Time-Adaptive Control of Television Viewing Functionality

Abstract

A method for providing television functionality includes defining a time period, associating a user preference with the time period, providing a first result in accordance with the user preference if a request for television functionality is received during the defined time period, and providing a second result if the request for the television functionality is received outside the defined time period.

1 . A method for providing television services by a set-top terminal (STT), the method comprising: 
 defining a time period based on a start time and end time entered by a user at the STT;    receiving one or more parameters corresponding to a user preference;    providing a first result in accordance with the user preference if a request for television functionality is received during the defined time period; and    providing a second result if the request for the television functionality is received outside the defined time period.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the user preference by tracking the one or more parameters associated with the services provided by the STT.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein tracking further comprises storing the one or more parameters in memory on the basis of time of viewing service presentations of the services having the one or more parameters.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein tracking further comprises tracking a frequency that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, tracking a duration that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, or tracking the frequency and the duration that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a score to each of the one or more parameters based on time of presentation of services by the STT, the score correlated to a frequency that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, a duration that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, or a combination of frequency and duration that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising determining the user preference based on the score for each of the one or more parameters.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the first result comprises altering functionality of a remote control key.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first result is only provided if a preference-adaptive mode is activated, wherein the preference adaptive mode is activated via a switch located on a remote control device.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the first result comprises providing an interactive program guide (IPG) that does not provide information corresponding to a time slot or television service that is not in accordance with the user preference and providing the second result comprises providing an IPG that provides information corresponding to the time slot or television service that is not in accordance with the user preference.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the first result comprises providing an interactive program guide (IPG) screen that provides information corresponding to at least one television service that corresponds to the one or more parameters.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the first result comprises promoting information corresponding to at least one television service that corresponds to the one or more parameters in an interactive program guide (IPG) screen, wherein promoting comprises listing information corresponding to at least one television service that corresponds to the one or more parameters ahead of services that do not correspond to user preferences, listing information corresponding to at least one television service that corresponds to the one or more parameters in a conspicuous manner, or a combination of both.  
     
     
         12 . A system for providing television services by a set-top terminal (STT), the system comprising: 
 a memory with logic; and    a processor configured with the logic to: 
 define a time period based on a start time and end time entered by a user at the STT,  
 receive one or more parameters corresponding to a user preference,  
 provide a first result in accordance with the user preference if a request for  
   television functionality is received during the defined time period, and    provide a second result if the request for the television functionality is received outside the defined time period.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to monitor the user preference by tracking the one or more parameters associated with the services provided by the STT and storing the one or more parameters in the memory on the basis of time of viewing service presentations of the services having the one or more parameters.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to track a duration that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, track a frequency that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, or track the duration and the frequency that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a score to each of the one or more parameters based on time of presentation of services by the STT, the score correlated to a frequency that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, a duration that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, or a combination of frequency and duration that the STT presents the services having the one or more parameters, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to determine the user preference based on the score for each of the one or more parameters, wherein the score for each of the one or more parameters changes over time.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide the first result of altering functionality of a remote control key.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a remote control device having a switch corresponding to a preference-adaptive mode, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to alter the functionality of the remote control key responsive to activation of a preference-adaptive mode.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide the first result of providing an interactive program guide (IPG) that does not provide information corresponding to a time slot or a television service that is not in accordance with the user preference, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide the second result of providing an interactive program guide (IPG) that provides information corresponding to the time slot or the television service that is not in accordance with the user preference.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide the first result of promoting information corresponding to at least one television service that corresponds to the one or more parameters in an interactive program guide (IPG) screen, wherein promoting comprises listing information corresponding to at least one television service that corresponds to the one or more parameters ahead of services that do not correspond to user preferences, listing information corresponding to at least one television service that corresponds to the one or more parameters in a conspicuous manner, or a combination of both.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide one or more user interfaces that enable a user to define the time period, the one or more user interfaces providing selectable options corresponding to time of day, day of week, date, multiple time bases, and holidays.