provided by a
server connected to communications network 34 such as
server 36. Server 36 may receive program schedule
information from program listings source 30 via
communications path 38, communications network 34, and
communications path 40. Paths 38 and 40 may be
satellite paths, fiber-optic paths, wired paths, etc.
Communications network 34 may be any suitable
communications network, such as the Internet, the
public switched telephone network, a packet-based
network, etc.
User equipment 18 may access the on-line
program guide via communications path 42, which may be
any suitable communications path such as a wired path,
a cable path, fiber-optic path, satellite path, a
combination of such paths, or any other suitable path.

CA 02380165 2002-O1-18
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_ g
User equipment 18 may also access the on-line program
guide via communications path 26, television
distribution facility 14, and communications path 44.
For example, a cable modem or the like may be used by
user equipment 18 to communicate with television
distribution facility 14. Television distribution
facility 14 may communicate with communications network
34 over any suitable path 44, such as a wired path, a
cable path, fiber-optic path, satellite path, a
combination of such paths, etc.
User equipment such as user television
equipment 20 and user computer equipment 22 may access
the on-line program guide using similar arrangements.
User television equipment 20 may access the on-line
program guide using communications path 46 or using
path 27, television distribution facility 14, and path
44. User computer equipment 22 may access the on-line
program guide using communications path 48 or using
path 28, television distribution facility 14, and path
44. Paths 46 and 48 may be any suitable paths, such as
wired paths, cable paths, fiber-optic paths, satellite
paths, a combination of such paths, etc.
Interactive television applications other
than program guide applications may use service
providers such as service provider 50. For example, a
home shopping service may be supported by a service
provider such as service provider 50 that has sales
representatives, order fulfillment facilities, account
maintenance facilities, and other equipment for
supporting interactive home shopping features. A home
shopping application that is implemented using the user
equipment may be used to access the service provider to

CA 02380165 2002-O1-18
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provide these features to the user. The user equipment
may access service provider 50 via television
distribution facility 14 and communications path 52 or
via communications network 34 and communications path
54. Communications paths such as paths 52 and 54 may
be any suitable paths, such as wired paths, cable
paths, fiber-optic paths, satellite paths, a
combination of such paths, etc.
Another example of an interactive television
application is a home banking application. A home
banking service may be supported using personnel at
facilities such as service provider 50. An interactive
home banking application that is implemented using the
user equipment may access the home banking service via
television distribution facility 14 and communications
path 52 or via communications network 34 and
communications path 54.
If desired, an interactive television
application such as a video-on-demand application may
be supported using server 56. Videos may be stored on
server 56 and provided to the user equipment when
requested by users.
If desired, applications such as the
interactive television program guide application, a
home shopping application, a home banking application,
a video-on-demand application, and other applications
(e. g., applications related to e-mail and chat or other
communications functions, etc.) may be provided as
separate applications that are accessed through a
navigation shell application (i.e., a menu application
with menu options corresponding to the applications).
The features of such applications may be combined. For

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example, video-on-demand, home shopping, and
communications functions may be incorporated into the
program guide.
Moreover, the interactive television program
guide application, the home banking application, and
the home shopping application, the video-on-demand
application, the communications application, and the
navigation shell application, are only a few
illustrative examples of the types of interactive
television applications that may be supported by system
10. Other suitable applications that may be supported
include, news services, Internet services, interactive
wagering services (e. g., for wagering on horse races
and the like), communications services (e. g., e-mail,
chat, etc.), and any other suitable interactive
applications.
These applications may be implemented locally
on the user equipment. The applications may also be
implemented using a client-server architecture in which
the user equipment serves as a client processor and a
server such as server 56 at television distribution
facility 14 or other suitable location acts as a server
processor. Other distributed architectures may also be
used if desired. Regardless of the particular
arrangement used to implement interactive television
features related to program guides, home shopping, home
banking, video-on-demand, Internet, communications,
etc., the software that supports these features may be
referred to as an application.
As the user interacts with the application
and as the user watches television on the user
equipment, information may be gathered on the user's

CA 02380165 2002-O1-18
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activities. For example, information may be gathered
regarding which television channels the user tunes to
and the times at which the user watches each television
channel. Because the programs that are being aired at
any given time may be determined from program schedule
data, gathering information on the television channels
that the user tunes to and the times at which these
channels are tuned to allows the viewing habits of the
user to be monitored. Information may also be gathered
on which selectable on-screen interactive television
application options the user selects when interacting
with interactive television applications. This may
reveal, for example, information on the advertisements
that the user responds to, information on the user's
favorite genres of television programming, information
on other user interests (e. g., sports, news, etc.).
The information that is collected on the
user's activities may be reported back to a suitable
data collection facility for processing. For example,
the information may be collected at user equipment 18
and reported back to computer equipment at data
collection facility 13 via communications path 26,
television distribution facility 14, and communications
path 15 or via communications path 42, communications
network 34 (e. g., the Internet), and communications
path 17. Communications paths 15 and 17 may be fiber-
optic paths, cable or other wired paths, wireless
paths, or any other suitable communications paths.
If desired, the data collection facility may
be located at television distribution facility 14.
Data may, for example, be collected using a server such
as server 56. User data may also be collected at a

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1~C~S. i~IJS 8~ PARTNER
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server connected to the Internet or~other . '
communications network.' For~example, information on
the user's activities may. be collected using a server'
- such as server. 36:These examples are merely.'
illustrative. User information may be collected using
any suitable facility.
Moreover, user information may be collected
regardless of the type.of architecture used.to provide ~.
television .programming and~interactive television
services to the~user. .For example, if a.client-server
. arrangement is used to.provide program guide services
to the user, infonaation that has been gathered on the
user at the server may be provided to the. data
collection facility using a communications path between v
the~server and the data collection facility. Such a '
path may,~for example, ~involve~a communications network
such as communications network 39.
Illustrative user~television equipment 20
that is .based on- a set-t p~box arrangement is shown in-
' 20 .FIG. 2. Input/output~may.b,e ,connected .to '
communications paths such as paths 27 and~96.~ ~ ~.
~~ Television.programming and other,information may be ~. '
received'using input/output 58. Commands and requests ~ '
and other information from the user may also be
transmitted over input/output SB. ,,
' ~ Set-top box 60 may be any suitable analog or
digitally set-top box.. Set-top box 60 'may contain an '
. analog tuner~for tuning to a'desired analog television.
channel. Set-top,.box 60~may~also contain digital ~.
. 30 decoding circuitry for receiving digital television and
.~ music channels. Both analog and _ digital channels iaay .
be handled :toge.ther~ if desired. , Set-top box .60 also
AMENDED SHEET

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contains a processor (e.g., a microcontroller or
microprocessor or the like) that is used to execute
software applications. Set-top box 60 may contain
memory such as random-access memory for use when
executing applications. Nonvolatile memory may also be
used (e. g., to launch a boot-up routine and other
instructions). Hard disk storage may be used to back
up data and to otherwise support larger databases than
may be supported using random-access memory approaches.
Set-top box 60 may have infrared (IR) or
other communications circuitry for communicating with a
remote control. Set-top box 60 may also have dedicated
buttons and a front-panel display. The front-panel
display may, for example, be used to display the
current channel to which the set-top box is tuned.
Set-top box 60 may also have communications
circuitry such as a cable modem for cable
communications over a cable, an integrated services
digital network (ISDN) modem for ISDN communications, a
digital subscriber line (DSL) modem for DSL
communications, a telephone modem for communications
over telephone lines, paging communications circuitry
for paging communications (e. g., wireless radio-
frequency transmissions using paging frequencies),
cellular telephone communications circuitry (e.g., for
digital cellular telephone data communications), and
other equipment for communications using other
approaches. Such communications may involve the
Internet or any other suitable communications networks
or paths.
A videocassette recorder 62 or other suitable
recording device may be connected to set-top box 60.

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This allows videos from ~set-top box 6.0 to. be ~ recorded.
~ -~ ,. . For example,- if set-top box 60 is tuned- to a . given
. . 'television channel, the,video signal.for'that
,~ . - television channel maybe passed to videocassette ' .
recorder 62.for~recording on a videocassette.- If . ,
desired, videocassette-recorder functions such~as w
start, stop. record, etc. may be controlled by set-top
box -60. Forwexample, set-top box ~60 may control
videocassettevrecorder 62 using infrared commands.' . -
. 10 directed toward the'remote control inputs of ~. ~ .
. videocassette recorder 62 . ' . v , . . . -- . . . .
- The output of,videocassette reco.rder~62 may.
be provided to television 69 for display to, the~~user.'
If videocassette :recordeZ 62 is ~o t- being used, the . ~ ~ . ,' .
video signals . from set-top box .~8' iaay be. provided' ' , .
directly to television' 69. If desired, ,.any suitabl'e~ ' ,
' monitor may bemused to display the video. ~_ .~,~', '
1 Another illustrative arrangement for user
' ~televis'ion-equipment 20 is shown in FIG. 3. ~In the
.2~0 example of FIG. 3,. user. television .equipment 20 ' ~ .
-includes a.digital video recorder.66~(e.g., a personal -.
- video recorder (PVR))~and a television 68.
Input/output 70-may be-connected to communications
paths such as paths 27 and~96. Television programming ~ .
' and other information may be received using ~ . ,
'input/output 70 . Commands ' and. requests- and .other _ .~ ~ ' '
information from the user niay .be transmitted over' .'
. ~ input/output 7 0 . ' . -, ' ' , ', ' , , ~ ~ . ,
w Digital video recorder 56vmay be similar'to
~'30 ' standard set-top box. except .that a hard disk. or othe-r ~ ~ ~. '
suitable storage medium may be~used~for video storage '.
v w, - -. ... ~,, ., . ~.. :. . ','':. ' . - , ',. . :: . . ~ .. -y .w.' :-..
.
AMENDED SHEET

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in lieu of videocassettes. The hard disk may be
internal to digital video recorder 66.
Digital video recorder 66 may contain an
analog tuner for tuning to a desired analog television
channel. Digital video recorder 66 may also contain
digital decoding circuitry for receiving digital
television and music channels. If desired, digital
video recorder 66 may contain circuitry for handling
both analog and digital channels. Digital video
recorder 66 also contains a processor (e.g., a
microcontroller or microprocessor or the like) that is
used to execute software applications. Digital video
recorder 66 may contain memory such as random-access
memory for use when executing applications.
Nonvolatile memory may also be used to store a boot-up
routine or other instructions. The hard disk and other
storage in digital video recorder 66 may be used to
support databases (e.g., program guide databases or
interactive television application databases).
Digital video recorder 66 may have IR
communications circuitry or other suitable
communications circuitry for communicating with a
remote control. Digital video recorder 66 may also
have dedicated buttons and a front-panel display. The
front-panel display may, for example, be used to
display the current channel to which the digital video
recorder is tuned.
Digital video recorder 66 may also have
communications circuitry such as a cable modem, an
integrated services digital network (ISDN) modem, a
digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a telephone modem,
etc. for communications with other equipment. Such

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communications may involve the Internet or any other
suitable communications networks or paths.
If desired, digital video recorder 66 of FIG.
3 or set-top box 60 of FIG. 2 may be a satellite
receiver or other equipment that has wireless
communications circuitry for receiving satellite
signals.
Television programming may be recorded on the
hard disk of digital video recorder 66. Digital video
recorder 66 may record new video while previously
recorded video is being played back on television 68.
This allows users to press a pause button during normal
television viewing. When the pause button is pressed,
the current television program is stored on the hard
disk of digital video recorder 66. When the user
presses play, the recorded video may be played back.
This arrangement allows the user to seamlessly pause
and resume television viewing.
The set-top box arrangement of FIG. 2 and the
digital video recorder set-top box arrangement of FIG.
3 are merely illustrative. Other arrangements may be
used if desired. For example, user television
equipment may be based on a WebTV box, a personal
computer television (PC/TV), or any other suitable
television equipment arrangement. If desired, the
functions of components such as set-top box 60, digital
video recorder 66, a WebTV box, or PC/TV or the like
may be integrated into a televison or personal computer
or other suitable device.
An illustrative remote control 72 for
operating user television equipment 20 is shown in FIG.
4. Remote control 7% may have keys 74 such as channel

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up and down keys, a power on/off key, numeric keys, a
favorites key (e. g., for setting favorites in a program
guide application or other interactive television
application), an info key (for requesting that
additional information on a selection be displayed),
etc. Arrow keys 76 may be used to position an on-
screen cursor or highlight region on options of
interest. Highlighted options may be selected using OK
key 78. Menu key 80 may be used to direct an
interactive television application (e. g., a program
guide application, a nav shell application, or any
other suitable application) to display a menu of
available options.
Help key 82 may be used to invoke help
functions such as context-sensitive on-screen help,
etc.
Illustrative user computer equipment 22 is
shown in FIG. 5. In the arrangement of FIG. 5,
personal computer 84 may be controlled by the user
using keyboard 86 or other suitable user input device,
such as a trackball, mouse, touch pad, touch screen,
voice recognition system, etc. Television programming
and interactive television application content may be
displayed on monitor 88. Television programming and
other information may be received from paths 28 and 48
(FIG. 1) using input/output 90. The user may also send
commands and other information to remote services over
input/output line 90.
Personal computer unit 84 may contain a
television tuner card for decoding analog and digital
television channels. The television tuner card may
contain an analog tuner for tuning to a given analog

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channel and digital decoding circuitry for filtering
out a desired digital television or music channel from
a packetized digital data stream.
The user computer equipment arrangement of
FIG. 5 is merely illustrative. Any suitable computer
equipment arrangement may be used if desired.
Moreover, the user television equipment and
user computer equipment arrangements described above
are merely illustrative. A more generalized embodiment
of illustrative user equipment is shown in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 6, control circuitry 92 is
connected to input/cutput 94. Input/output 94 may be
connected to communications paths such as paths 26, 27,
28, 42, 46, and 48 of FIG. 1. Television and music
programming may be received via input/output 94 (e. g.,
from programming sources 12 and television distribution
facility 14). Program scheduled information for an
interactive television program guide may also be
received via input/output 94. Input/output 94 may also
be used to receive information for other interactive
television applications. The user may use control
circuitry 92 to send commands, requests, and other
suitable information using input/output 94.
Information that is collected locally on the
user such as information on the user's television
viewing habits and information on the user's
interactions with interactive television applications
such as an interactive television program guide
application may be sent to a data collection facility
via input/output 94. Any suitable technique may be
used to transmit the information that is collected
about the user. For example, information may be

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transmitted using a cable return path in a cable
system, using fiber-optic links, using a dial up modem
connection (e. g., over a telephone link, a DSL or ISDN
link, etc.), using a wireless link (e.g., using a
cellular or paging frequency), using combinations of
such paths, etc. Information that is collected at a
server (e. g., a server used to support a client-server
program guide) may be passed from the server to the
data collection facility using paths such as these or
any other suitable paths.
Control circuitry 94 may be based on any
suitable processor such as a microprocessor,
microcontroller, etc. Memory or other suitable storage
devices may be provided as part of control circuitry
94. Tuning circuitry such as an analog tuner, an
MPEG-2 decoder or other digital tuning circuitry, or
any other suitable tuning circuits or combinations of
such circuits may also be included as part of circuitry
92. The tuning circuitry may be used to tune the user
equipment to a particular television or music channel.
The state of the tuning circuitry may be monitored by
an interactive television application such as an
interactive television program guide or may be
monitored by a monitoring application, or by monitoring
functions embedded in any other suitable application.
Monitoring may also involved gathering information on
the time of day, whether the user equipment is on or
off, the status of various button presses, or any other
function or hardware state of the user equipment. The
information that is monitored may be stored in storage
in control circuitry 92 (e.g., on a hard disk or on
random-access memory, etc.).

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Television programming and on-screen options
and information may be displayed on display 100.
Display 100 may be a monitor, a television, or any
other suitable equipment for displaying visual images.
Speakers 102 may be provided as part of a television or
may be stand-alone units. Digital music and the audio
component of videos displayed on display 100 may be
played through speakers 102.
A user may control the control circuitry
using user input interface 96. The user input
interface may be any suitable user interface, such as a
mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touch
pad, or any other suitable user input interface. A
microphone 98 and video camera 104 may be used to
supply audio and video information to control circuitry
92.
A user of user equipment 18 (e.g., a user of
user television equipment or a user of user computer
equipment, or a user of any other suitable user
equipment device) may invoke an interactive television
menu by pressing menu button 80 (FIG. 4). An
illustrative interactive television navigation shell or
menu 106 is shown in FIG. '7. Remote control 72 (FIG.
4) may be used to position highlight region 108 on top
of options 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, and 120. If the
user selects option 110, a screen of program listings
may be displayed. Option 112 may be used to invoke a
home shopping application. Option 114 may be selected
to display options related to video-on-demand services.
If the user selects option 116, the user may be
presented with an opportunity to access home banking
functions. Selecting Internet option 118 may launch a

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web browser or the like. Option 120 may be used to
access a settings screen that allows the user to adjust
various settings. If desired, the user may use such a
menu option to access a program guide settings screen
with which the user may adjust program guide settings.
An illustrative program guide screen 122 that
may be displayed for the user is shown in FIG. 8.
Program guide screen 122 may be displayed, for example,
when the user selects program listings option 108 of
FIG. 7 or when the user selects a suitable option from
within an interactive television program guide
application. Program guide screen 122 may contain a
grid or list of program listings 124. Program listings
124 may include program titles, channels, scheduled
broadcast times, and any other suitable program
schedule information. Advertisements may be displayed
if desired.
A highlight region such as highlight region
126 may be used to select a desired program listing.
If the user presses an OK key when a program listing
s
for a current program is highlighted, the program guide
may tune to the channel for that program. If the user
presses an OK key when a program listing for a future
program is highlighted, the program guide may provide
the user with an opportunity to set a reminder for that
program. Other functions that the program guide may
provide include the ability to set favorite channels
and establish other preferences and settings. For
example, the user may select a particular channel for
the program guide to automatically tune to when the
user equipment is powered on. The user may also select
favorite programs, favorite channels, etc. The program

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guide may provide the user with the ability to
establish parental control settings, the ability to
search for programming of interest, and the ability to
view program descriptions, advertisements, text,
graphics, and video, etc. The use of any of these
functions by the user may be monitored. Moreover,
these are merely illustrative examples of program guide
functions that may be provided by an interactive
television program application. Any other suitable
program guide functions may be provided if desired.
The program guide may be invoked from an option such as
option 110 of FIG. 7, by pressing a dedicated guide
button on a remote control, by selecting any other
suitable button or on-screen option, etc.
The user's response to any interactive
content in the interactive program guide may be
monitored. For example, the user's response to
interactive advertisements that are presented by the
program guide may be monitored.
Illustrative steps involved in monitoring the
user are shown in FIG. 9. At step 128, the program
guide or other application may monitor the user's
interactions with the program guide or other
interactive television application and may monitor
other user activities (e. g., which television programs
the user is watching, etc.). The television program
guide or other interactive television application or a
monitoring application or the like may be used to
collect information on the user's activities.
Information on the televison programs that the user is
watching may be gathered by comparing information on
the channels and times at which the user is watching

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television with information on~the programs scheduled
.to .be broadcast .at those times on those channels. This . '
'. comparison nay ~be, performed locally. (e.g.,~ at user _y .
.~. ~ equipment 18) prior to or during monitoring or,may be
performed remotely (e.g..~,~tf the data collection .
facility after monitoring or at a~server or other
computer during monitoring). These are merely . ,
illustrative examples. Any suitable monitoring '
techniques maybe used if.desired. The information ~ .
. that . is .collected on. the television viewing. habits,' of~ . . , . . '
the .user and the user's interactions. with. the ~ '. .
interactive program guide or other interactive .
television application_may be gathered using the
' interactive~television program guide or other
interactive television application.or aiay be~gathered
using a monitoring application or any other suitable
application. . ~ .
At step 130,' the program. guide or. other
,,application may automatically transmit the collected . ..
~20 ' user infoizaation to the data collection~~facility (e.g., ' . . . .
a data.collection facility such as'data collection
facility 13 of. FIG. 1). .The user data may be . . ._
transmitted using an e-mail'protocol~such as~the
. standard Post Offic ~~ otocol (P0P) or Simple Mail .
Transport Protocol (. The program guide.or._ . .
. interactive television_application or~vther monitoring'' . ~~_
application or~the like may access e-mail
communications functions such as these through an ~' .
.existing e-mail~application ox other.application or the' .
~30 'like that is installed on user equipment 18.~. , ..
-. .Accordingly. with an e-mail transport arrangement~a '
proprietary communications~protocol need not~.be'.. .
AMENDED SHEET

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developed for transmitting collected user data to the
data collection facility.
If desired, the gathered information on the
user may be reported to the data collection facility
using communications functions that are part of an
existing web browser implemented on user equipment 18.
For example, the gathered information may be sent to
the data collection facility using the forms
capabilities of a web browser. If desired, such
capabilities may be accessed directly by the reporting
application (e. g., the program guide) without
displaying forms on the display of the user equipment.
Alternatively, keystrokes or a clickstream or other
inputs for the browser's forms may be generated by the
program guide automatically to emulate the commands
that would be provided by the user should the user need
to use such capabilities.
Another way in which the user information may
be transmitted to the data collection facility is using
the existing communications capabilities of the
operating system installed on user equipment 18. If a
web browser or stand-alone file transfer protocol (FTP)
application is provided on user equipment 18, the user
information may be transmitted to the data collection
facility using FTP techniques.
At step 132, after the data collection
facility has received the information on the user, the
data collection facility may analyze the information on
the user and other users. This analysis may be used to
determine the rates to charge for interactive
advertising in the interactive television program
guide, which types of advertisements should be

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displayed, whether certain types of interactions with
the interactive television program guide are correlated
with certain user interests in television programming,
or for other marketing or business purposes.
If desired, the user may be notified before
information on the user is transmitted to the data
collection facility. This is shown in FIG. 10. At
step 134, the user's interactions with the interactive
television program guide and other activities (e. g.,
television watching activities) may be monitored.
At step 136, the user may be provided with an
opportunity to authorize the submission of a report
containing information on the user's interactions with
the interactive television program guide an other user
activities. If the user does not authorize submission
of the report, the report may not be submitted for
processing. If, however, the user authorizes
submission of the report at step 136, the report may be
provided to the data collection facility at step 138
using e-mail protocols, browser communications
protocols, FTP protocols, etc.
At step 140, the data collection facility may
analyze the information that has been gathered on the
user.
One way in which the user may be provided
with an opportunity to authorize the release of the
information gathered on the user is shown in FIG. 11.
In the screen 142 of FIG. 11, the user has been sent an
e-mail 144 with an attachment 146. The attachment 146
may be automatically generated and may be a report
containing information on the user's monitored
interactions with the program guide and other

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activities. The e-mail may be generated by the program
guide or other application used for monitoring the user
(e. g., an application that is installed on the user's
set-top box). The reply address in the e-mail may be
automatically set to that of the data collection
facility. Accordingly, when the user responds to the
e-mail on the screen of the user equipment the response
may be automatically routed to the data collection
facility. The user need not memorize the correct e-
mail address for the data collection facility. The
ability to place the correct address in the reply
address field may be supported by standard e-mail
applications. If desired, e-mail 144 may contain text
148 that asks the user to reply.
Illustrative steps involved in sending a
report to the data collection device using an
arrangement such as shown in FIG. 11 are shown in FIG.
12. At step 150, the program guide may generate an e-
mail. Information that has been collected on the user
may be embedded into the e-mail or may be attached to
the e-mail in the form of a report.
At step 152, the e-mail may be sent to the
user using the program guide to access e-mail functions
of an e-mail application installed on the user
equipment 18 or using the program guide to perform e-
mail functions. The reply e-mail address for the e-
mail may be automatically set to the e-mail address of
the data collection facility.
At step 152, the user may be allowed to reply
to the e-mail. For example, a reply button may be
provided. The user may select the reply button, which
directs an e-mail application on the user equipment or

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the program guide to send the e-mail to the data
collection facility at step 156. The approach of FIGS.
11 and 12 in which the user is provided with an
opportunity to authorize the transmission of the report
to the data collection facility may be used, for
example, in situations in which the user has agreed
with a data collection agency to allow their households
data to be monitored (e. g., in return for a fee).
If desired, the program guide may provide the
user with a screen 158 containing a notification 160 of
the type shown in FIG. 13. If the user responds by
selecting yes option 162, the program guide may submit
the report to the data collection facility. If the
user responds by selecting no option 164, the program
guide will not submit the report.
If desired, the user may be provided with an
opportunity to adjust data reporting settings using
program guide setup screens or the like. For example,
if the user selects set up option 120 of FIG. 7, the
program guide may display a screen such as program
guide settings screen 166 of FIG. 14. Screen 166 may
include audio settings option 168 and video settings
option 170 that allow the user to adjust the audio and
video settings of the program guide or the user's set-
top box or other user equipment. Language settings
option 172 may be used to change the default language
used for program guide text or audio tracks for
programs that have multiple audio tracks. The user may
select parental control settings option 174 to adjust
settings related to program blocking (e.g., based on
rating, keyword, etc.) or title blocking (e.g., in the
program guide listings grids).

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The program guide may also provide an option
such as personalization settings 176. If the user
selects option 176, the program guide may provide the
user with a screen such as screen 178 of FIG. 15.
Screen 178 may contain options related to the
collection and transmission of data on the user's
activities in the program guide. The user may use
right and left remote control keys or other suitable
user interface arrangement to select between various
entries for each option (e.g., the user may press a
right remote control arrow key to select an on option
and may press a left remote control arrow key to select
an off option). The user may use up and down remote
control arrow keys or any other suitable user interface
to select between various options. A highlight region
may be used to indicate the user's current position in
the options of screen 178 and other program guide
screens.
The user may toggle option 180 to turn the
reports collection feature on or off. For example, if
the user desires to have information on the user's
television viewing activities and other information on
the user's activities reported to a data collection
facility, the user may turn option 180 on. If the user
desires not to have information on the user's
television viewing activities and other user activities
collected or reported to the data collection facility,
the user may turn option 180 off.
If the reports function is turned on, the
user may be provided with an opportunity to adjust the
frequency with which reports are transmitted to the
data collection facility using option 182. The user

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may, for example, select between available transmission
frequencies of continuously, once per hour, once per
day, once per week, etc.
The user may desire to be notified before
reports are sent. If the user wishes to receive
notifications, the user may use option 184 to turn the
program guide's notification capabilities. If the user
does not wish to receive notifications, option 184 may
be used to turn notification off.
When the user has finished making the
selections available on screen 178, the user may select
done option 186 (e. g., by navigating a highlight region
to done option 186 and pressing a remote control OK key
or the like) .
Although described primarily in the context
of interactive television program guides, the user's
interactions with any suitable interactive television
applications may be monitored. For example, the user's
interactions with a video-on-demand application may be
monitored, etc. Moreover, any suitable application
(e. g., a program guide, an interactive television
application, or a stand-alone monitoring application
may be used to provide the monitoring functions of the
present invention).
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the
principles of this invention and various modifications
can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Representative Drawing