Method And Apparatus For Generation Of A Preferred Broadcasted Programs List

Abstract

A second set of broadcasted programs is added to a first set of broadcasted programs. The second set of broadcasted programs includes broadcasted programs viewed by a viewer for a period of time at least equal to a first threshold. A third set of broadcasted programs is removed from the first set of broadcasted programs. The third set of broadcasted programs includes broadcasted programs not viewed by a viewer for a period of time at least equal to a second threshold. In one embodiment, a fourth set of broadcasted programs selected by the viewer is added to the first set of broadcasted programs. In one embodiment, the first threshold and the second threshold are updated upon the viewer indicating dissatisfaction. In one embodiment, the first threshold and the second threshold are updated upon the viewer returning to a schedule list more than a predetermined number of times. In one embodiment, the first threshold is set to be a first percentage of a period of time that a channel was viewed, and the second threshold is set to be a second percentage of the period of time that the channel was viewed.

1 . A method, comprising:
 storing, by a computing device, a list of preferred broadcasted programs for displaying via a television viewing system;   receiving, by the computing device, user input relating to the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs;   based on the user input, determining by the computing device a level of user satisfaction with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs, wherein the level of user satisfaction corresponds to a level of user satisfaction with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs as a whole, and does not correspond to an indication of user satisfaction for any individual preferred broadcast program in the list; and   based on the determined level of user satisfaction, updating by the computing device a viewing time threshold associated with the list of preferred broadcasted programs.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing time threshold corresponds to a number of times a broadcast program was tuned to or an accumulated viewing time for a broadcast program. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining level of user satisfaction comprises with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs comprises:
 determining that a user returned from the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs to a complete schedule of programs more than a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing time threshold comprises a percentage of a maximum time that any broadcasted channel was viewed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the viewing time threshold comprises:
 determining an amount for raising the viewing time threshold, based on a determination that raising the viewing time threshold by said amount will decrease the number of broadcast programs in the list of preferred broadcast programs to below a maximum program number threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updating the viewing time threshold comprises:
 determining an amount for lowing the viewing time threshold, based on a determination that lowing the viewing time threshold by said amount will increase the number of broadcast programs in the list of preferred broadcast programs to above a minimum program number threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining level of user satisfaction comprises with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs comprises:
 receiving a boolean user input corresponding to satisfaction with the displayed first list of preferred broadcast programs.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining level of user satisfaction comprises with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs comprises:
 receiving a numerical user input corresponding to satisfaction with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the viewing time threshold comprises:
 comparing, by the computing device, the number of preferred broadcasted programs in the list to a predetermined threshold number of programs;   based on the comparison, determining by the computing device that the viewing time threshold should be adjusted;   determining, by the computing device, an updated viewing time threshold based on a determination that adjusting the viewing time threshold to the updated viewing time threshold will change the number of preferred broadcasted programs in the list in comparison to the predetermined threshold number of programs; and   adjusting, by the computing device, the viewing time threshold to the updated viewing time threshold.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to control at least some operations of the apparatus;   a memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 store a list of preferred broadcasted programs for displaying via a television viewing system; 
 receive user input relating to the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs; 
 based on the user input, determine a level of user satisfaction with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs, wherein the level of user satisfaction corresponds to a level of user satisfaction with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs as a whole, and does not correspond to an indication of user satisfaction for any individual preferred broadcast program in the list; and 
 based on the determined level of user satisfaction, update by the computing device a viewing time threshold associated with the list of preferred broadcasted programs. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the viewing time threshold corresponds to a number of times a broadcast program was tuned to or an accumulated viewing time for a broadcast program. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein determining level of user satisfaction comprises with the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs comprises:
 determining that a user returned from the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs to a complete schedule of programs more than a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein updating the viewing time threshold comprises:
 determining an amount for raising the viewing time threshold, based on a determination that raising the viewing time threshold by said amount will decrease the number of broadcast programs in the list of preferred broadcast programs to below a maximum program number threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the updating the viewing time threshold comprises:
 determining an amount for lowing the viewing time threshold, based on a determination that lowing the viewing time threshold by said amount will increase the number of broadcast programs in the list of preferred broadcast programs to above a minimum program number threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein updating the viewing time threshold comprises:
 comparing, by the computing device, the number of preferred broadcasted programs in the list to a predetermined threshold number of programs;   based on the comparison, determining by the computing device that the viewing time threshold should be adjusted;   determining, by the computing device, an updated viewing time threshold based on a determination that adjusting the viewing time threshold to the updated viewing time threshold will change the number of preferred broadcasted programs in the list in comparison to the predetermined threshold number of programs; and   adjusting, by the computing device, the viewing time threshold to the updated viewing time threshold.   
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 displaying, by a computing device, a list of preferred broadcasted programs via a television viewing system;   determining, by the computing device, a number of times that a user returned from the displayed list of preferred broadcasted programs to a complete list of broadcasted programs; and   updating, by the computing device, the list of preferred broadcasted programs based on the number of times that the user returned from the displayed list of preferred broadcasted programs to the complete list of broadcasted programs.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein updating the list of preferred broadcasted programs comprises:
 raising the number of broadcasted programs in the list of preferred broadcasted programs based on a determination that the number of times that the user returned from the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs to the complete list of broadcast programs is greater than or equal to a first threshold.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein updating the list of preferred broadcasted programs comprises:
 lowering the number of broadcasted programs in the list of preferred broadcasted programs based on a determination that the number of times that the user returned from the displayed list of preferred broadcast programs to the complete list of broadcast programs is less than or equal to a first threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein updating the list of preferred broadcasted programs comprises updating a viewing time threshold associated with the list of preferred broadcasted programs. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein updating the viewing time threshold associated with the list of preferred broadcasted programs comprises:
 comparing, by the computing device, the number of preferred broadcasted programs in the list to a predetermined threshold number of programs;   based on the comparison, determining by the computing device that the viewing time threshold should be adjusted;   determining, by the computing device, an updated viewing time threshold based on a determination that adjusting the viewing time threshold to the updated viewing time threshold will change the number of preferred broadcasted programs in the list in comparison to the predetermined threshold number of programs; and   adjusting, by the computing device, the viewing time threshold to the updated viewing time threshold.