Method and Apparatus for Collecting and Providing Viewer Feedback to a Broadcast

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to collect and provide viewer feedback to broadcasts. According to one aspect of the present invention, a rating is generated for a broadcast by a server system. The rating is based at least in part on viewer feedback to the broadcast, and the rating indicates a likelihood of interest in the broadcast for potential subsequent viewers. Access to the rating is then provided so that predications can be made as to whether or not the broadcast will be of interest to potential subsequent viewers. According to another aspect of the present invention, the rating is provided from the server system to an entertainment system, and the broadcast can be selected for viewing at an entertainment system based on the rating generated by the server system. In one embodiment, the viewer feedback is received at the entertainment system in response to a feedback questionnaire.

1 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 presenting a representation of an item to a potential customer;   providing an opportunity for a rating of the item in response to a request from the potential customer to rate the item;   receiving the potential customer's rating of the item;   generating a review of the item based at least in part on the received customer rating of the item, the review indicating a likelihood of interest in the item to subsequent potential customers; and   providing the review of the item with a representation of the item to a subsequent potential customer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item comprises a purchasable item. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item includes at least one of movies, music, and internet accessible content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recommending items to the potential customer based in part on the potential customer's rating of the item.   
     
     
         5 . A server system comprising:
 a computer system configured to:
 transmit a representation of an item to a potential customer; 
 transmit an opportunity for a rating of the item in response to a request from the potential customer to rate the item; 
 receive the potential customer's rating of the item; 
 generate a review of the item based at least in part on the received customer rating of the item, the review indicating a likelihood of interest in the item to subsequent potential customers; and 
 transmit the review of the item with a representation of the item to a subsequent potential customer. 
   
     
     
         6 . The server system of  claim 5 , wherein the item comprises a purchasable item. 
     
     
         7 . The server system of  claim 5 , wherein the item includes at least one of movies, music, and internet accessible content. 
     
     
         8 . The server system of  claim 5 , wherein the computer system is also configured to:
 recommend items to the potential customer based in part on the potential customer's rating of the item.   
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 presenting a program to a first viewer;   receiving a rating of the program in response to a request from the first viewer to provide the rating; and   suggesting programs to the first viewer based in part on the rating from the first viewer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the rating includes a great or terrible rating. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the suggesting programs comprises:
 providing a list of programs with programs that are more likely of interest displayed at the top of the list.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 presenting a second program to a second viewer;   receiving a rating of the second program from the second viewer and   suggesting programs to the second viewer based in part on the rating from the first viewer and the rating from the second viewer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 presenting a second program to the first viewer;   receiving a rating of the second program from the first viewer; and   suggesting programs to the first viewer based in part on the ratings of the program and the second program.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 a first subscriber's terminal receiving a program;   the terminal transmitting a rating of the program in response to a request from the first subscriber to provide the rating; and   the terminal displaying a list of suggested programs to the first subscriber, wherein the list of programs is based in part on the provided rating.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the rating includes a great or terrible rating. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the terminal receiving a second program and   the terminal transmitting a rating of the second program from the first subscriber, wherein the list is based in part on the ratings of the program and second program.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the terminal displaying a list of programs with programs that are more likely of interest to the first subscriber displayed at the top of the list.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the terminal displaying the program from a recording.   
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving personal information from a first computer;   providing a list of recommended content to the first computer, the content comprising recommended viewable content;   associating the recommended viewable content with the personal information;   receiving feedback on the recommended viewable content in response to a request from a first viewer to provide the feedback; and   providing a second list of recommended content based in part on the associated recommended viewable content.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the personal information comprises personal identifying information. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the content comprises at least one of content delivered through a network, media content, and internet content. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the feedback on the recommended viewable content in response to a request from a first viewer to provide the feedback comprises the first viewer selecting content. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 recommending purchasable content based in part on the recommended viewable content and the feedback.   
     
     
         24 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 presenting a video to a first user's computer;   receiving rating information of the video in response to a request from the first user to provide the rating information;   generating an overall rating of the video based at least in part on the received rating information;   presenting the video to a second user's computer; and   providing the overall rating of the video to the second user's computer.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the overall rating comprises an average rating from multiple users. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 recommending videos to the first user based in part on the rating information from the first user.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 recommending videos to the first user's computer based in part on the rating information from the first user.   
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 a song distribution system receiving feedback on a song in response to a request from a first user's computer to provide the feedback;   the song distribution system determining songs to recommend to the first user's computer based in part on the feedback from the first user; and   the song distribution system identifying the music recommendations to the first user's computer for display in a list.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the feedback comprises a song selection. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 the song distribution system receiving a request for a song from the list from the first user's computer and   the song distribution system transmitting the requested song to the first user's computer.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the music recommendations are based in part on the feedback from at least one user other than the first user. 
     
     
         32 . A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 transmit feedback on a song in response to a request from a first user to provide the feedback and   receive music recommendations for display in a list.   
     
     
         33 . The medium of  claim 32 , wherein the feedback comprises a song selection by the first user. 
     
     
         34 . The medium of  claim 32 , further comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 transmit a request for a song from the list based in part on the music recommendations and   receive the requested song.