Abstract: A method for generating a recommendation is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving at least one of a negative and positive example from one or more other users; and determining a recommendation for a user based on at least one of the negative and positive examples. The method can further include the step of generating a user profile for the user based on previous behavior of the user, in which case the determining step can include determining the recommendation based on the negative example and the user profile. The determining step can also include the step of determining the recommendation based on both of the negative and positive examples.

Abstract: A method for displaying close-captioned text (116) associated with video is provided. The method including: determining a position on a portion of the video for display of the close-captioned text; detecting one or more attributes of the video surrounding the position; and adjusting one or more attributes of the close-captioned text based on the detected one or more attributes of the video. The method can further include displaying the close-captioned text in the portion of the video with the adjusted one or more attributes. The one or more attributes of the video surrounding the position can be selected from a list consisting of a brightness, a contrast, a color, and a content. The one or more attributes of the close-captioned text can be selected from a group consisting of a brightness, a contrast, a color, and a degree of transparency.

Abstract: A method for inserting replacement commercials into a data stream is provided. The method including: receiving the data stream; detecting at least one commercial in the data stream; determining a characteristic of program content at least prior to the at least one commercial; and replacing the at least one commercial in the data stream with a replacement commercial which is selected based at least in part on the determining.

Abstract: Commercials are recommended for insertion into audio and/or video programs. A two-step linking between the user (205) and a set of commercials (260, 262, 264, 266) is provided. A preference score indicates how much the user likes each of the programs (210, 212, 214, 216, 218). This can be achieved, e.g., using a program recommender (160). A commercial classifier (170) uses the advertiser's knowledge to provide a correlation factor that indicates an effectiveness of a commercial relative to a program. An effectiveness metric (E) may be obtained for each commercial that indicates the effectiveness of the commercial relative to the specific user by summing, over each program, a product of the preference score and the correlation factor.

Abstract: Commercials (200) such as television commercials are augmented by obtaining additional information (300) regarding an advertised product or service from a remote server (182, 184, 192, 194, 195) via a computer network (180) such as the Internet. Commercials are identified and descriptive information is extracted (170). The descriptive information may indicate, e.g., the type of commercial. A user provides preferences (400, 500) regarding commercials via an interface. The preferences may indicate a desired level of detail (500) for the additional information. For commercials whose descriptive information corresponds with the user preference, the computer network is searched to located additional information, e.g., in the form of a web page or link (300). The additional information may relate to promotions, availability, and specifications of an advertised product or service.

Abstract: A method for inserting replacement commercials (7-10) into a data stream (100) is provided where the data stream has program (A, B, C) and commercial (1, 2) portions. The method including: detecting one or more of the commercial portions of the data stream; and replacing the detected one or more commercial portions with either more or less of the replacement commercial portions.

Abstract: A method for generating a recommendation for a user is provided. The method includes: identifying a first group of other users, the first group having a plurality of first individuals associated with user preferences and/or user profiles that are considered positive influences in generating a recommendation; and generating the recommendation for the user based on the user preferences and/or user profiles of the first individuals. The method can further include: identifying a second group of other users, the second group having a plurality of second individuals associated with user preferences and/or user profiles that are considered negative influences in generating a recommendation; where the generating of the recommendation is further based on the user preferences and/or user profiles of the second individuals.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for selecting at least one program item to be stored on the basis of user preferences. The apparatus comprises a receiver (110) for obtaining program schedule data related to at least one program item, and a timer (150) arranged to ascertain a period of time in which at least one program item is to be stored, a user preference module (130) arranged to obtain user preferences for at least one program item to be stored in the ascertained period of time, and a selection unit (140) arranged to select, using the program schedule data and the user preferences, at least one program item to be stored over a long period of time which is substantially longer than regular periods of nonusage of the apparatus. The invention takes into consideration that the user preferences for storing the program items may depend on the period of time in which the program items are to be selected.

Abstract: A HHD-based video recorder has a content manager that indicates to the user which recorded content items are eligible for being deleted and in what order they are going to be deleted to free up storage capacity for content to be newly recorded.

Abstract: This invention relates to method and a media system (102) of/for adapting an interest profile (104) based on a feedback behavioral profile (301).

Abstract: A system for recommending program information in accordance with user preferences, the system comprising receiving means (110) for receiving the program information and program schedule data pertaining to time schedules for receiving program information, input means (120) for providing a user input to the system, recommending means (160) for analyzing the user preferences and rating the program schedule data in accordance with said user preferences, and establishing preferred program schedule data (210) based on said rating, and presentation means (150) for presenting said preferred program schedule data (210) to a user.

Abstract: A method and a system for the creation of agents to be used for recommending media content to a user (207). The agent comprises a profile of media content and can further comprise an algorithm for recommending media (201) on a media system (208). The media system (208) can be a VCR, a TV, a set-top box, a DVD player, a radio or a personal computer. The method includes the steps of validating an agent in an off-line system (210), transferring agents forth and back between the off-line system (210) and an on-line system (203). The step of validating includes the steps of composing a test set of historical content, estimating scores of an agent in the test set, determine average difference between agent scores and historical relevance feedback, determining performance of an agent using average difference of all agents over the test set and reliability of historical relevance feedback.

Abstract: A method and a system of recommending media content on a media system (109) by use of a user's interest profile, implicit feedback from the user and the reliability of the feedback: The media system can be a set-top box, a TV, a PC, a DVD player, a radio or a VCR. The media system receives inputs to the media system by use of a keyboard, a mouse, a remote control, an interactive menu, a microphone, gesture recognition or a joystick.