Client-side multimedia content targeting system

Abstract

A client-side multimedia content targeting system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The viewer may also explicitly express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns. The viewer's client system locally retains the viewer's preferences and other personal information that the viewer has entered and is sent targeting information relating to program guide objects by a server. Using the viewer's preferences and personal information, the client system creates a viewer profile, which is used with the targeting information by the client system to record content that is within the viewer profile. The invention's client-based form of targeting can be applied to almost any multimedia situation, including, but not limited to: TV shows, movies, advertisements, product and service offerings, music, radio, audio, etc.

1 . A process for targeting multimedia content to a viewer using a client system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of client systems;    tracking a viewer's preferences on a client system;    wherein said client system profiles the viewer using said tracked preferences;    providing information receiving means on a client system for receiving information from a server relating to content to be broadcast in the future; and    providing content recording means on a client system for selecting content listed in said received information using said viewer profile.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said received information contains: content show time, content title, content targeting information, and channel information.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said content recording means selects content by comparing a content's targeting information with said viewer profile, and wherein if said content's targeting information falls within a predetermined range of specific information in said viewer profile, then said content recording means schedules the content for recording.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said content to be broadcast includes, but is not limited to: TV shows, movies, advertisements, product and service offerings, and audio content.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said content recording means tunes to a specific channel at a specified time to record selected content.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for targeting multimedia content to a viewer using a client system, comprising: 
 a plurality of client systems;    tracking a viewer's preferences on a client system;    wherein said client system profiles the viewer using said tracked preferences;    information receiving means on a client system for receiving information from a server relating to content to be broadcast in the future; and    content recording means on a client system for selecting content listed in said received information using said viewer profile.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said received information contains: content show time, content title, content targeting information, and channel information.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said content recording means selects content by comparing a content's targeting information with said viewer profile, and wherein if said content's targeting information falls within a predetermined range of specific information in said viewer profile, then said content recording means schedules the content for recording.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said content to be broadcast includes, but is not limited to: TV shows, movies, advertisements, product and service offerings, and audio content.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said content recording means tunes to a specific channel at a specified time to record selected content.  
     
     
         11 . A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for targeting multimedia content to a viewer using a client system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of client systems;    tracking a viewer's preferences on a client system;    wherein said client system profiles the viewer using said tracked preferences;    providing information receiving means on a client system for receiving information from a server relating to content to be broadcast in the future; and    providing content recording means on a client system for selecting content listed in said received information using said viewer profile.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said received information contains: content show time, content title, content targeting information, and channel information.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said content recording means selects content by comparing a content's targeting information with said viewer profile, and wherein if said content's targeting information falls within a predetermined range of specific information in said viewer profile, then said content recording means schedules the content for recording.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said content to be broadcast includes, but is not limited to: TV shows, movies, advertisements, product and service offerings, and audio content.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said content recording means tunes to a specific channel at a specified time to record selected content.